Steve Krantz

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Steve Krantz
Born
Stephen Falk Krantz

(1923-05-20)May 20, 1923
New York City, US
DiedJanuary 4, 2007(2007-01-04) (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, US
EducationColumbia University
Occupation(s)Film producer
writer
Spouse
inter alia

Stephen Falk Krantz (May 20, 1923 – January 4, 2007) was a film producer and writer, most active from 1966 to 1996.

Career

Born in

U.S. Army Air Forces in the Pacific during World War II as a second lieutenant.[1]

He worked as a comedy writer for

animated cartoons in Canada. After firing Shamus Culhane from the animator's supervising director job on Rocket Robin Hood, director Ralph Bakshi and background artist Johnnie Vita were brought to Toronto, not knowing that Krantz and producer Al Guest
were in the middle of a lawsuit.

Failing to reach a settlement with Guest, Krantz told Bakshi to grab the series' model sheets and return to the United States. When the studio found out, a warrant for Bakshi's arrest was issued by the Toronto police.[2][3] Bakshi's animation studio, Bakshi Productions, took over Rocket Robin Hood and another Krantz-produced series, Spider-Man, beginning Krantz' working relationship with Bakshi.[4]

By 1968, Krantz was producing live-action shows (such as the Canadian supernatural series Strange Paradise). Krantz agreed to produce Bakshi's animated film Heavy Traffic, but told Bakshi that Hollywood studio executives would be unwilling to fund the film because of its content and Bakshi's lack of film experience.[5] Bakshi later pitched a film adaptation of Robert Crumb's comic strip Fritz the Cat, and Krantz sent Bakshi to San Francisco in an attempt to persuade Crumb to sign the contract. Krantz later acquired the film rights through Crumb's then-wife, Dana, who had Crumb's power of attorney and signed the contract.[5] Fritz the Cat was released on April 12, 1972, opening in Hollywood and Washington, D.C.[6] A major hit, it became the most successful independent animated feature of all time.[7]

Towards the end of the year, Krantz began coproducing Heavy Traffic with

Beverly Hills. Bakshi soon accused Krantz of ripping him off, which the producer denied.[8] When Bakshi attempted to work with Albert S. Ruddy on another film, Krantz locked Bakshi out of the studio and called several directors, including Chuck Jones, in search of a replacement. Arkoff threatened to withdraw his financial backing unless Krantz rehired Bakshi, which Krantz did a week later.[9]

After 1974, live-action motion pictures dominated Krantz' filmography. He wrote two novels, including Laurel Canyon (Pocket Books, 1979, paperback original), which was a best-seller.[citation needed]

Personal life

Krantz married magazine writer Judith Tarcher on February 19, 1954. In the mid-1970s, as Judith Krantz, she began her career as a best-selling novelist. Judith's first book, Scruples, was published in 1978, and reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list.[10]

The couple had two sons, including film and television writer, director and producer Tony Krantz.[11]

His sister-in-law was puppeteer and ventriloquist

Jewish
faith.

Death

He died in Los Angeles, California, on January 4, 2007, from complications of pneumonia, aged 83.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Obituaries". Columbia College Today. October 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4
    .
  3. ^ "Fritz the Cat". The Animated Movie Guide. p. 88.
  4. ISBN 978-1-55652-731-9
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4
    .
  6. ^ Barrier, Michael (Spring 1972). "The Filming of Fritz the Cat: Up from Brownsville". Funnyworld, No. 14. Retrieved December 29, 2006.
  7. ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4
    .
  10. ^ Ruark, Liz (February 12, 2001). "Person of the Week: Judith Tarcher Krantz '48". Wellesley. Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  11. ^
    Variety
    . January 8, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Steamy Romance Novelist Judith Krantz Dies at 91". NBC Los Angeles. June 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2024. Her brother, publisher Jeremy Tarcher, married the late ventriloquist Shari Lewis.

External links

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