Arthur Marks facts for kids

Arthur Ronald Marks (born August 2, 1927 – died November 13, 2019) was an American filmmaker. He worked as a director, writer, producer, and distributor. He was well-known for his films in the blaxploitation genre. These include Bonnie's Kids, Detroit 9000, and Friday Foster.

Arthur Marks also directed and produced many episodes of the TV show Perry Mason. He worked on other popular shows too. These were Starsky & Hutch, Mannix, and The Dukes of Hazzard.

Arthur Marks' Early Life and Career

Arthur Marks was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1927. His parents moved to Hollywood to work in the film industry. His father, David Marks, had many film jobs. He worked on famous movies like Hell's Angels and The Wizard of Oz.

As a child, Arthur often appeared in movies as an extra. He was in films like Boy's Town. After serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II, he went to college briefly. He then got a job at MGM studios.

He worked on 75 MGM films over three years. Later, he became an assistant director at Columbia Studios. He even helped with reshoots for movies like The Lady from Shanghai. He also worked on many Westerns and serials. In the early 1950s, he served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

Directing Movies and TV Shows

Arthur Marks started as an assistant director for TV shows. These included The Man Behind the Badge and Broken Arrow. He then joined the pilot episode of the legal drama Perry Mason.

He was an assistant director for 15 episodes of Perry Mason. Then, he began directing the show. He directed 76 episodes and later became a producer for the series.

Moving into Feature Films

After Perry Mason ended, Marks started making feature films. His first was Togetherness in 1970. He then directed Bonnie's Kids. He used independent distribution to make it a hit at drive-in cinemas.

Marks saw an opportunity because big studios ignored drive-ins. He created GFC (General Film Corporation). This company produced and distributed his own films. It also released other popular movies.

The Success of Detroit 9000

Marks worked with actor Alex Rocco on Bonnie's Kids. This led him to cast Rocco in Detroit 9000. This was a crime story filmed in Detroit. It featured local people and places.

The movie was a financial success in 1973. Years later, director Quentin Tarantino helped it become famous again. Tarantino re-released it in theaters in 1998. He also used a line from the film in his movie Jackie Brown.

In 1973, Marks also directed two episodes of The New Perry Mason. This was a new version of the show he had worked on before.

Blaxploitation Films

Marks's next film was Bucktown in 1975. It starred Fred Williamson and Pam Grier. This movie was very successful. It made Marks a well-known director in the Blaxploitation genre.

Following Bucktown, Marks made Friday Foster in 1975. It was based on a comic strip and starred Pam Grier. He then directed the horror film J.D.'s Revenge and the comedy The Monkey Hu$tle in 1976.

After his film work, Marks returned to television. He directed episodes of Mannix, Starsky & Hutch, and The Dukes of Hazard. He also helped develop new TV series for CBS. Arthur Marks passed away at his home in Los Angeles on November 13, 2019.

Arthur Marks' Legacy

Quentin Tarantino's re-release of Detroit 9000 in 1998 received good reviews. Critics praised the film's story and characters.

Marks's work in Blaxploitation films has been studied by many experts. Scholars like Mikel J. Koven and Yvonne D. Sims have written about his movies. Critic David W. Steece Jr. noted that Marks's films often focused on a whole community. They showed how characters were affected by bigger forces.

Actor and writer Michael Jai White, known for Black Dynamite, said Marks's The Monkey Hu$tle was a big influence on him. He told the Los Angeles Times that the movie showed characters who reminded him of his own family. It was the first time he saw something familiar on the big screen.

Filmography

• 1970: Togetherness
• 1972: Class of '74
• 1973: Bonnie's Kids
• 1973: The Roommates
• 1973: Detroit 9000
• 1974: The Centerfold Girls
• 1975: Linda Lovelace for President (Executive Producer)
• 1975: Bucktown
• 1975: A Woman for All Men
• 1975: Friday Foster
• 1976: J. D.'s Revenge
• 1976: The Monkey Hu$tle