Sidney W. Pink

Sidney W. Pink (1916–2002) was an American film producer and occasional director. He has been called the father of feature-length 3-D movies. He is also noted for producing early Spaghetti Westerns and low-budget science-fiction films, and for his role in actor Dustin Hoffman's transition from stage to screen.

Early life and education Pink was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1916, the second of Philip and Rose (née Ehrenworth) Pink's two sons. After playing the film producer in his high school's production of Merton of the Movies, he realized this was the profession he would ultimately pursue, calling it his life's ambition. Pink earned a degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Film career Pink first worked as a projectionist in a movie theater owned by his wife's family and worked for years building and managing theatres. Sometimes he presented stage shows in cinemas.

In 1937, Pink moved to Hollywood and was hired by Grand National Pictures as production budget manager for the Tex Ritter singing cowboy series. Pink then moved to Columbia Pictures as a budget manager on Lost Horizon and the Jack Holt action films. At that time, Lost Horizon had a budget of $1.25 million for the film, the largest amount ever allocated to a project at that time.

World War II and after career During World War II, he served in the Army Transportation Corps and Special Services. After the war, he imported foreign films and produced burlesque shows in downtown Los Angeles with Lili St. Cyr, Joe DeRita and other performers.

3-D film pioneer In 1952, Pink served as associate producer with Arch Oboler, the producer, writer and director of Bwana Devil.

In 1960, Pink wrote, directed and produced The Greeneyed Elephant for Saga Studios in Denmark. He also co-produced and co-directed the American version of Saga Studios' Reptilicus, a "giant-monster-on-the-loose" film. Pink also wrote, directed and produced Gateway Gaza, filmed in Cairo, Egypt. All three films were released by American International Pictures.

Praised Danish animators Pink returned to Hollywood praising Danish animation, saying "Danish miniature work has surpassed that of Japan, up to generally acknowledged to be the finest in the world. Facilities in Denmark, by Hollywood standards, are notably lacking; but fine craftsmen who put everything together by hand are not concerned with the time it takes, (and) are excellent". Pink also said "the Scandinavian countries have never truly been exploited by Hollywood filmmakers, so the settings have remained unusually fresh ground for motion pictures. Reptilicus at Saga Studios in Copenhagen made “at a cost of $380,000 , about a third of what it probably would have cost if made in the U. S.".

Later films In 1964, Pink turned down an offer to produce A Fistful of Dollars. Pink said "And can you believe it, I turned down the offer to produce A Fistful of Dollars in Spain with Clint Eastwood? That was not one of my better decisions".

In 1966, Pink discovered Dustin Hoffman in an off-Broadway stage production in New York City and cast him in Madigan's Millions as a U.S. Treasury agent sent to Italy to recover money that had been stolen by a murdered gangster played by Cesar Romero. as well as theatres in Puerto Rico and Florida.

Death Pink died in 2002 at his home in Pompano Beach, Florida, following a long illness.

Partial filmography Bwana Devil (1952, dir. Arch Oboler) The Twonky (1953, dir. Arch Oboler) Flame Over Vietnam (1957, dir. José María Elorrieta) The Angry Red Planet (1959, dir. Ib Melchior) The Greeneyed Elephant (1960, dir. Peer Guldbrandsen) Reptilicus (1961, dir. Ib Melchior) Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962, dir. Sidney W. Pink) The Castilian (1963, dir. Javier Setó) Pyro... The Thing Without a Face (1964, dir. Julio Coll) Finger on the Trigger (1965, dir. Sidney W. Pink) La llamada (1965, dir. Javier Setó) The Drums of Tabu (1966, dir. Javier Setó) Seven Vengeful Women (1966, dir. Rudolf Zehetgruber) The Treasure of Makuba (1967, dir. José María Elorrieta) A Witch Without a Broom (1967, dir. José María Elorrieta) The Fickle Finger of Fate (1967, dir. Richard Rush) The Christmas Kid (1967, dir. Sidney W. Pink) Operation Delilah (1967, dir. Luis de los Arcos) The Vengeance of Pancho Villa (1967, dir. José María Elorrieta) Bang Bang Kid (1967, dir. Luciano Lelli) Madigan's Millions (1968, dir. Stanley Prager) 1001 Nights (1968, dir. José María Elorrieta) The Emerald of Artatama (1969, dir. José María Elorrieta) A Candidate for a Killing (1969, dir. José María Elorrieta) The Man from O.R.G.Y. (1970, dir. James Hill)