:14:00
Bluhdorn bought this giant at bargain
basement prices, the only way he knew how.
:14:04
Everybody thought he was nuts to get
in a business he knew nothing about...
:14:08
...much less a business
as crazy as show business.
:14:11
But, guys, I got a deal at 20th.
"Get out of it.
:14:15
You'll be running Paramount in
three months. Is that right, Marty?"
:14:19
Davis gives me a look.
:14:20
"If you're gonna run Paramount, you
better be tougher than you seem."
:14:24
Did I get the message? You bet.
Then Bluhdorn blasted my other ear:
:14:28
"Go by the seat of your pants.
Make pictures people wanna see.
:14:32
I wanna see tears, laughs. I want pretty
girls in the pictures, beautiful girls.
:14:37
Pictures people in Kansas City want to see.
:14:39
That's all, Evans.
What else do we have to go over?"
:14:43
Being the head of production of
a studio such as Paramount...
:14:47
... and I'm sure you're aware of it,
involves a tremendous responsibility.
:14:50
You are dealing with millions of dollars.
:14:54
They had a lot of great names for me.
"Bluhdorn's Folly" by The New York Times.
:14:59
Another was "Bluhdorn's Blow Job" by
Hollywood Close-up. Good feeling, huh?
:15:03
There was, to put it mildly...
:15:06
...a great deal of skepticism
from people in the industry.
:15:09
After all, where does an ex-actor, and a
bad one at that, come off running a studio?
:15:14
From the day I arrived, the rumor mill
had me packing my bags.
:15:18
Time magazine ran a story
saying my firing was imminent.
:15:22
Friends, columnists, agents, all let me know
I wouldn't be there for Christmas.
:15:26
Then it happened. Front page of Variety:
"Evans tenure over by end of month."
:15:32
I called Charles Bluhdorn, chairman of
Gulf and Western, who bought Paramount.
:15:38
He was in Spain. I got him out of a board
of directors' meeting in Madrid and said:
:15:44
Charles, there's a story in Variety that
I'm gonna get fired. If it's true, tell me.
:15:49
- Tell me if it's true.
- I'll pick up my laundry.
:15:52
I'm ready to go. He says,
"Let me tell you something.
:15:55
When you're getting fired, I'll let
you know. Stop reading gossip.
:15:59
As long as I own Paramount, you'll be
where you are. Relax and do your job."