Peter Bart (Legendary Studio Executive, Producer, & Journalist) on Shaping Modern Hollywood

Don't Kill the Messenger with Movie Research Expert Kevin Goetz

Send Kevin a Text Message

Kevin is joined by Hollywood journalist and studio executive, Peter Bart.

Peter Bart, Journalist and Hollywood Executive
Over an influential career spanning over 50 years, Peter Bart has played a key role in shaping modern Hollywood. He began as a journalist at The New York Times before becoming a studio executive at Paramount in the late 1960s and 70s, overseeing movies like The Godfather, Rosemary’s Baby, and Chinatown. He later served as Editor-in-Chief of Variety for nearly 30 years. Today, Bart continues to be a prominent voice through his writing for Deadline. With his vast experience and perspective, Bart remains a living legend in the world of movies.
Early career in journalism (05:16)
Peter shares how he got his start in journalism by asking outrageous questions. The New York Times sent Bart to Hollywood to cover the rise of TV, but he was drawn to the fascinating economics of the movie business.
Getting Into the Movie Business (08:15)
Bart became friends with Bob Evans, who brought him to Paramount as head of production despite no film experience. They reinvented the studio by making artistic, character-driven films based on novels vs big-budget spectacles.
Reinventing Hollywood (13:09)
Bart bought rights to novels and quality scripts like The Godfather. He shares how he wanted to make it an art film, but its popularity pushed the studio to make it more commercial. Bart shares how he and Evans often made movies without studio oversight in order to take creative risks on movies like Rosemary’s Baby, Paper Moon, and Harold and Maude.
Drama with Frank Sinatra (22:43)
Peter shares a behind-the-scenes story from Rosemary’s Baby. Director Roman Polanski’s demanding style angered Frank Sinatra, husband of the film's star Mia Farrow.
Returning to Journalism with Variety (27:01)
Bart shares that after 18 years making films, he wanted to tell the story of Hollywood’s shifts - filmmaker power transitioning to dealmakers/businessmen running studios.
The Future of Theatrical Films (43:09)
Kevin and Peter discuss the value of the theatrical experience. As the way people watch movies is changing, Bart believes audience energy hugely enhances films. He shares how the new generation is losing out by only streaming at home.
Tune in to hear Peter Bart share invaluable insights from his legendary career spanning studio executive leadership and entertainment. He provides a unique window into the reinvention of Hollywood in the 1960s and 70s, greenlighting seminal films like The Godfather. Peter makes an impassioned case for retaining the irreplaceable theatrical experience. With unmatched experience across epochs of the film industry, Peter's perspectives are a must-listen for any cinema fan.
Host: Kevin Goetz
Guests: Peter Bart
Producer: Kari Campano
Writers: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman, Kari Campano
For more information about Peter Bart:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bart
Deadline: https://deadline.com/author/peter-bart/
Variety: https://variety.com/author/peter-bart/
For more information about Kevin Goetz:
Website: www.KevinGoetz360.com
Audienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @KevinGoetz360