Joseph Burstyn
Joseph Burstyn(bornJossel Lejba Bursztyn;December 15, 1899 – November 29, 1953) was a Polish-Americanfilm distributorwho specialized in the commercial release of foreign-language and Americanindependent filmproductions.
Life and career
[edit]Burstyn was born as Jossel Bursztyn to a Jewish family inSokoły,Poland in 1899. On May 7, 1921, he arrived in the U.S. with his family, parents Pinches Herszko (a merchant; born 1871 to Chaim Wolf and Chaja z Wolfów-Pinchesów Bursztyn[1]) and Gittel "Gitla" Rotbart, and siblings Chaim Kielman, Cypa, Berko, Joel Szloma and Bejla. The family settled inCleveland,where an aunt lived.[2]His legal name wasJoseph Bursteinbut he later spelled it Burstyn. He became a US citizen in 1934.[3]He initially worked as a public relations representative for theYiddish theatercircuit in New York City before becoming active in film distribution with business partnerArthur Mayerfrom the late 1930s to the late 1940s.
His most famous releases includeThe Forgotten Village(1941) written byJohn Steinbeck,theRoberto RosselliniclassicsRome, Open City(1945) andPaisà(1946),The Quiet One(1948), theAcademy Award-nominatedLittle Fugitive(1953), andFear and Desire(1953), the first feature film directed byStanley Kubrick.[4]
Joseph Burstyn Inc. vs. Wilson
[edit]From 1951-53, Burstyn was at the center ofJoseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson,343 U.S. 495(1952)[1],which resulted in alandmark decisionby theUnited States Supreme Courtwhich helped endfilm censorshipin New York.[5]
The court decision determined that certain provisions of theNew York StateEducation Law allowing a censor to forbid the commercial showing of any non-licensed motion picture film, or revoke or deny the license of a film deemed to be "sacrilegious",was a" restraint onfreedom of speech"and thereby a violation of theFirst Amendment;in this case, the film in question was"The Miracle",directed byRoberto Rossellini,an Italianshort filmthat was part of theanthology filmWays of Love(1950).[4]
Death
[edit]Burstyn died in November 1953 of acoronary thrombosisduring a TWA flight from New York to Rome.[4][6]He collapsed several hours after the plane took off fromGander, Newfoundland.He was dead when the plane landed atShannon Airportin Ireland.[7]
Films distributed by Burstyn
[edit]Films distributed by Mayer and Burstyn (1933–48)
- Bicycle Thieves(1948)
- The Quiet One(1948)
- Lo Tafhidenu/The Illegals(1948) documentary in Hebrew directed byMeyer Levin
- Paris 1900(1947)
- Shakuntala(1947)
- Paisan(1946)
- The Battle of the Rails(1946)
- Rome, Open City(1945)
- Marie-Louise(1944)
- Portrait of a Woman(1944)
- Hymn of the Nations(1944)
- The Forgotten Village(1941)
- Lights Out in Europe(1940)
- Louise(1939)
- Crisis(1939)
- Katia(1938)
- Ballerina(1937) English title ofLe morte du cygne
- La guerre des gosses(1937) French version ofWar of the Buttonsdirected by Jacques Daroy
- Pépé le Moko(1937)
- The Lower Depths(1936)
- Women's Club(1936)
- Die ewige Maske(1935)
- Whirlpool of Desire(1935), French filmRemousdirected byEdmond T. Gréville
- Song of the Streets(1933)
Films distributed by Joseph Burstyn Inc. (1950-55)
- Stella(1955)
- Romantic Youth(1954)
- Tanga-Tika(1953)
- Little Fugitive(1953)
- Fear and Desire(1953)
- Umberto D.(1952)
- Savage Triangle(1951) English version ofLe garcon sauvage
- Miracle in Milan(1951)
- Ways of Love(1950)
- The Flowers of St. Francis(1950)
- Side Street Story(1950)
- Tomorrow Is Too Late(1950)
- Justice Is Done(1950)
- The Berliner(1948)
- A Day in the Country(1936) 1950 US release
- Jofroi(1934) 1950 US re-release
- À Nous la Liberté(1931) 1954 US re-release
References
[edit]- ^JewishGen,"Sokoly Births 1826-30,32,34,39-41,46,48-49,51,53,59,63,65,67,69-72,75,78,80 Marriages 1826-29,34,39-41,46,48-49,51,53,59,63,67,69-72,75,78,80 Deaths 1826-30,34,39-41,46,48-49,51,53,59,63,67,70-72,75,78,80"
- ^Jossel Lejba Bursztyn,New York, Passenger Lists, 18201957
- ^New York, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1940
- ^abc“Burstyn, Film Man, Dies on Sea Flight”,New York Times,November 30, 1953 (fee access required)
- ^Jowett, G. (1996). "A significant medium for the communication of ideas": The Miracle decision and the decline of motion picture censorship, 1952–1968.Movie censorship and American culture,pgs. 258–276. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press
- ^"Obituaries",Time Magazine,December 7, 1953
- ^Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835–1974
Sources
[edit]- Wittern-Keller, Laura and Raymond J. Haberski, Jr.The Miracle Case: Film Censorship and the Supreme Court.University Press of Kansas, 2008.