Menahem Golan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Menahem Golan
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| Born |
Menachem Globus
May 31, 1929 |
| Died | August 8, 2014 (aged 85) Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel
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| Nationality | Israeli |
| Other names | Joseph Goldman |
| Occupation | Director, producer |
| Known for | Founder of Golan-Globus/The Cannon Group |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel Golan |
| Children | 3 |
Menahem Golan (born Menachem Globus; May 31, 1929 – August 8, 2014) was an Israeli film producer, writer, and director. He was best known for owning The Cannon Group with his cousin Yoram Globus. Cannon made many American films, often action or adventure movies, in the 1980s. Before that, Golan and Globus had great success making films in Israel during the 1970s.
Golan produced movies with famous actors like Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson. He also made films based on comic books, such as Masters of the Universe and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. He even tried to make a Spider-Man movie. Golan also wrote many film scripts using the name Joseph Goldman. By the time he passed away, Golan had produced over 200 films and directed 44. He won 8 "Kinor David" awards and the "Israel Prize" for his work in cinema.
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Early Life and Education
Menahem Golan was born Menachem Globus in Tiberias. This city was part of British Mandate of Palestine at the time, which is now Israel. His parents were Jewish people who had moved from the Russian Empire.
He spent his early years in Tiberias. Later, he studied directing at the Old Vic School and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He also learned about filmmaking at New York University. During the 1948 Palestine war, Golan served as a pilot in the Israeli Air Force.
Film Career Highlights
Golan began his career as an apprentice at the Habima Theater in Tel Aviv. After finishing his studies in theater direction, he directed plays in Israel. He gained experience in filmmaking by working as an assistant to director Roger Corman.
Golan is well-known for directing Operation Thunderbolt (1977). This film was about the Israeli raid on Entebbe airport in Uganda. He also produced Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle, 1978). This movie led to many sequels and an American remake called The Last American Virgin (1982).
His company, The Cannon Group, made many films in the 1980s and early 1990s. These included action movies like Delta Force and Runaway Train. They also produced some of the Death Wish sequels.
In 1986, another company took over Cannon. Golan produced several movies based on comic books in the late 1980s. The most famous was Masters of the Universe, based on the popular toys. In 1987, Cannon also produced Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. This movie did not do well and disappointed many fans.
Golan left Cannon in 1989, and the company closed down by 1993. After Cannon, Golan became the head of 21st Century Film Corporation. There, he continued to produce many films.
The Spider-Man Movie That Almost Was
Menahem Golan really wanted to make a Spider-Man movie. He planned to film it in 1986 at Cannon Studios in the United Kingdom. He even thought about filming some outdoor scenes in Tel Aviv.
He imagined Dolph Lundgren playing the Green Goblin. He also asked Spider-Man creator Stan Lee to appear in the movie as J. Jonah Jameson. Golan tried for years to make this Marvel Comics character's movie. However, his plans fell through when 21st Century Film Corporation went out of business in 1996. Sony Pictures later bought the Spider-Man rights and released the first film in 2002.
Personal Life
Menahem Golan was married to Rachel (1930-2015), who was a makeup artist. They had three daughters: Ruth (born 1953), Naomi (1958-2015), and Yael (born 1964). His cousin, Yoram Globus, was also a well-known Israeli-American producer.
Later Years and Passing
On August 8, 2014, Menahem Golan was visiting Jaffa, Tel Aviv, with his family. He suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. Attempts to help him were unsuccessful. He was 85 years old when he passed away.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1978, his film Operation Thunderbolt was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
- In 1999, Golan received the prestigious Israel Prize for his important contributions to cinema.
- In 1994, he was given the Ophir Prize by the Israeli Film Academy for his Lifetime Achievement.
- A movie theater in the Azrieli building in Tel Aviv was named after the Golan-Globus company. It closed in 2008.
Images for kids
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Menahem Golan receiving the Kinor David award in 1964
See also
In Spanish: Menahem Golan para niños
