MONTREAL – U.S. producer Alan Ladd, Jr., who gained renown for giving George Lucas the go-ahead to make Star Wars when others opposed it, will be president of the international jury at the Montreal World Film Festival.
In the course of his lengthy career, movies produced by Ladd have grossed billions of dollars, snagged more than 150 Academy Award nominations, won 50 Oscars and a number of Golden Globes and Palme d’or, the festival said in making the announcement on Monday.
“We are very pleased to have one of the premier Hollywood producers of our time to preside over the festival jury,” said Serge Losique, the festival’s president.
Ladd, the son of actor Alan Ladd, began his career as an agent in 1963 and then moved to London where he produced nine films.
He returned to the U.S. in 1973 as head of creative affairs for 20th Century Fox, eventually leading the company in one of its most creative periods.
It was at this time that he bucked the view of the 20th Century Fox board of directors, who wanted to shut down production on Star Wars and told Lucas to get the movie made.
Star Wars, the tale of a plucky band of rebels fighting an evil empire, went on to become an empire of its own — spawning enough sequels, books, toys, TV shows and other items to earn it status as a pop-culture icon.
Ladd founded The Ladd Company, his own production firm, in 1979, enjoying success with such Oscar winners as The Right Stuff and Chariots of Fire.
The company also produced the cult classic Blade Runner.
He joined MGM/UA in 1985 and eventually became chairman of Pathe Entertainment.
Among the hits from MGM/UA during his tenure were A Fish Called Wanda and Thelma and Louise.
He reformed the Ladd Company with Paramount Pictures in 1993 where he won the the Best Picture Oscar for his production of Braveheart.
The Montreal World Film Festival will run from Aug. 22 to Sept. 2.
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