Martin Bregman
Encyclopedia
Martin Bregman is a film producer
and former personal manager. Bregman produced many films including Scarface
, Sea of Love, Venom
, Serpico
, Dog Day Afternoon
, The Four Seasons
, Betsy's Wedding, Carlito's Way
, and The Bone Collector
.
, Woody Allen
, Barbra Streisand
, Faye Dunaway
, Alan Alda
and Bette Midler
. Bregman discovered Pacino in an Off Broadway play, and helped to support the actor as he built his stage and then film career, among other things working to land Pacino the actor's first film role in 1971's "Panic in Needle Park," winning out over then unknown actor Robert De Niro
. Bregman ventured into film producing in 1973, building projects around Pacino, initially with the Sidney Lumet
directed Serpico. The film's acclaim set the path for many more highly acclaimed collaborations with Pacino, including Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, Scarface in 1983, and 1989's Sea of Love. Beginning in 1979 with The Seduction of Joe Tynan
, and for most of the 1980s, Bregman enjoyed a successful run of films with writer/director Alan Alda. Their creative and business partnership yielded such well received films as The Four Seasons in 1981, Sweet Liberty
in 1986, A New Life
in 1988 and Betsy's Wedding, in 1990. Other notable films include 1999's The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington
and 2002's The Adventures of Pluto Nash
, starring Eddie Murphy
, and notable mostly for its resounding box-office failure.
Bregman has also produced two short-lived television shows, 1980's S*H*E and 1984's The Four Seasons, with Alda, based on their film.
Bregman lives in New York City and has two sons with former wife Elizabeth Driscoll, Christopher and film producer Michael (Sea of Love, Carlito's Way
)," and a daughter, singer Marissa Bregman, with his current wife, actress Cornelia (Sharpe) Bregman (Serpico, The Next Man
, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
).
. The film's dialog has been sampled numerous times and appeared in songs by The Geto Boys, Kool G Rap
, G-Unit
and Jay Z. Rapper Scarface
has acknowledged the film as the source of his name.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and former personal manager. Bregman produced many films including Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
, Sea of Love, Venom
Venom (1981 film)
Venom is a 1981 horror film directed by Piers Haggard and starring Klaus Kinski, Oliver Reed, Nicol Williamson and Sarah Miles.-Plot:A maid , a psychotic chauffer and an international terrorist attempt to kidnap a wealthy ten-year-old boy from his elegant London townhouse...
, Serpico
Serpico
Serpico is a 1973 American crime film directed by Sidney Lumet. It is based on the true story of New York City policeman Frank Serpico, who went undercover to expose the corruption of his fellow officers, after being pushed to the brink at first by their distrust and later by the threats and...
, Dog Day Afternoon
Dog Day Afternoon
Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Frank Pierson, and produced by Martin Bregman. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, Penny Allen, James Broderick, and Carol Kane. The title refers to the "dog days of summer".The film was...
, The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (film)
The Four Seasons is a 1981 romantic comedy film starring Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou, Sandy Dennis, Rita Moreno, Jack Weston and Bess Armstrong.-Plot summary:...
, Betsy's Wedding, Carlito's Way
Carlito's Way
Carlito's Way is a 1993 crime film directed by Brian De Palma, based on the novels Carlito's Way and After Hours by Judge Edwin Torres. The film adaptation was scripted by David Koepp. It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and...
, and The Bone Collector
The Bone Collector
The Bone Collector is a 1999 thriller film starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie, directed by Phillip Noyce and produced by Martin Bregman....
.
Life and career
Bregman was born in New York City, to Leon and Ida. As a child, he suffered from Polio. He began his career selling insurance and first got into the entertainment business as a night club agent. Building relationships with investors such as New York real estate magnate, Lew Rudin, Bregman moved successfully into personal management, eventually representing such stars as Al PacinoAl Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
, Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
, Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
and Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
. Bregman discovered Pacino in an Off Broadway play, and helped to support the actor as he built his stage and then film career, among other things working to land Pacino the actor's first film role in 1971's "Panic in Needle Park," winning out over then unknown actor Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
. Bregman ventured into film producing in 1973, building projects around Pacino, initially with the Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
directed Serpico. The film's acclaim set the path for many more highly acclaimed collaborations with Pacino, including Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, Scarface in 1983, and 1989's Sea of Love. Beginning in 1979 with The Seduction of Joe Tynan
The Seduction of Joe Tynan
The Seduction of Joe Tynan is a 1979 American political film drama directed by Jerry Schatzberg and produced by Martin Bregman. The screenplay was written by Alan Alda, who also played the title role....
, and for most of the 1980s, Bregman enjoyed a successful run of films with writer/director Alan Alda. Their creative and business partnership yielded such well received films as The Four Seasons in 1981, Sweet Liberty
Sweet Liberty
Sweet Liberty is an American comedy film written and directed by Alan Alda, and starring Alda in the lead role, alongside Michael Caine and Michelle Pfeiffer, with support from Bob Hoskins, Lois Chiles, Lise Hilboldt and Lillian Gish....
in 1986, A New Life
A New Life (film)
A New Life is a 1988 romantic comedy film written and directed by Alan Alda and starring Alan Alda, Ann-Margaret, John Shea and Veronica Hamel.-Plot:...
in 1988 and Betsy's Wedding, in 1990. Other notable films include 1999's The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
and 2002's The Adventures of Pluto Nash
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
The Adventures of Pluto Nash is a 2002 science fiction comedy film directed by Ron Underwood and starring Eddie Murphy as the owner of a lunar nightclub investigating who was behind the arson that destroyed his club...
, starring Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
, and notable mostly for its resounding box-office failure.
Bregman has also produced two short-lived television shows, 1980's S*H*E and 1984's The Four Seasons, with Alda, based on their film.
Bregman lives in New York City and has two sons with former wife Elizabeth Driscoll, Christopher and film producer Michael (Sea of Love, Carlito's Way
Carlito's Way
Carlito's Way is a 1993 crime film directed by Brian De Palma, based on the novels Carlito's Way and After Hours by Judge Edwin Torres. The film adaptation was scripted by David Koepp. It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and...
)," and a daughter, singer Marissa Bregman, with his current wife, actress Cornelia (Sharpe) Bregman (Serpico, The Next Man
The Next Man
The Next Man is a 1976 American political action thriller film starring Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Cornelia Sharpe and Charles Cioffi. Critical reaction at its opening was not positive. Music for the film features New York guitarist Frederic Hand.-Plot:The film is set during the Arab oil embargo...
, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud is an American motion picture released by Bing Crosby Productions, and Cinerama Productions Corporation. In the supernatural suspense genre, the film was directed by J...
).
In popular culture
Scarface, initially criticized for its violent content, has become culturally, significant, and highly popular due to its heavy visual and thematic influence on various musical genres, especially hiphop and rapRap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
. The film's dialog has been sampled numerous times and appeared in songs by The Geto Boys, Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, G-Unit
G-Unit
G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes...
and Jay Z. Rapper Scarface
Scarface (rapper)
Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
has acknowledged the film as the source of his name.