Commonwealth United Entertainment
Defunct American film production and distribution company
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Commonwealth United Entertainment (generally referred to as Commonwealth United; abbreviated as CUE), formerly known as Television Enterprises Corporation (abbreviated as TEC), was a short-lived American film and TV production and distribution company active from the early-mid 1960s until 1971. It was headed by Milton T. Raynor.[1]
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Logo of the Commonwealth United Entertainment Corporation | |
| Commonwealth United | |
| Industry | Filmed entertainment |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Fate | Broken up and sold to National Telefilm Associates |
| Successor | Library: Paramount Pictures (through Melange Pictures, via NTA library) |
Key people | Milton T. Raynor |
| Owner | Milton T. Raynor (–1967) |
| Parent | Commonwealth United Corporation (1967–1971) |
The company was sometimes considered one of the "instant majors" of the late 1960s.[li 1] Its parent company briefly operated a record label, Commonwealth United Records (abbreviated as CUR),[2] as well as a TV production and distribution company, Commonwealth United Television (abbreviated as CUT).[3] It produced films through its in-house film studio, Commonwealth United Productions (abbreviated as CUP),[4] which would eventually become Commonwealth United Pictures (abbreviated as CUP).[5]
History
| Industry | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Real Properties Corporation |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Successor | National Telefilm Associates |
| Divisions | Commonwealth United Entertainment Commonwealth United Television Commonwealth United Records Commonwealth United Pictures |
Commonwealth United Corporation (abbreviated as CUC) was originally a real estate holding company formed in 1961 as the Real Properties Corporation. It changed its name to CUC in 1965.[6] In 1967, CUC acquired TEC.[li 1] Milton T. Raynor moved to California and became vice-president at TEC. Later, Raynor took over ownership.[1]
Commonwealth United Entertainment
In 1967, CUC acquired The Landau-Unger Company, with Ely Landau becoming president and CEO and Oliver A. Unger as executive vice-president.[7] It also acquired TEC[li 1] and was renamed Commonwealth United.[1] In 1967, Commonwealth United produced 17 theatrical films and purchased publishing and recording interests.[li 1] The Max Factor family financed That Cold Day in the Park, a movie directed by Robert Altman that Commonwealth United released in 1969.[li 2] By 1971, Commonwealth United was $80 million in debt. The company's film rights, foreign and domestic, were acquired by National Telefilm Associates and American International Pictures respectively.[li 1]
Select credits
- A Black Veil for Lisa (1968)
- 99 Women (1969)
- Venus in Furs (1969)
- Battle of Neretva (1969)
- The Magic Christian (1969)
- It Takes All Kinds (1969)
- That Cold Day in the Park (1969)
- Paranoia (1969)
- Tiger by the Tail (1970)
- Julius Caesar (1970)
- Tam Lin (filmed in 1969, limited UK release in 1970)
- Freelance (filmed 1970)