In our last issue we’ve asked our readers to submit
names of those whom they believe may have
contributed and or affected our communities.
In this issue we present Victor Stoloff whose
work in the visual arts has been recognized
throughout the world.
As producer, director,
writer, and editor, Victor Stoloff has actively
engaged in producing feature motion pictures and
television programs throughout the world. His varied
projects have taken him to the five continents, from
the back lots of Hollywood to the remote African
region of Timbuktu.
After Studying two years of law, at 20 , he
introduced the first sound recording system built in
Egypt, launching his professional career as founder,
cameraman, and editor of the first arabic language
newsreel company, "ORIENT ACTUALITIES". In addition
to Egyptian , he speaks French, Italian, German,
Spanish, and Russian fluently.
In the famous Oasis of Siwa, he wrote, directed,
and edited "DESERT BOY" now part of the of the film
collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
City. Its critical acclaim earned him an assignment
with Lord Kenneth Clark of the Ministry of
Information in England, for whom he wrote "BLACK
IVORY," and original drama about the freeing of
Central Africa from a notorious slave trader by
General Gordon.
Setting sail for the United States, Stoloff met
Nelson A. Rockefeller in New York City. Mr.
Rockefeller, then coordinator of Inter-American
Affairs, agreed to finance a documentary-style drama
entitled "BETTER DRESSES, FIFTH FLOOR."
Stoloff directed "KID BROTHER" for the Ministry of
Agriculture, a film he wrote with Dorothy Thompson.
They also collaborated on
"LITTLE ISLES OF FREEDOM,"
which starred Charles Boyer, and released by Warner
Bros..., and is now at the Museum of Modern Art.
For Television, Stoloff directed "THE FORD
THEATER," which established Screen Gems. He was
twice associate producer, writer, and director of
CBS-TV’s hour long special "HIGH ADVENTURE WITH
LOWELL THOMAS." He directed many "NATIONAL VELVET"
shows for NBC, and he produced 22 one hour shows on
location for CBS of the first season of "HAWAII FIVE
-O."
In the feature film field, Stoloff has been
associated with William Dieterle, Sidney Buchman,
Hunt Stromberg, and David O. Selznick. He was
involved in the production of "YOUNG WIDOW" with
Jane Russell and of "CARMEN" with Rita Hayworth. He
Collaborated with Dieterle on "THIS IS DYNAMITE" and
"ROOTS MALONE" with William Holden at Columbia;
SEPTEMBER SONG" With Joan Fontain at Paramount;
"THIS LOVE OF OURS" with Ginger Rogers for Selznick;
and KISMET" with Ronald Colman and Marlene Dietrich
for MGM.
Victor Stoloff produced and directed the first
American film made entirely in Italy, "MIRELLA" with
Douglas Montgomery and Sarah Churchill, as well the
first U.S. Feature motion picture shot entirely in
Egypt, "EGYPT BY THREE," released by Filmmakers.
"THE LONE JOURNEY," which he wrote, produced and
directed, was filmed around the world with Peter
Townsend and distributed by Pathé.
He wrote the original story and screenplay
‘VOLCANO" for Anna Magnani. With Robert Hill he
co-authored ‘SHARK REEF" for Roger Corman and "THE
SINNER", released by RKO. He also developed the
screenplay "SARAH BERNHARDT" in collaboration with
Ben Hecht for Selznick.
He wrote and produced ‘OF LOVE AND DESIRE" released
by 20th Century-Fox, and directed his own
production, "INTIMACY," for Seven Arts(Warners). For
ABC Pictures he wrote, produced, and directed the
"THE THREE-HUNDRED YEAR WEEKEND," a Cinerama
release, and wrote and directed "WHY" the first
picture to use the color videotape-to-film transfer
system, for Robert Cohn in partnership with
Technicolor. It starred Jeannie Berlin and O.J
Simpson.
Stoloff fulfilled a two-year contract with Stafford
Productions, Inc, during which he wrote an original
film story, "ESCAPE FROM
SOBIBOR," as well as set up production of a
multi-million dollar film, Moshe Mizrahi's
"CHILDREN AT WAR,"
screenplay by Abby Mann.
He wrote and directed "ISRAEL IS REAL" on the 1967
war for ZDF TV (Germany).
As a result of his collaboration with Aram
Khatchaturian, Stoloff produced a film in the former
U.S.S.R. of composer’s ballet "GAYANE," of "Sabre
Dance" fame, using six Panavision cameras and the
Rolling Stones sound system.
He produced and directed’ "THE WASHINGTON AFFAIR,"
introducing Tom Selleck. The picture was acquired
for TV and home video by Viacom.
Among the television pilots created by Stoloff are
"PSYCHODRAMA," and "CHEVROLET THEATER" starring
Michael Moriarty, aired in prime time on USA
Network. He also produced and directed the "THE
INTERVIEW," a one hour television show starring Eli
Wallach, and was the originator and executive
producer of ‘HAVEL’S AUDIENCE WITH HISTORY."
Sponsored by Shearson Lehman.
Recently directed Eli Wallach in scenes
interviewing a Holocaust survivor in preparation:
Producing a ten million dollars theatrical film
based on a true story telling failing of the justice
system to meet mental illness. needs it is about a
schizophrenic who stabbed his mother to death.
Academy award winner have expressed interest.
In 1974 Victor Stoloff was filming in Iran as part
of a TV series "THE WOMAN OF IRAN". Stoloff had the
opportunity to meet with the famous Dr. Habib Levi,
and managed to film his entire family which Stoloff
continued to film in 1985. After the Iranian
revolution, the Levi family had to settle in the
United States.
Victor Stoloff also filmed the very imposing
ceremony after Dr. Levy's funeral, attended by more
than five thousand people.
Dr. Habib Levi's fame comes from the writing of a
book on the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. They did not
disperse but instead went to Iran. From there the
Diaspora began. Today at UCLA the Levi's created a
Chair to continue these studies.
In July 2000 Victor Stoloff completed his filming
of the Levi family, including the children and
grandchildren. Victor Stollof presented the film to
the family as a gift.
Visit Victor Stoloff website
http://thefutureoffilms.com
Other links for Victor
Stoloff