Pine-Thomas Productions

Pine-Thomas Productions was a prolific B-picture unit of Paramount Pictures from 1940–1957, producing 81 films. Co-producers William H. Pine (February 15, 1896 – April 29, 1955) and William C. Thomas (August 11, 1903 – April 2, 1984) were known as the "Dollar Bills" because none of their economically made films ever lost money.[1][2][3]

"We don't want to make million dollar pictures," they said. "We just want to make a million dollars."[4]

History

William Pine and William Thomas

William Pine was a graduate of Columbia University who went to work as a publicist at Paramount in 1933 becoming head of publicity. He came an associate director for Cecil B. De Mille at Paramount and worked on several films.[5]

William Thomas was also a publicist who was working at Paramount producing "B" movies. Pine and Thomas struck up a relationship and swapped theories about how films could be produced for lower budgets.[6]

First Three Films: Picture Corporation of America

Pine and Thomas talked with Richard Arlen, who had become famous with Wings (1927) but whose most recent films had been lower budgeted productions. Arlen, who owned several planes and ran an aviation school, suggested they make an aviation film; he offered himself and his aircraft for a movie. Pine and Thomas selected three titles, Power Dive, Forced Landing and Flying Blind, and wrote scripts around them. (The producers later called these "Westerns of the air".[6]) They went to Paramount and said they had a star and three scripts and asked for a distribution deal. Paramount were looking for some low-budget action movies and agreed, enabling Pine and Thomas to get loans from the bank to finance the films.[7] The other key elements of the team were Maxwell Shane, a writer, and Doc Merman, a production manager.[8]

Power Drive (1941), starring Arlen and Jean Parker was made in ten days at a cost of $86,000 under the auspices of "Picture Corporation of America". Thomas produced the first film while Pine worked more an associate - he worked for Cecil B. De Mille.[9] It earned almost a million dollars. Pine and Thomas saved money by shooting on location.[10][4][7]

Their second film, Forced Landing (1941) was another aviation film with Arlen; Eva Gabor made her debut. Arlen and Parker were in their third film, Flying Blind (1941), which was directed by John McDonald who would helm many of the company's early films.

All three films cost under $90,000 and returned six times its negative cost. Paramount were so pleased with these results they offered to finance the duo's films from then on.[6]

Pine Thomas Productions: Chester Morris Joins Company

In June 1941 Pine and Thomas signed a six-picture deal with Paramount, three to star Richard Arlen and three to star Chester Morris.[11] The Picture Corporation of America was dissolved and from this point on the company would be known as Pine-Thomas Productions.[12]

Morris' first film for the company was No Hands on the Clock (1941), based on a novel by "Geoffrey Holmes" (Daniel Mainwaring). It was the first of three novels by Mainwaring which they optioned.[13]

Pine-Thomas' early films focused on industry and aviation, areas not often dealt with in the movies. According to the New York Times, "The plots were usually built around a hazardous occupation, like deep-sea diving parachute jumping or auto car racing - and someone was always killed doing that particular job in the first reel to get the idea across."[7] The screenwriters on their films often had to participate in the activities they were writing about.[14]

They kept costs down by careful scripting and budgeting, use of location filming for production value, and employing stars whose careers were in decline such as Arlen and Chester Morris - so they still had name recognition for the public but did not cost much to employ.[15] They did not employ any permanent staff apart from themselves and one secretary, hiring people on a picture-by-picture basis.[6]

The advent of World War Two saw Pine-Thomas go into military stories, although with action always at the forefront.[6] Arlen's fourth film for the company Torpedo Boat (1942) was directed by John Rawlins, who became another key director for the company. The female lead, Jean Parker, frequently appeared in the early films.

Arlen was in Wildcat (1942) and Morris did I Live on Danger (1942) then both were teamed in Wrecking Crew (1942).

In March 1942 Pine-Thomas signed a contract to make six more films for Paramount. Variety said "the pair have shown showman's flair for turning out thrill-heavy action dramas. They have consistently led their production classification in BO returns."[16] Arlen signed a deal with Pine Thomas to make four more films.[17]

Pine Thomas made four propaganda shorts including A Letter from Bataan (1942), which featured Arlen and a young Susan Hayward. William Pine directed these.[18] Pine made his feature debut as director with Aerial Gunner (1942), which reteamed Arlen and Morris.

Morris then made High Explosive (1943) and Tornado (1943), and signed another three-picture contract.[19]

Renewed Deal with Paramount

By December 1942 the company had made 11 films. They announced they had renewed their deal with Paramount and would make one "A" film a year.[20] However this did not happen for a number of years.

Their first film under the new deal was Alaska Highway (1943) with Arlen. The star was also in Submarine Alert (1943), Minesweeper (1943) and Timber Queen (1944). Arlen then left the company for a number of years.

In July 1943 Variety reported that Pine-Thomas films had an average gross in excess of $500,000.[6]

In June 1943 Pine-Thomas signed a new contract with Paramount which included three musicals, and two bigger budgeted pictures, plus three wartime movies which would co-star Chester Morris and Russell Hayden as a team (replacing Morris and Richard Arlen). Jack Haley was signed to appear in two of the musicals with Mary Beth Hughes (see below).[21][22]

Morris and Arlen were in Gambler's Choice (1944), a bigger budgeted period film. However, for Morris' next film, Double Exposure (1944) he was teamed with Philip Terry.

Robert Lowery

Pine-Thomas signed a contract with Robert Lowery who was in The Navy Way (1944), Dark Mountain (1944), Dangerous Passage (1944), High Powered (1945), They Made Me a Killer (1946), Danger Street (1947), some of the Big Town series (see below), and Jungle Flight (1947).

Some of these films were written by Daniel Mainwaring who later recalled, "Bill Thomas of Pine and Thomas, who made very small and very bad pictures at Paramount, gave me my first real screenwriting job. I wrote six pictures in one year, all of which I'd just as soon forget except Big Town [1947]. At the end of the year, I fled to the hills and wrote Build My Gallows High."[23]

Jack Haley

In 1944 they signed Jack Haley to a multi-picture contract.[24] This meant the company moved into comedies for the first time with Take It Big (1944), followed by One Body Too Many (1944) with Bela Lugosi, Scared Stiff (1945) and People Are Funny (1946).

Also in 1944 they signed a three-picture contract with Johnny Weissmuller, whose Sol Lesser RKO Pictures contract led him to make other films. However, he only made one film for them, Swamp Fire (1946)[25] with fellow former Tarzan Buster Crabbe.

William Gargan

William Gargan signed with the company and starred in Midnight Manhunt (1945), Follow That Woman (1945), Hot Cargo (1946), Waterfront at Midnight (1947) and Dynamite (1949).

Other stars for the company included Byron Barr (Tokyo Rose (1946)), Richard Denning (Seven Were Saved (1947), Caged Fury (1948), Disaster (1948)), William Eythe (Mr. Reckless, Special Agent (1949)).

Arlen returned to the company briefly to appear in Speed to Spare (1948).

Big Town Series

Pine Thomas decided to make a film based on the radio show Big Town. Big Town (1947) starring Phillip Reed and Lowery was popular enough for three sequels: I Cover Big Town (1947), Big Town After Dark (1948) and Big Town Scandal (1948). The series was shelved after four films were made but only the first two released.[26]

In June 1947 Paramount announced Pine Thomas would make eight films for them over the coming year.[27]

Pine and Thomas were both directing films by this stage. Shane made his directorial debut with Fear in the Night (1947) with Paul Kelly.

In a 1947 interview, Pine said, "We're not geniuses by a long shot and we don't propose to tell the industry how to make pictures. We're just a couple of businessmen who've learned by long experience how to put pictures together to achieve what we consider a maximum amount of entertainment at a minimum cost."[8]

Pine said they usually had six scripts ready for production "at a moment's notice. That gives flexibility to our schedule."[8] They also liked if possible to reuse sets on films. If a script was sent in, they would go over it with their production manager Doc Merman and inhouse writer to see if it was feasible to make. Background footage was important - they would often film this with a skeleton crew and using doubles which could substitute for the main cast. The cast was the last thing the producers would pick, once they knew how long the actors would be needed for. If they needed a star for only a week "we can afford to get a fairly big name and pay him well" said Pine.[8] But if they needed someone for longer, they got a less expensive star. They did prefer to hire lead actors with some name recognition but would hire experienced bit players so they would not hold up production.[8]

Pine said they often got ideas from the newspapers. They did not make many murder mysteries because the majors did them and they did not want to compete.[8]

Pine says he and Thomas were paid out of the profits of their films. "Some day I believe the whole industry will get around to working as units," said Pine.[8] He said thirty percent of their business came from England.[8]

Rising Budgets

After World War Two, television began to make inroads into Pine-Thomas' market, and costs were rising without a corresponding match in returns - for instance, Dynamite (1948) cost $200,000. Pine Thomas said their average take from a "B" was $450,000 worldwide and $350,000 in the US. However they noted that about once a year, one film would exceed expectations.[28]

Pine-Thomas experimented with increasing their budgets. They made Shaggy (1948) with Brenda Joyce and Adventure Island (1947) with Rory Calhoun and Rhonda Fleming, both borrowed from David O. Selznick. The budgets for these were between $250,000-$300,000 and they were both shot in color.[28]

Eventually Pine-Thomas dropped their lower budgeted films altogether and went into movies where the budget was $750,000 to $1 million. In 1948 Pine said, "We're going to sink the extra dough into where it will show. Into bigger stars, better stories and more production."[7]

Pine felt that if a film's budget was less than $750,000:

You can't get the star power and values into a film. Above that figure of course you have your worries on whether the big nut can be paid off on box office returns. On the cheapies the salesman has to beat harder to sell and the cost of distribution is no less than on the more expensive product ... We compared our profit on the basis of per dollar invested and came up with a finding that it would pay to spend more on each film ... These Bs are just as hard to make as As, particularly as you can't buy books or plays for them.[28]

In 1946 they formed a company, Clarion, with the goal of making more expensive films.[29] Clarion's first movie was a Western, Albuquerque (1948), starring Randolph Scott which cost $728,000 and made around $2 million.[28] It led to a contract with Paramount to make three "A" films a year.[30]

Pine-Thomas' first million dollar movie was the Western El Paso (1949) starring John Payne, Sterling Hayden and Gail Russell, and directed by Lewis R. Foster.[31]"We've got people working in this one who two years ago wouldn't have been caught dead in a Pine-Thomas picture," said Thomas.[7] He added, "in the old days, all we had to do was get a guy blown up in an oil well explosion and go from there, but now, when we want to kill someone, we've got to have a good reason."[7]

Forster also directed Manhandled (1949) which starred Hayden, Dorothy Lamour and Dan Duryea.

John Payne

El Paso was a success, earning $2 million. Manhandled was more "troublesome" at the box office.[32]

Pine-Thomas put Payne in two more films directed by Foster: Captain China (1950) with Russell, and The Eagle and the Hawk (1950) with Rhonda Fleming. Pine-Thomas liked the films and signed another three-picture deal with the actor all to be filmed in Technicolor.[33] These films were Tripoli (1950) with Maureen O'Hara, Passage West (1951) and Crosswinds (1951).

Into the 50s

In May 1951 Pine-Thomas signed a two-year extension on their Paramount deal, to make a minimum of eight films over 1952 and 1953, including three in Technicolor: High Tension, Gentleman of the Jungle and The Rebel.[34]

They also signed a new contract with John Payne to make six films over three years.[34] These were Caribbean Gold (1952), The Blazing Forest (1952), The Vanquished (1953) (originally The Rebel), and Hell's Island (1955). Caribbean Gold co-starred Arlene Dahl who signed a three-picture contract with the company.[35]

Joseph Losey directed The Lawless (1950) with Russell and MacDonald Carey. This was an attempt from Pine-Thomas to make more a more "significant" movie. Pine Thomas were worried about rising costs but did not see salary slashing as the answer. They felt the solution to keep budgets manageable was to script carefully so only what is shot gets on screen. ""The writer is the most important guy in Hollywood," said Pine. "Producers and directors don't like me for saying this but it's true. With the right script you can do wonders."[36]

Pine said at this stage they would make all their films in color, which he estimated added $500,000 to domestic take. He said budgets would range from $600,000 to $1 million.[36]

Ronald Reagan and Rhonda Fleming

Ronald Reagan signed a contract with the company and appeared in The Last Outpost (1951) with Fleming. They were reteamed on Hong Kong (1951) and Tropic Zone (1952).

In March 1952, Pine Thomas claimed they read around thirty stories a week in order to find the four they made for Paramount annually. They would submit a synopsis of the stories they liked to 20-30 theatre owners around the country to see how they react. "If the theatre men say they think their patrons would like to see the story filmed, we purchase it," they said. "If not, we reject it, We keep in touch with the public that way."[37]

By this stage they made all their films in color. They also had a policy to introduce one new player per film, such as Susan Morrow in Blazing Forest and Danny Chang in Hong Kong. They were increasingly aiming at the bigger budgeted area.[37]

"Their format is standard for many pictures produced in Hollywood," wrote Hedda Hopper in 1952.[37]

Ray Milland starred in Jamaica Run (1953) and Fernando Lamas and Fleming in Sangaree (1953) and Jivaro (1954).

The company made its first (and only) musical, Those Redheads from Seattle (1953) with Fleming.[38]

Stories they bought but did not make around this time include The Rebel, High Tension and Command Decision.[37]

In 1953 Pine claimed the team did not follow any formula. ""If there are any rules," he said, "you can bet we don't make them in Hollywood ... Each picture has to be approached as an individual project. Every time we start a picture we try to get all the plus-factors we can before starting."[39]

Final Films for Paramount

By August 1953 the producers had made 73 films and earned Paramount over $100,000,000. However television was eating into their market and led to them ceasing operations to re-think strategy. "You either hit big now or you don't hit at all," they said. "We had to think things out. You don't just say shoot the works and let it go at that. Stories are not easy to find."[40]

In February 1954 they announced they would only make big budget "A" films.

"Times and the market have changed," said Thomas. "We don't want anyone to think that this means we are switching away from our approach to providing film entertainment. We still want to make commercial pictures, not artistic ones. However, it's no longer commercial to make, the kind of pictures we've been making."

"It doesn't pay to take a chance in today's market on limited budget pictures." Pine said, "you can get nickel-and-dimed to death. So we are going to make pictures for whatever they require to be made."[41]

They produced three: Run for Cover with James Cagney directed by Nicholas Ray; The Far Horizons (1955) with Fred MacMurray and Charlton Heston; and Lucy Gallant (1955) with Heston and Jane Wyman.[40] They also did a lower budgeted Payne film, Hell's Island. The cost of these four films was $6 million, double the cost of Pine-Thomas' previous annual output.[42]

United Artists

In December 1954, after making Lucy Gallant, Pine Thomas announced the end of their relationship with Paramount after 77 films over 14 years. Pine declared that the "opportunity for the creative independent producer is the greatest in the history of the business. The sought-after stars, directors and writers are only interested in associating themselves with distinguished projects, regardless of whether these projects are controlled by an independent or major company."[43] Pine said the company's new method of operation would be to set the screenplay, stars and director before seeking finance.[43]

In 1955 Paramount sold 35 old-Pine Thomas films to Associated Artists Productions for showing on American television The cost was around $1 million.[44]

In January 1955 Pine-Thomas signed a contract with United Artists to make three films, The Big Caper, Lincoln McKeever and The Mountains Have No Shadows.[45]

Pine-Thomas-Shane

In April Thomas Pine died of a heart attack.[4] Two months later the company became Pine-Thomas-Shane, with Maxwell Shane becoming a partner. Pine's son Howard joined the company.[46][47]

Pine-Thomas-Shane made several films for United Artists: Nightmare (1956), a remake of Fear in the Night with Edward G. Robinson; The Big Caper (1957) with Rory Calhoun; and Bailout at 43,000 (1957) with Payne.[48] They also made two pilots, Johnny Pilgrim and Outposts. Then in 1956 Shane took a contract to produce at Universal.

The following year Howard Pine went to Universal and the company wound up. Lincoln McKeever was sold off to other producers.[49] Thomas announced he would make The Calender Epic and Key Witness solo.[50]

Later Films

William Thomas produced three more films in the late 1970s.

Select Filmography

Released by Paramount

Release date	Title	Stars	Writer	Director	Notes
May 28, 1941	Power Dive	Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Don Castle	Maxwell Shane, Edward Churchill	James P Hogan	Story by Paul Franklin. Made for "Picture Corporation of America"
July 11, 1941	Forced Landing	Richard Arlen, Eva Gabor, Nils Asther, J. Carroll Naish	Maxwell Shane, Edward Churchill	Gordon Wiles	Music by Dimitri Tiomkin. Made for Picture Corporation of America
August 29, 1941	Flying Blind	Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell, Nils Asther, Marie Wilson	Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy	Frank McDonald	Made for Picture Corporation of America
December 1, 1941	No Hands on the Clock	Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell, Rod Cameron	Maxwell Shane	Frank McDonald	Based on novel by Daniel Mainwaring (as "Geoffrey Homes").
January 24, 1942	Torpedo Boat	Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Phillip Terry, Dick Purcell	Maxwell Shane	John Rawlins	Story by Paul Franklin & Aaron Gottlieb
June 16, 1942	I Live on Danger	Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell	Lewis R. Foster, Richard Murphy, Maxwell Shane	Sam White	based on story by Foster & Alex Gottlieb
September 3, 1942	Wildcat	Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, Buster Crabbe, William Frawley, Arthur Hunnicutt, Elisha Cook Jr, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy	Frank McDonald	Based on story by North Bigbee
November 7, 1942	Wrecking Crew	Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Richard Arlen	Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy	Frank McDonald	Based on story by Robert T. Shannon & Mauri Grashin
March 27, 1943	High Explosive	Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Barry Sullivan, Dick Purcell, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane, Howard Green	Frank McDonald	Based on story by Joseph Hoffman
May 9, 1943	Aerial Gunner	Chester Morris, Richard Arlen, Jimmy Lydon, Dick Purcell	Maxwell Shane	William Pine	Based on an idea by Jack Davies. Pine's first feature as director. Robert Mitchum has small role.
June 24, 1943	Alaska Highway	Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, William Henry, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane, Lewis Foster	Frank McDonald
June 28, 1943	Submarine Alert	Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie, Nils Asther, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane	Frank McDonald	Release delayed for a year
August 1943	Tornado	Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, William Henry	Maxwell Shane	William A. Berke	Based on novel by John Guedel
November 10, 1943	Minesweeper	Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Russell Hayden, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams	Maxwell Shane, Edward T. Lowe	William Berke
January 13, 1944	Timber Queen	Richard Arlen, Mary Beth Hughes, June Havoc, Dick Purcell	Maxwell Shane, Edward Lowe	Frank McDonald
February 25, 1944	The Navy Way	Robert Lowery, Jean Parker, William Henry	Maxwell Shane	William Berke
April 27, 1944	Gambler's Choice	Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Russell Hayden	Maxwell Shane, Irving Reis	Frank McDonald	Based on a story by James Edward Grant, Howard Emmett Rogers
June 9, 1944	Take It Big	Jack Haley, Harriet Hilliard, Mary Beth Hughes, Arline Judge	Howard Green & Joe Bigalow	Frank McDonald	First musical. Appearance by Ozzie Nelson.
September 1944	Dark Mountain	Robert Lowery, Ellen Drew, Regis Toomey, Elisha Cook Jr	Maxwell Shane	William Berke	Story by Paul Franklin & Charles F. Royal
November 24, 1944	One Body Too Many	Jack Haley, Jean Parker, Bela Lugosi	Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller	Frank McDonald
December 18, 1944	Double Exposure	Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Phillip Terrt	Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller	William Berke	Based on story by Miller, Ralph Graves
December 18, 1944	Dangerous Passage	Robert Lowery, Phyllis Brooks, Jack La Rue	Daniel Manwaring	William Berke
February 1945	High Powered	Robert Lowery, Phyllis Brooks, Mary Tree, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane	William Berke	Story by Milton Raison
Jun 22, 1945	Scared Stiff	Jack Haley, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane, Veda Ann Borg	Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane	Frank McDonald	Aka You'll Be the Death of Me Yet
Jul 24, 1945	Midnight Manhunt	William Gargan, Ann Savage, Leo Gorcey, George Zuccp	David Lang	William Thomas
Dec 14, 1945	Follow That Woman	William Gargan, Nancy Kelly, Regis Toomey, Byron Barr	Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller, Ben Perry	Lew Landers
Jan 11, 1946	People Are Funny	Jack Haley, Helen Walker, Rudy Vallee, Ozzie Nelson, Philip Reed	Maxwell Shane	Sam White	Story by David Lang. Based on radio show by Jack Guedel (played in film by Philip Reed). Cameos by Art Linkletter, Frances Langford
Feb 8, 1946	Tokyo Rose	Byron Barr, Keye Luke, Osa Massen	Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane	Lew Landers
May 3, 1946	They Made Me a Killer	Robert Lowery, Barbara Britton, Lola Lane, Byron Barr, Ralph Sanford	Daniel Mainwaring, Winston Miller, Kae Salkow	William Thomas	Story by Owen Franes
Jun 28, 1946	Hot Cargo	William Gargan, Jean Rogers, Phillip Reed	Daniel Mainwaring	Lew Landers
Sep 6, 1946	Swamp Fire	Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe, Virginia Grey	Daniel Mainwaring	William Pine	David Janssen has small role
Mar 28, 1947	Seven Were Saved	Richard Denning, Catherine Craig, Russell Hayden	Maxwell Shane, Juliam Harmon	William Pine
May 23, 1947	Big Town	Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery, Veda Ann Borg, Byron Barr	Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane	William Thomas	Based on the radio show
Feb 27, 1947	I Cover Big Town	Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery	Maxwell Shane	William Thomas	sequel to Big Town
Apr 18, 1947	Fear in the Night	Paul Kelly, De Forest Kelly, Ann Doran, Kay Scott	Maxwell Shane	Maxwell Shane	Based on story by Cornel Woollrich
Jun 20, 1947	Danger Street	Jane Withers, Robert Lowery, Bill Edwards	Maxwell Shane, Kae Salkow, Winston Miller	Lew Landers	Story by Salkow & Miller
Aug 13, 1947	Adventure Island	Rory Calhoun, Rhonda Fleming, Paul Kelly, John Abbott, Alan Napire	Maxwell Shane	Sam Newfield	based on The Ebb Tide by Robert Louis Stevenson
Aug 22, 1947	Jungle Flight	Robert Lowery, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane	Whitman Chambers	Sam Newfield	Story by David Lang
Dec 12, 1947	Big Town After Dark	Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Richard Travis	Whitman Chambers	William Thomas	Third in Big Town series
Feb 20, 1948	Albuquerque	Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, Russell Hayden, Gabby Hayes, Lon Chaney Jr	Gene Lewis, Clarence Upson Young	Ray Enright	Based on Dead Freight for Piute by Luke Short. Pine Thomas' most expensive film til that date. Clarion Production.
Mar 5, 1948	Caged Fury	Richard Denning, Sheila Ryan, Buster Crabbe, Mary Beth Hughes	David Lang	William Berke
Mar 26, 1948	Mr. Reckless	William Eythe, Barbara Britton, Walter Catlett	Maxwell Shane, Milton Raison	Frank McDonald	Story by Thomas Ahearn
May 14, 1948	Speed to Spare	Richard Arlen, Jean Rogers, Richard Travis	Milton Raison	William Berke
May 27, 1948	Big Town Scandal	Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements	Milton Raison	William Thomas	4th and last in the Big Town series
Jun 11, 1948	Shaggy	Brenda Joyce, Georgie Nokes, Robert Shayne, Ralph Sanford	Maxwell Shane	Robert Tansey
Jun 25, 1948	Waterfront at Midnight	William Gargan, Mary Beth Hughes, Richard Travis	Bernard Girard	William Berke
Dec 3, 1948	Disaster	Richard Denning, Trudy Marshal, Damian O'Flynn	Thomas Ahearn	William Pine
Jan 18, 1948	Dynamite	William Gargan, Virginia Wells, Richard Crane	Milton Raison	William Pine
Jul 21, 1949	Manhandled	Dorothy Lamour, Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea	Whitman Chambers, Lewis Foster	Lewis Foster	Based on the novel The Man Who Stole A Dream by L. S. Goldsmith
Jul 22, 1949	Special Agent	William Eythe, Kasey Rogers, George Reeves	Whitman Chambers, Lewis Foster	William Thomas	Story by Milton Raison
Aug 5, 1949	El Paso	John Payne, Sterling Hayden, Gail Russell, Gabby Hayes, Dick Foran, Eduardo Noriega	Lewis Foster	Lewis Foster	story by J. Robert Bren & Gladys Atwater. PT's first million dollar film
Feb 2, 1950	Captain China	John Payne, Gail Russell, Jeffrey Lynn, Lon Chaney Jr	Lewis Foster, Gwen Bagni	Lewis Foster	Story by John Bagni & Gwen Bagni
May 30, 1950	The Eagle and the Hawk	John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Dennis O'Keefe	Lewis Foster, Daniel Manwaring	Lewis Foster	Story by Jess Arnold
Jun 1, 1950	The Lawless	MacDonald Carey, Gail Russell, Johnny Sands	Daniel Mainwaring	Joseph Losey	Based on novel by Mainwaring
Nov 9, 1950	Tripoli (1950)	John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Howard da Silva, Phillip Reed	Winston Miller	Will Price	Based on story by Price and Miller
Apr 4, 1951	The Last Outpost	Ronald Reagan, Bruce Bennett Rhonda Fleming	Winston Miller, Daniel Maninwaring, George Worthing Yates	Lewis Foster	Story by David Lang
Aug 30, 1951	Passage West	John Payne, Dennis O'Keefe, Arleen Whelan	Lewis Foster, Alvah Bessie	Lewis Foster	Alvah Bessie worked uncredited
Dec 6, 1951	Crosswinds	John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Forrest Tucker, Robert Lowery	Lewis Foster	Lewis Foster
Jan 12, 1952	Hong Kong	Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Nigel Bruce	Winston Miller	Lewis Foster	Story by Foster
Sep 1952	Caribbean	John Payne, Arlene Dahl, Cedric Harwicke	Frank Moss, Edward Ludwig	Edward Ludwig	Story by Ellery Clark
Dec 1952	The Blazing Forest	John Payne, William Demarest, Agnes Mooreheard, Richard Arlen	Lewis Foster, Winston Miller	Edward Ludwig
Jan 14, 1953	Tropic Zone	Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Esletia	Lewis Foster	Lewis Foster
Apr 22, 1953	Jamaica Run	Ray Milland, Wendell Corey, Arlene Dahl	Lewis Foster	Lewis Foster	The Neat Little Corpse by Max Murray
May 27, 1953	Sangaree	Fernando Lamas, Arlene Dahl, Patricia Medina	David Duncan, Frank Moss	Edward Ludwig	In 3D
Jun 3, 1953	The Vanquished	John Payne, Jan Sterling, Colleen Gray, Lyle Bettger	Lewis Foster, Winston Miller, Frank Moss	Edward Ludwig	Story by Karl Borwn
Sep 23, 1953	Those Redheads From Seattle	Rhonda Fleming, Gene Barry, Agnes Moorehead	Lewis Foster,Daniel Mainwaring, George Yates	Lewis Foster	Musical
Feb 12, 1954	Jivaro	Fernando Lamas, Rhonda Fleming, Brian Keith	Winston Miller	Edward Ludwig	Story by David Duncan, shot in 3D, aka Lost Treasure of the Amazon
Apr 20, 1955	Run for Cover	James Cagney, John Derek, Viveca Lindfors, Ernest Borgnine	Winston Miller	Nicholas Ray	Story by Harriet Frank, Jr., Irving Ravetch
May 6, 1955	Hell's Island	John Payne, Mary Murphy, Eduardo Noriega	Maxwell Shane	Phil Karlson	story by Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard
Aug 1955	The Far Horizons	Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston, Donna Reed, Barbara Hale	Winston Miller	Rudolph Mate	novel by Della Gould Emmons
Oct 20, 1955	Lucy Gallant	Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, William Demarest	John Lee Mahin, Winston Miller	Robert Parrish	Based on novella, "The Life of Lucy Gallant," by Margaret Cousins. Last film for Paramount

United Artists Features

Release date	Title	Stars	Writer	Director	Notes
May 11, 1956	Nightmare	Edward G Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell	Maxwell Shane	Maxwell Shane	Based on story by Cornell Woolrich. Remake of Fear in the Night. Pine-Thomas-Shane Production
Mar 28, 1957	The Big Caper	Rory Calhoun	Martin Berkeley, Mary Costa, James Gregory	Robert Stevens	Based on novel by Lionel White
May 1, 1957	Bailout at 43,000	John Payne, Karen Steele, Paul Kelly	Paul Monash	Francis D Lyon	Last film from the company. Based on a TV play.

Produced by William Thomas alone

Release date	Title	Stars	Writer	Director	Notes
1976	Cat Murkil and the Silks
1977	High Seas Hijack

Shorts

Release date	Title	Stars	Writer	Director	Notes
1943	A Letter from Bataan	Richard Arlen and Susan Hayward		Pine
1942	We Refuse to Die			Pine
1942	The Price of Victory	Henry Wallace		Pine

References

1. Dick, Bernard F. (2001). Engulfed: The Death of Paramount Pictures and the Birth of Corporate Hollywood, University Press of Kentucky, p. 33
2. John Payne – the Star Who Likes People: When He Isn't Making a Picture He's Out Meeting the Public and Winning Friends for Hollywood and for Himself. Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 14 Sep 1952: c2.
3. 'Senile celluloid': Independent exhibitors, the major studios and the fight over feature films on television, 1939-1956 Pierce, David. Film History; Sydney Vol. 10, Iss. 2, (1998): 141-164.
4. William Paine, Filmmaker New York Times 30 Apr 1955: 17.
5. "William Pine". Variety. 1955.
6. "Those Two Bills, Pine and Thomas, Turn Short-Coin Pix Into Bonanzas". Variety. 7 July 1943. p. 2.
7. ANTE UPPED FOR PINE AND THOMAS By THOMAS WOOD New York Times 17 Oct 1948: X5.
8. TWO DOLLAR BILLS: LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD WITH HEDDA HOPPER Chicago Daily Tribune 13 Apr 1947: h7
9. "Pine, Thomas, Siegel's Par Units". Variety. 11 December 1940. p. 3.
10. WILLIAM THOMAS, 80; PRODUCER OF LOW-BUDGET '40S ACTION FILMS Burr Van Atta. Philadelphia Inquirer 6 Apr 1984: E.2.
11. Chester Morris Will Act in Cinema Series Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 30 June 1941: A14.
12. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD, New York Times 30 June 1941: 13
13. Stage Actors Signed for 'The Male Animal'Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 19 July 1941: A9.
14. Raison, Milton (7 January 1948). "Writing for Pine and Thomas a Hazardous Occupation". Variety. p. 47.
15. While the Films Reel By: Quickies Keep Alive Romance of Hollywood Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 20 Dec 1942: C3.
16. "Par Orders Six More from Pine and Thomas". Variety. 15 March 1942. p. 15.
17. "HOLLYWOOD NEWS". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 10 June 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 15 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
18. Variety. 1942 https://archive.org/stream/variety147-1942-07#page/n13/mode/1up/search/'pine-thomas. Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. Chester Morris Wins Three-Picture Contract With Pine and Thomas Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 16 Mar 1943: 13.
20. DRAMA: Pine, Thomas Will Do One 'A' Film Annually Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 Dec 1942: 15.
21. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 26 June 1943: 11.
22. Pine and Thomas to Increase Production at Paramount New York Times 28 June 1943: 16.
23. McGilligan (ed.), Pat (1997). Backstory 2: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 1940s and 1950s. University of California Press. pp. 196–197.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
24. Glenn Langan Awarded 'Bon Voyage' Male Lead Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 23 Aug 1944: A7.
25. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 18 Feb 1944: 14.
26. "Pine Thomas Shelve Big Town Series". Variety. 26 November 1947. p. 6.
27. "Par Ups Bs". Variety. 11 June 1947. p. 3.
28. "$750,000-$1,000,000 class held just right by Pine Thomas". Variety. 26 January 1949. p. 7.
29. 'ANGEL FACE' LISTED FOR MISS GODDARD New York Times 9 Dec 1946: 34.
30. https://archive.org/stream/variety170-1948-06#page/n62/mode/1up/search/'pine-thomas
31. Pine-Thomas Group to Shoot New Films Los Angeles Times 5 Sep 1948: D3
32. Variety. 1949 https://archive.org/stream/variety174-1949-06#page/n190/mode/1up/search/'pine-thomas. Missing or empty |title= (help)
33. John Payne Will Hit Pioneer Trail Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 28 Nov 1949: B7.
34. PRODUCERS PINE, THOMAS SIGN WITH PARAMOUNT Los Angeles Times 29 May 1951: A3.
35. MARIO LANZA TO DO ROMBERG OPERETTA New York Times 3 Apr 1952: 44.
36. "Pine Thomas to Lens more 'significant' pix if 'Lawless' clicks". Variety. 10 May 1950. p. 14.
37. HOLLYWOOD IN REVIEW: 'Dollar Bills' Grow Into Millions Class; Oscar Surprises Buoy Event Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 30 Mar 1952: D3.
38. Five Redheads to Star in Pine-Thomas Film Los Angeles Times 19 July 1952: 6.
39. "PT Near 75 Picture Mark". Variety. 11 February 1953. p. 7.
40. IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS AND FILMS CHANGE: So Pine-Thomas (We Want to Make a Million) Switch to Million-Dollar Movies By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 25 Feb 1954: 25
41. "Pine-Thomas go for big films". Variety. 24 February 1954. p. 3.
42. Variety. 1954 https://archive.org/stream/variety195-1954-07#page/n17/mode/1up/search/'pine-thomas. Missing or empty |title= (help)
43. Pine-Thomas Ends Paramount Film Contract Los Angeles Times 17 Dec 1954: 13.
44. Paramount Films Sold for TV Wall Street Journal 25 Apr 1955: 10
45. FOUR FILM STARS WEIGH U. A. DEALS New York Times 31 Jan 1955: 23.
46. PEGGY LEE SIGNS 3-FILM CONTRACT New York Times 3 June 1955: 26
47. GOLDWYN LEAVES PRODUCERS GROUP New York Times 11 May 1955: 35.
48. PECK SETS TERMS FOR METRO FILM New York Times 28 July 1956: 11.
49. "Howard Pine Back at U, Bill Thomas Goes Solo". Variety. 10 April 1957. p. 3.
50. Merchant Marine Tale in Super Class; Charles Vidor Replaces Huston Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 04 Apr 1957: B13

External links

• Pine-Thomas Productions at IMDb