Paul Maslansky
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
The concept for the "Police Academy" films came when Maslansky, overseeing production on the 1983 feature "The Right Stuff", noticed that uniformed police cadets--used in the staging of the John Glenn tickertape parade scene--came in every size, color, age and shape and would make ideal characters for a new genre of comedy. The first film was produced for $4.5 million and grossed $82 million domestically and more than $140 worldwide. (Source: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, March 10, 1989)
Biography
A veteran Hollywood producer, Paul Maslansky has ha an eclectic career. He entered showbiz as a trumpet player with a number of bands in his native Manhattan. After a sojourn in radio advertising sales, Maslansky moved to Europe where her served as an assistant director and later production manager on European films, including Carol Reed's "The Running Man" (1963). He subsequently produced the first Italo-Soviet co-production, Mikhail Kalatozov's "The Red Tent" (1971), and the first joint US-USSR film venture, George Cukor's "The Blue Bird" (1976). But American audiences are probably most aware of his low-brow but extremely successful "Police Academy" franchise which has spawned six sequels and two TV versions. Returning to Moscow, Maslansky co-produced a rare prestige picture, Fred Schepisi's adaptation of John le Carre's "The Russia House" (1990), which teamed Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer. Maslansky also has made occasional forays into American TV. In addition to an animated and live-action version of "Police Academy: The Series" (syndicated, 1989 and 1997 respectively), he oversaw the Emmy-nominated biographical miniseries "King" (NBC, 1978), featuring Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Producer (Special)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1959
Produced first project, a live jazz concert starring Jimmy Witherspoon (date approximate)
1959
Worked in Europe as production manager
1959
Sold AM radio advertising space in Kansas City and worked for a band
1962
Initial film credit, assistant director on "The Counterfeit Traitor", directed by George Seaton
1964
First film as producer (also writer), "Il castello dei morti vivi/Castle of the Living Dead"
1967
Covered war in Israel for CBS film unit
1974
Initial TV production, the ABC movie "The Gun and the Pulpit"
1976
Was one of the producers of the ill-fated US-USSR co-production "The Blue Bird", directed by George Cukor
1978
Produced the Emmy-nominated TV miniseries, "King" (NBC)
1984
Had hit with "Police Academy" which spawned seven sequels and two television adaptations
1989
Served as creative supervisor and executive producer of the syndicated an animated "Police Academy: The Series"
1990
Abandoned low-brow comedies to co-produce Fred Schepisi's "The Russia House"
1997
Revived "Police Academy: The Series" as a syndicated live action show
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
The concept for the "Police Academy" films came when Maslansky, overseeing production on the 1983 feature "The Right Stuff", noticed that uniformed police cadets--used in the staging of the John Glenn tickertape parade scene--came in every size, color, age and shape and would make ideal characters for a new genre of comedy. The first film was produced for $4.5 million and grossed $82 million domestically and more than $140 worldwide. (Source: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, March 10, 1989)
