Frank Price

Former Columbia Pictures and Universal TV head Frank Price has purchased an ocean-view condominium in Santa Monica for $3.1 million. The 3,165-square-foot third-floor unit shares no walls with neighbors. Features include terraces, marble floors, a built-in aquarium and two fireplaces. There are two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The complex, which has 24-hour security, a gym and a rooftop swimming pool and deck, was built in 1997. Price, 79, was a story editor and writer for CBS in the early 1950s and an executive produce of such '60s TV hits as "It Takes a Thief," "Ironside" and "The Virginian."

Former Columbia Pictures and Universal TV head Frank Price has purchased an ocean-view condominium in Santa Monica for $3.1 million. The 3,165-square-foot third-floor unit shares no walls with neighbors. Features include terraces, marble floors, a built-in aquarium and two fireplaces. There are two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The complex, which has 24-hour security, a gym and a rooftop swimming pool and deck, was built in 1997. Price, 79, was a story editor and writer for CBS in the early 1950s and an executive produce of such '60s TV hits as "It Takes a Thief," "Ironside" and "The Virginian."

Frank Price has resigned as chairman of the motion picture group and president of Universal Pictures, a spokesman for the studio said Tuesday. The studio issued a sparse two-sentence statement, but sources at the studio said Price telephoned MCA President and Chief Operating Officer Sid Sheinberg from New York on Monday evening to announce his departure. Sean Daniel, 35, currently president of production at Universal, is now the top-ranking production executive at the studio.

Then: Chairman of motion picture division, Columbia Pictures, 1979-1984; chairman of MCA Motion Picture group, 1984-1987; chairman of Columbia Pictures, 1990-1991. Now: Chairman of Price Entertainment. * Becoming a studio chief was the realization of a dream for Frank Price, whose boyhood was spent on the Warner Bros. lot where his mother worked in the commissary. Photographs of Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Olivia de Havilland and James Cagney--inscribed "To Frankie"--still decorate his walls.

Then: Chairman of motion picture division, Columbia Pictures, 1979-1984; chairman of MCA Motion Picture group, 1984-1987; chairman of Columbia Pictures, 1990-1991. Now: Chairman of Price Entertainment. * Becoming a studio chief was the realization of a dream for Frank Price, whose boyhood was spent on the Warner Bros. lot where his mother worked in the commissary. Photographs of Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Olivia de Havilland and James Cagney--inscribed "To Frankie"--still decorate his walls.

Price Settlement Near: Sony Pictures Entertainment Co. is close to reaching a settlement agreement with outgoing Columbia Pictures Chairman Frank Price, sources close to the discussions said. Price, who is being replaced by former Warner Bros. executive Mark Canton, will receive a lucrative cash settlement. Sources said he would also take with him 25 projects now in development at Columbia as part of a non-exclusive production deal with Sony.

In regard to last Sunday's Film Clips item about the motion picture "Gladiator" ("Well, They Were the Good Old Hollywood Days," by Andy Marx): Marx uses extensive quotes from anonymous sources to deny the legitimacy of my credit as one of two producers on "Gladiator." These quotes do not reflect the facts. "Gladiator" was a project abandoned by both Columbia and Universal when I acquired it for my company in 1988. Though Steve Roth was contractually still attached, I became the producer in first position with full creative control, which I exercised to produce a commercial, mainstream movie that Columbia can now be very proud of. When I was asked to head Columbia Pictures in 1990, I, by contract, would do two Price Entertainment pictures a year.

Columbia Pictures Entertainment Inc. announced Wednesday that veteran Hollywood executive Frank Price has been appointed chairman of its Columbia Pictures subsidiary. Price, who held the same post from 1978 to 1983, will replace Dawn Steel, who stepped down in January. As part of a restructuring of the studio, which was bought by Sony Corp. in November, Price will be in charge of the development, production and marketing of all Columbia films.

In a long-expected move that could lead to other high-level changes in Hollywood, Mark Canton has resigned as executive vice president of worldwide movie production at Warner Bros. Canton--who oversaw production on such hits as "Batman" and "Lethal Weapon"--will formally leave the company today. Warner Chairman Robert Daly said that Canton's job has been eliminated and that movie production chief Bruce Berman has assumed his duties.

In regard to last Sunday's Film Clips item about the motion picture "Gladiator" ("Well, They Were the Good Old Hollywood Days," by Andy Marx): Marx uses extensive quotes from anonymous sources to deny the legitimacy of my credit as one of two producers on "Gladiator." These quotes do not reflect the facts. "Gladiator" was a project abandoned by both Columbia and Universal when I acquired it for my company in 1988. Though Steve Roth was contractually still attached, I became the producer in first position with full creative control, which I exercised to produce a commercial, mainstream movie that Columbia can now be very proud of. When I was asked to head Columbia Pictures in 1990, I, by contract, would do two Price Entertainment pictures a year.

Years ago in Hollywood, it wasn't uncommon to find studio heads like 20th Century Fox's Darryl F. Zanuck or MGM's Dore Schary putting their names on the opening credits of a film. In recent years, though, the practice disappeared as studio presidents and chairmen opted for anonymity, giving the credit to the actual producer of the movie. Not so for Frank Price.

The just-published 1992 edition of "Who's Who in the Motion Picture Industry" notes that its cover photo of four Hollywood insiders includes a first for the publication: "The heads of two major studios are represented." Well, sort of. Shown standing in the picture is TriStar Chairman Mike Medavoy. Seated in a director's chair next to him is Frank Price, who, at least until Thursday, was a studio head.

Hollywood's most laborious management shake-up finally ended Thursday as former Warner Bros. executive Mark Canton was named to replace Frank Price as Columbia Pictures chairman. Canton, who was rumored to be replacing Price for several months, received a standard five-year contract. Sources said the multimillion-dollar deal also includes a share in the appreciation of the value of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia's parent company. Canton, 42, begins work next week.

Price Settlement Near: Sony Pictures Entertainment Co. is close to reaching a settlement agreement with outgoing Columbia Pictures Chairman Frank Price, sources close to the discussions said. Price, who is being replaced by former Warner Bros. executive Mark Canton, will receive a lucrative cash settlement. Sources said he would also take with him 25 projects now in development at Columbia as part of a non-exclusive production deal with Sony.

Seated in his sparsely furnished conference room last week, awaiting word of his fate, Columbia Pictures Chairman Frank Price looked more like a prisoner than a powerful studio boss. Fellow executives were avoiding his telephone calls. There were even unfounded reports that his doors had been padlocked, a ritual that often signals a changing of the guard in Hollywood.

Hollywood's most laborious management shake-up finally ended Thursday as former Warner Bros. executive Mark Canton was named to replace Frank Price as Columbia Pictures chairman. Canton, who was rumored to be replacing Price for several months, received a standard five-year contract. Sources said the multimillion-dollar deal also includes a share in the appreciation of the value of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia's parent company. Canton, 42, begins work next week.

Frank Price, a one-time television writer who later headed two major Hollywood film studios, will make movies once again for Coca-Cola Co., owner of Columbia Pictures, it was announced Wednesday. Price was Columbia's chief executive from 1979 to 1983. This time around, the 57-year-old Price has signed to produce films under a three-year deal with Tri-Star Pictures, which is being merged with Columbia under a new umbrella firm, Columbia Pictures Entertainment.

In a long-expected move that could lead to other high-level changes in Hollywood, Mark Canton has resigned as executive vice president of worldwide movie production at Warner Bros. Canton--who oversaw production on such hits as "Batman" and "Lethal Weapon"--will formally leave the company today. Warner Chairman Robert Daly said that Canton's job has been eliminated and that movie production chief Bruce Berman has assumed his duties.

Columbia Pictures Chairman Frank Price will look to pop icon Michael Jackson and a growing stable of veteran producers to revive the fortunes of the company he took over last year. At a press conference attended by his entire upper management team, Price revealed Friday that Jackson will star in a film produced by Anton Furst and written by Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson. The project has no title or release date, but Price said it will include "music, dancing and action."