National General Corporation
IndustryMotion pictures
PredecessorFox Theatres
Founded1951 (1951)
DefunctFebruary 1974 (1974-02)
FateLiquidated
SuccessorMann Theatres
Library: Warner Bros.
Number of locations
240 (1973; theaters)
6 (1969; distribution offices)
ProductsFilm distribution, film exhibition, television production and distribution
Production output
Theatrical films
ServicesFilm distribution
Film exhibition
DivisionsNational General Pictures
National General Records

National General Corporation (NGC) was a theater chain holding company, film distribution and production company and was considered one of the "instant majors". It was in operation from 1951 to 1974.

Divisions

Its division National General Pictures (NGP) was a production company which was active between 1967 and 1973. NGP produced nine motion pictures in-house. The company was a division of the National General Corporation (NGC) which started as the spun out Fox Theatre chain of movie houses, which were later sold to the Mann Theatres Corporation.

National General had its own record label, National General Records, that operated for at least three years and was distributed by Buddah Records.[1]

History

year Theaters
1951550
1957275
1973240

National General Corporation was a film distribution network and the successor of 20th Century Fox's theater division with 550 theaters when spun off in 1951 and reduced in half by court order six years later.[li 1]

National General entered distribution in 1966 under a three-year waiver from the consent decrees[li 2] with six distribution offices.[li 3] In 1967, the CBS television network decided to produce their own films for theatrical release through their production unit Cinema Center Films (CCF), which were released through National General.

National General also acquired Sy Weintraub's Banner Productions in 1967 which was producing Tarzan films and the TV series.[2] NGC had also entered theatrical film production under Charles Boasberg in 1967 as National General Pictures (NGP). The ABC television network had done the same thing with Cinerama in the formation of another instant major partnership. In 1969, after a request for an indefinite waiver, the consent decree waiver was extended for another three years. NGC gained another production partner in 1969 with the formation of First Artists Productions (FAP).

The company tried to acquire Warner Bros. in 1969, but the deal was rejected on antitrust grounds by the Justice Department, and NGP was closed in 1970.[li 2] By 1970, all the instant majors had each captured 10% of the market.[li 3]

Following Cinema Center's closure, NGC was taken over by American Financial Corporation in 1972, but continued distributing films until 1973. In November 1973, American Financial sold NGC/NGP's releasing contracts and film library to Warner Bros.[li 2] National General, then just containing 240 theaters, were sold in 1973 to Mann Theatres.[li 1]

Partial list of film titles

1960s

Release Date Title Production company
September 6, 1967Tarzan's Jungle RebellionA two-part episode of the 1966 Tarzan TV series
January 31, 1968Poor CowBritish production
August 7, 1968With Six You Get EggrollCCF
August 21, 1968How Sweet It Is!
December 25, 1968The Stalking Moon
February 26, 1969Twisted NerveBritish production
March 13, 1969Charro!
May 10, 1969A Fine PairCCF; European production
May 28, 1969The April FoolsCCF
July 2, 1969Daddy's Gone A-Hunting
July 13, 1969Me, NatalieCCF
September 17, 1969All Neat in Black StockingsBritish production
October 4, 1969Hail, Hero!CCF
October 6, 1969The Royal Hunt of the SunCCF; British production
October 22, 1969The Grasshopper
November 1969Day of AngerEuropean production filmed in 1967
December 4, 1969A Boy Named Charlie BrownCCF
December 15, 1969A Dream of Kings
December 25, 1969The ReiversCCF

1970s

Release Date Title Production company
March 17, 1970The Boys in the BandCinema Center Films (CCF)
April 29, 1970A Man Called HorseCCF
June 12, 1970The Cheyenne Social ClubCCF
June 19, 1970El CondorEuropean production
July 22, 1970Something for EveryoneCCF
July 1970Tarzan's Deadly SilenceA two-part episode of the 1966 Tarzan TV series
August 14, 1970Darker than AmberCCF
September 22, 1970Adam at Six A.M.CCF
October 1, 1970The Baby MakerNational General
October 7, 1970Monte WalshCCF
November 5, 1970ScroogeCCF; British production
November 23, 1970HomerCCF
December 4, 1970Latitude ZeroJapanese production
December 18, 1970Rio LoboCCF
December 23, 1970Little Big ManCCF
February 10, 1971EyewitnessBritish production
May 21, 1971The Cat o' Nine TailsEuropean production
May 26, 1971Big JakeCCF
June 1, 1971Blue Water, White DeathCCF; documentary
June 15, 1971Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?CCF
June 23, 1971Le MansCCF
July 16, 1971The Light at the Edge of the WorldEuropean production
July 18, 1971Figures in a LandscapeBritish production
October 20, 1971The Todd KillingsNational General
October 1971The African ElephantCCF; documentary
November 1971The Christian Licorice StoreCCF
November 1971Something BigCCF
January 9, 1972Eagle in a CageEuropean production
February 1, 1972Pocket MoneyFirst Artists
March 1972The Little Ark
June 1, 1972The War Between Men and WomenCCF
June 9, 1972Red SunEuropean production
June 21, 1972The RevengersCCF
June 22, 1972The Dead Are AliveEuropean production
June 28, 1972Prime CutCCF
August 9, 1972Snoopy, Come HomeCCF
October 25, 1972The Deadly TrapEuropean production
October 1972Lapin 360
October 1972Treasure IslandEuropean production
December 8, 1972The Master TouchEuropean production
December 13, 1972The GetawayFirst Artists
December 18, 1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanFirst Artists
December 21, 1972Up the SandboxFirst Artists
1973One Armed BoxerHong Kong production
March 4, 1973Baxter!British production
March 1973Fists of FuryHong Kong production
May 1, 1973The Chinese ConnectionHong Kong production
May 16, 1973Extreme Close-UpNational General
May 23, 1973A Warm DecemberFirst Artists
July 13, 1973Lady IceNational General
August 1, 1973MaurieNational General
September 5, 1973HapkidoHong Kong production
September 24, 1973The Man Called NoonBritish production
September 24, 1973The New One-Armed SwordsmanHong Kong production
October 7, 1973The Second GunDocumentary on the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
October 24, 1973Massacre in RomeEuropean production
November 7, 1973Executive ActionNational General
January 2, 1974Chinese HerculesHong Kong production

References

Citations

  1. Eyries, Patrice, David Edwards and Mike Callahan. (October 21, 2005). National General Album Discography. Discography Listings. Both Sides Now Publications. Accessed on January 3, 2014.
  2. Murphy, A.D. (June 3, 1970). "NGC Toppers Control 16% Of Stock; Proxy Details Salaries, Option Deals". Variety. p. 4.

Sources

  1. 1 2 Cook, p. 400.
  2. 1 2 3 Cook, pp. 331-332.
  3. 1 2 Cook, p. 333.
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