Born to a Jewish working-class family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Goetz was the youngest of eight children. His mother died when he was ten years old and shortly thereafter his father abandoned the family. Raised by older brothers, at the age of twenty-one he followed some of his brothers to Hollywood where he found work as a crew hand at one of the large studios. After a few years, he began doing production work and in 1930 was made an associate producer at Fox Films.
Career
In 1932, Goetz received the financial support necessary from his new father-in-law, Louis B. Mayer, to become a minor partner with Joseph Schenck, the former president of United Artists, and Darryl F. Zanuck from Warner Bros. to create Twentieth Century Pictures. Zanuck was named president, and Goetz served as vice president. Successful from the very beginning, their 1934 filmThe House of Rothschild was nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture. In 1935, Twentieth Century bought the financially strapped Fox Films to create 20th Century Fox. Goetz served as vice president of 20th Century Fox, but in 1942, he took charge of the studio temporarily when Zanuck, a veteran of World War I, joined the United States military effort in World War II. Goetz liked the top role in the company, and after Zanuck returned, relationships became strained. In 1943, Goetz resigned to form his own independent company with Leo Spitz, a former lawyer who worked as a movie company advisor. Their partnership, International Pictures, ended its short-lived existence when they made a deal in July 1946 to merge with the British Rank Organisation's distribution arm and Universal Pictures. Goetz was made president and placed in charge of production for the newly merged Universal-International studio. Although one of the studio executives who formulated the 1947 Waldorf Statement, Goetz later softened his stand on the issue. In 1949, Goetz called upon his close friendship with MCA head Lew Wasserman, one of the more powerful agents in Hollywood. They revolutionized the motion picture industry when they agreed to a deal where James Stewart was signed to a profit participation deal to act in a Universal film. In lieu of a salary for his performance, Stewart was guaranteed half of the film's profits, and the concept was negotiated for other stars who recognized the value of their own box-office drawing power. Universal-International was acquired by Decca Records in late 1951, and Goetz was replaced by Edward Muhl in 1953. After leaving Universal, Goetz became an independent producer. He made 1957's Sayonara, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. He signed a six-picture deal with Columbia Pictures and produced Me and the Colonel, They Came to Cordura, The Mountain Road, Song Without End and Cry for Happy.
Personal life
Marriage and children
In March 1930, Goetz married Edith Mayer, daughter of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayerstudio head Louis B. Mayer – who at first was less than enthusiastic at the idea. The couple had two daughters, Judith and Barbara. Goetz and Mayer remained married until his death in 1969. Goetz's sister-in-law was theatrical producerIrene Mayer Selznick. Goetz's brother-in-law was film producer David O. Selznick to whom Irene was married from April 1930 to 1949.
Politics
Goetz was a liberal Democrat and enthusiastically campaigned for Adlai Stevenson II in 1952 presidential election. Goetz angered his Republican Party father-in-law Louis B. Mayer when he announced plans to host a party for Stevenson at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Mayer was further angered when he learned that the party was to be co-hosted by film executive Dore Schary, the man with whom Mayer had worked with at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and who replaced Mayer as the head of MGM in 1956. Although Mayer adored his daughter Edith, he had a difficult relationship with Goetz. This episode further strained their relationship, and Mayer never spoke to his son-in-law again.
