Largo Entertainment
Largo Entertainment was a production company founded in 1989. It was ran by film producer Lawrence Gordon and was backed by electronics firm Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) in an investment that cost more than $100 million. The production company released their first film, Point Break in 1991 and their last film was Grey Owl in 1999.
Film Studio | |
Industry | Motion pictures
|
Fate | Assets sold to InterMedia |
Founded | 1989 |
Founder | Lawrence Gordon |
Defunct | 1999 |
Headquarters | United States |
Owner | JVC |
History
In August 1989, Gordon formed Largo Entertainment with the backing of JVC, representing the first major Japanese investment in the entertainment industry. Although JVC put up the entire $100 million investment, the company was structured to be a 50/50 joint venture between Gordon and JVC.[1] As the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Gordon was responsible for the production of such films as Point Break (1991), starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves; The Super (1991), starring Joe Pesci; Unlawful Entry (1992), starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe; Used People (1992), starring Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Marcia Gay Harden and Marcello Mastroianni; and Timecop (1994), starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Largo also co-financed and handled the foreign distribution of the acclaimed 1992 biopic Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington in the title role. In January 1994, Gordon left the company and forged a production deal at Universal.[2] In 1999, JVC transferred Largo's film acquisition assets to JVC Entertainment, a film subsidiary for the Japanese market, and shut down its foreign sales operation.[3] Largo's film library was acquired by InterMedia in 2001.[4]
Filmography
Release Date | Title | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross (worldwide) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 12, 1991 | Point Break | 20th Century Fox | co-production with Tapestry Films and Johnny Utah Productions | $24 million | $83.5 million |
October 4, 1991 | The Super | co-production with Daybreak Productions | $22 million | $11 million | |
June 26, 1992 | Unlawful Entry | $23 million | $57.1 million | ||
October 23, 1992 | Dr. Giggles | Universal Pictures | co-production with Dark Horse Entertainment | N/A | $8.4 million |
November 18, 1992 | Malcolm X | Warner Bros. Pictures | co-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks | $35 million | $48.2 million |
December 16, 1992 | Used People | 20th Century Fox | $16 million | $28 million | |
October 15, 1993 | Judgment Night | Universal Pictures | $21 million | $12.1 million | |
February 11, 1994 | The Getaway | N/A | $30 million | ||
September 16, 1994 | Timecop | co-production with Signature Pictures, Renaissance Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment | $27 million | $101.6 million | |
February 2, 1996 | White Squall | Buena Vista Pictures | co-production with Hollywood Pictures and Scott Free Productions; also international distribution rights | $38 million | $10.2 million |
April 26, 1996 | Mulholland Falls | MGM/UA Distribution Co. | co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, The Zanuck Company and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment | $29 million | $11.5 million |
October 9, 1996 | The Proprietor | Warner Bros. | co-production with Merchant Ivory Productions, Ognon Pictures and Fez Production Filmcilik | N/A | |
November 29, 1996 | Adrenalin: Fear the Rush | Legacy Releasing Corporation | co-production with Filmwerks and Toga Productions; distributed to home video by Buena Vista Home Video and Dimension Films | N/A | $37,536 |
January 31, 1997 | Meet Wally Sparks | Trimark Pictures | co-production with The Greif Company | $4.1 million | |
March 14, 1997 | City of Industry | Orion Pictures | $8 million | $1.5 million | |
April 19, 1997 | Habitat | Sci-Fi Channel | made-for television film; co-production with Transfilm, Kingsborough Pictures, Ecotopia B.V. and August Entertainment | N/A | |
July 8, 1997 | Omega Doom | Columbia TriStar Home Video | direct-to-video; co-production with Filmwerks | ||
July 11, 1997 | This World, Then the Fireworks | Orion Pictures | co-production with Balzac's Shirt, Muse Productions and Wynard | N/A | $51,618 |
July 25, 1997 | Box of Moonlight | Box of Moonlight Picture Corporation | co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment and Lemon Sky Productions | $782,641 | |
August 22, 1997 | G.I. Jane | Buena Vista Pictures | co-production with Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, Roger Birnbaum Productions and Scott Free Productions | $50 million | $48.1 million |
February 27, 1998 | Kissing a Fool | Universal Pictures | co-production with Rick Lashbrook Films | $19 million | $4.1 million |
April 9, 1998 | Shadow of Doubt | New City Releasing | N/A | ||
October 30, 1998 | Vampires | Sony Pictures Releasing | co-production with Columbia Pictures, Storm King Productions, Film Office and Spooky Tooth Productions | $20 million | $20.3 million |
December 30, 1998 | Affliction | Lions Gate Films | co-production with Kingsgate Films | $6 million | $6.3 million |
May 21, 1999 | Finding Graceland | Columbia TriStar Home VIdeo | direct-to-video; co-production with TCB Productions and Avenue Pictures | N/A | |
November 9, 1999 | Bad Day on the Block | direct-to-video, co-production with Sheen/Michaels Entertainment | |||
February 15, 2000 | Grey Owl | direct-to-video; co-production with Allied Filmmakers | $30 million | $632,617 |
References
- EASTON, NINA J. (1989-08-21). "Japanese Firm in $100-Million Hollywood Deal". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
- O'Steen, Kathleen (1994-01-13). "Gordon leaves Largo". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
- Roman, Monica (1999-02-08). "JVC to forgo Largo". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
- Dawtrey, Adam (2001-03-14). "Largo library to Intermedia". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-23.