Samuel Goldwyn

Samuel Goldwyn – Life, Career, and Famous “Goldwynisms”

Samuel Goldwyn (c.1879–1974) was a pioneering Hollywood film producer, independent mogul, and co-founder of early studios. Known for quality films, discovering talent, and his humorous malapropisms, his legacy remains central to the Golden Age of cinema.

Introduction

Samuel Goldwyn was one of the architects of Hollywood’s golden era. Born as Szmuel (or Shmuel) Gelbfisz in Warsaw and later anglicizing his name, he rose from immigrant roots to become—and remain—one of the most influential independent producers. His films ranged from literary adaptations and prestige dramas to musicals, and he was renowned for his eye for talent, insistence on quality, and his colorful way of speaking. Though he never had managerial control of MGM (despite its name), his independent productions left an indelible mark on American cinema.

Early Life and Family

Samuel Goldwyn was likely born in July 1879 in Warsaw, Poland (then in the Russian Empire). 1882, possibly a later personal claim. Szmuel Gelbfisz (also spelled Gelbfisz or Gelbfisz).

His parents were Aaron Dawid Gelbfisz, a peddler, and Hanna Frymet (sometimes Frymet or Fiszhaut).

Goldwyn left Poland as a young man. He went to Hamburg, Germany, where he worked in glove manufacturing or associated trades, then onward to England, where he used the name “Samuel Goldfish.” Gloversville, New York, a center of glove manufacturing.

Around 1902 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Journey into Film & Studio Foundations

Early Film Ventures & Paramount

Goldwyn’s entry into motion pictures came through connections in theater and early film. In 1913, he partnered with Jesse L. Lasky, Cecil B. DeMille, and others to form the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. Their first major film was The Squaw Man (1914), often considered among the early feature-length productions in Hollywood.

In 1916, the Lasky organization merged with Adolph Zukor’s Famous Players Company to become the Famous Players–Lasky Corporation. At that time, Goldwyn became chairman of the board of Famous Players–Lasky.

Goldwyn Pictures & Name Change

Later in 1916, Goldwyn joined with Broadway producers Edgar and Archibald Selwyn and founded Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. The name “Goldwyn” was a fusion of “Goldfish” (his then-surname) and “Selwyn.” Samuel Goldwyn (from “Goldfish”) in December 1918.

Goldwyn Pictures became famous in part for the roaring lion logo (later adopted by MGM) and for producing a number of films. Marcus Loew’s Metro Pictures Corporation (and Louis B. Mayer’s operations) to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

Independent Production & Samuel Goldwyn Productions

After the MGM merger, Goldwyn embarked on an independent producing career. In 1923 (even before the final merger), he formed Samuel Goldwyn Productions, a production-only company without its own distribution arm.

Over his career, he produced dozens of films — many with literary or prestige ambitions — and frequently worked with top directors, writers, and actors. Arrowsmith (1931), Dodsworth (1936), The Little Foxes (1941), Wuthering Heights (1939), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Guys and Dolls (1955), and Porgy and Bess (1959).

Goldwyn was known for recruiting top-tier writers (Ben Hecht, Dorothy Parker, Sidney Howard, Lillian Hellman) and working on high-quality scripts.

One of his greatest successes was The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), a film about returning World War II veterans, which won multiple Oscars including Best Picture.

His last major project was Porgy and Bess (1959), an adaptation of the Gershwin opera. Though ambitious, it was not a commercial success and suffered critical backlash.

Personality, Style & “Goldwynisms”

Samuel Goldwyn was a colorful, opinionated man known not only for his filmmaking but also for his eccentric speech. He became famous for malapropisms and paradoxical statements—so-called “Goldwynisms”. Some of his popular sayings include:

• “Include me out.”

• “I don’t think anybody should write his autobiography until after he’s dead.”

• “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” (Often misattributed or misquoted; the original quip praised verbal contracts.)

• “I’m willing to admit I may be wrong, but I won’t admit that I am wrong.” (Some variation of this is attributed to him.)

These humorous quirks made him a beloved figure, even by those he irritated. His remarks are often invoked when referencing humorous paradox or ironic statements.

He was also known to have a tempestuous temperament, strong opinions, and a reputation for being difficult to collaborate with. Yet many also admired his passion, vision, and uncompromising standards.

Achievements, Honors & Legacy

Awards and Honors

• In 1947, the Academy presented him with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for his contributions as a creative producer.

• In 1958, the Academy awarded him the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (for philanthropic contributions).

• In 1971, President Richard Nixon honored Goldwyn with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• In 1973, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award (a Golden Globe lifetime achievement) shortly before his death.

• He also earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1631 Vine Street.

Legacy

• The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation, founded after his death, supports writing awards, film arts, and humanitarian causes.

• His studios and film library have been managed and preserved by his descendants and affiliated companies.

• Although MGM carried his name, his most enduring influence is as an independent producer who insisted on creative control and quality. He became a model for later independent filmmakers.

• His approach to talent—investing in writers, directors, actors—and to prestige pictures set a standard in Hollywood for serious filmmakers operating outside the studio system.

Famous Quotes & Goldwynisms

Here are a few of the better-known (or often cited) Samuel Goldwyn quips and statements:

“Include me out.”
“I don’t think anybody should write his autobiography until after he’s dead.”
“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” (Though this is a misquotation; the original idea was the inverse.)
“I’m willing to admit I may be wrong, but I won’t admit I am wrong.”

Because many of these are passed through pop culture, attribution is sometimes fuzzy—and Goldwyn himself was known to play with such attributions.

Lessons from Samuel Goldwyn

1. Creative independence matters
   Goldwyn’s insistence on controlling production—even in eras dominated by studios—shows the value of retaining artistic agency.

2. Quality over quantity
   Rather than mass output, he prioritized scripts, talent, and prestige projects that could stand the test of time.

3. Vision in risk
   Many of his films were ambitious or literary, not simply crowd-pleasers; he accepted risk for artistic gain.

4. Humor and humility
   His self-deprecating malapropisms humanize a figure often associated with power and prestige.

5. Legacy through mentorship
   By promoting writers, actors, and directors, he left a ripple effect beyond his own credits.

Conclusion

Samuel Goldwyn was more than a film producer—he was a symbol of the aspirational, sometimes eccentric, spirit of Hollywood’s formative decades. His life moves from immigrant laborer to glove salesman, to studio founder, and ultimately to iconic independent producer. His name lives on not just in gold letters on “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,” but in the stories of classic films, the careers he fostered, and the enduring charm of his “Goldwynisms.”