Arthur P. Jacobs Film producer Date of Birth: 07.03.1922 Country: USA

Biography of Arthur Jacobs

Arthur Jacobs, a renowned film producer, made significant contributions to the world of cinema through his company. He is widely known as the creator of several classic films from the 1960s and 1970s, including "Planet of the Apes," "Doctor Dolittle," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "Play It Again, Sam," and "Tom Sawyer." These films were produced under the banner of his company, APJAC Productions.

Born in Los Angeles, Arthur Jacobs faced early tragedies in his life. In 1940, his father died in a car accident, and in 1959, his mother passed away from cancer. He attended the University of Southern California, specializing in cinematography, and graduated in 1942. After graduation, Jacobs started working as a courier at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Over time, he climbed the career ladder and eventually joined the public relations department.

In 1946, Jacobs was recruited as a staff publicist for Warner Bros. Within a year, he established his own PR agency. Notable clients of his agency included Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe. In 1957, Jacobs founded The Arthur P. Jacobs Co., Inc., and later established APJAC Productions in 1963. His first independent project, "What a Way to Go!" was initially intended to star Marilyn Monroe, but due to her untimely death, Shirley MacLaine replaced her. The film became a box office success for 20th Century Fox in 1964.

With the success of "What a Way to Go!," Jacobs obtained the necessary funds to produce "Doctor Dolittle" and "Planet of the Apes." While the former was a critical and commercial failure, the latter became a sensational hit in 1968, spawning a successful film series. Around the same time, Jacobs merged his company with Jerome Hellman Productions. Shortly after the merger, they released the film "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." Though it had a lower budget compared to "Doctor Dolittle," it did not generate significant profits.

Jacobs had a strict policy regarding the films he produced, ensuring they were suitable for family viewing. As a result, he declined the opportunity to produce "Midnight Cowboy." In 1973, APJAC Productions transformed into APJAC International. Jacobs embarked on a musical adaptation of "Tom Sawyer," collaborating with the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the screenplay and songs. The company had plans to release five films in partnership with the Sherman Brothers, but Jacobs tragically passed away from a heart attack during the production of the second film, "Huckleberry Finn." He was only 51 years old at the time of his death on June 27, 1973.

Following his death, his widow Natalie Trundy took over the management of his company. However, the rights to the "Planet of the Apes" series were eventually sold to Fox. Jacobs' untimely demise, along with a knee operation that Robert B. Sherman underwent, had a significant impact on the final quality of the film. Despite these challenges, Arthur Jacobs left a lasting legacy in the film industry with his memorable productions.