Sol M. Wurtzel


Sol Wurtzel was an American film producer.

Life and career

Born in New York City; his parents were both German Jews. Wurtzel worked as an executive assistant to William Fox, founding owner of the Fox Film Corporation. In 1911, Wurtzel hired Alan E. Freedman as a bookkeeper for Fox's fledgling film processing laboratory. Freedman would remain for over 50 years, eventually turning the operation into the gargantuan "Color by DeLuxe" DeLuxe Laboratories. In 1917, Fox sent Wurtzel to California to oversee the studio's West Coast productions. He developed a formula for creating consistently profitable B movies that are heralded today.
Wurtzel eventually became involved in production and between 1932 and 1949 he produced more than 159 films including a large number of both the Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto series as well as other successes such as Bright Eyes in 1934, starring Shirley Temple and featuring her enduring trademark song: "On the Good Ship Lollipop".
He discovered young director John Ford who later went on to earn 4 Academy Awards. He also discovered and made a star of famous cowboy Will Rogers.
Wurtzel cast dancer Rita Hayworth in her first film role, the 1935 production Dante's Inferno. He gave an unknown Marilyn Monroe her first walk-on in his 1947 production of Dangerous Years.
He produced several of Laurel and Hardy's later comedies in the 1940s, including Great Guns, A-Haunting We Will Go, Jitterbugs and The Big Noise. In 1943, he produced Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas on the guerrilla resistance movement in Serbia.

Personal life and death

Ill for many years following a stroke in 1952, Wurtzel died at his home in Hollywood on April 9, 1958. John Ford delivered the eulogy at his funeral. Wurtzel was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Wurtzel served as the first President of Temple Israel of Hollywood.

Selected filmography

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