Crown International Pictures

Crown International Pictures
Company type	Independent film production and distribution company
Industry	Film production, Film distribution
Founded	1959
Founder	Newton P. Jacobs
Fate	Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992
Headquarters	Beverly Hills, California, United States
Key people	Newton P. Jacobs (founder, chairman until 1988), Mark Tenser (president from 1973), Marilyn Jacobs Tenser (vice president), Louis Jacobs (leader after 1988)
Products	Low-budget genre films, exploitation cinema, B-movies

Crown International Pictures (CIP) was an independent film production and distribution company established in 1959 by businessman Newton P. Jacobs.

History

Newton P. Jacobs, who previously served as a branch manager at RKO Pictures, initiated Favorite Films in 1947 to reissue studio titles following their original theatrical runs. Crown International Pictures emerged as an early distributor for American International Pictures (AIP), focusing on low-budget genre offerings such as biker flicks, exploitation cinema, and B-movie features commonly shown at drive-in theaters.

The company distributed a mix of American low-cost productions including Bloodlust! and The Seventh Commandment, alongside imported foreign titles like First Spaceship on Venus and Varan the Unbelievable, capitalizing on advantageous currency exchange rates for acquisitions. CIP ventured into film production with Coleman Francis' The Skydivers in 1963.

Beginning with six film releases in 1961, Crown expanded its output to approximately twelve films annually by the early 1970s. Jacobs prioritized cautious expansion to ensure financial soundness, positioning the company as a prominent independent entity rather than aspiring to mini-major status, thereby maintaining operational flexibility. While over half of its distribution initially targeted drive-in theaters, this share dropped to around 30% by 1981.

To boost commercial appeal, Crown frequently retitled films, reflecting Jacobs' strategic emphasis on compelling titles as a primary marketing tool. The company also brought Japanese action movies, such as Sonny Chiba’s Street Fighter series, to American audiences.

In 1973, Mark Tenser advanced from vice president to president as Jacobs assumed the role of chairman. Marilyn Jacobs Tenser, Jacobs’ daughter, took over the vice presidency. Most subsequent productions were managed through Crown’s production division, Marimark Productions.

Responding to evolving audience preferences, Crown often altered films after acquisition; for example, it incorporated science fiction elements into Death Machines (1976) to better suit market demands.

In 1983, Crown established Crown International Pictures Export Corporation to oversee international sales directly, replacing prior collaborations with Manson International. By 1987, the company secured a home video distribution agreement with RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video for three titles—Hunk, Scorpion, and Jocks—diversifying its income sources.

After Newton Jacobs passed away in a motorcycle accident in July 1988, his son Louis took over leadership of Crown International.

Filmography

Year	Title	Notes	Ref
1961	The Beast of Yucca Flats		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Bloodlust!		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Devil's Hand		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Seventh Commandment		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
1962	Carnival of Crime		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Secret File: Hollywood		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Dangerous Charter		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Stakeout		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	First Spaceship on Venus (金星ロケット発進す)	English dubbed version for US release	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Varan the Unbelievable (大怪獣バラン)	Edited English dubbed adaptation for US audience	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
1963	As Nature Intended	Edited version for US market	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Terrified		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Madmen of Mandoras	Later reworked into They Saved Hitler's Brain in 1968	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Skydivers		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
1964	Iron Angel		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Vengeance		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Creeping Terror		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	1965	Angel's Flight
Indian Paint			Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
Orgy of the Dead
1966	To the Shores of Hell
1966	The Hostage		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
1967	Guilt (Tills. med Gunilla månd. kväll o. tisd.)	English dubbed version for US release	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Road to Nashville
	Mondo Balordo	Classified as a Mondo film	Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Hellcats		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Catalina Caper		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	Hell on Wheels		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content
	The Wild Rebels		Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content

Home media

In 1964, Crown consolidated several of its film titles into a collection known as the Westhampton Film Corp. package. The television production firm Desilu ventured into film syndication by purchasing the rights to Crown International's movies as part of this "Westhampton Feature Package." During the 1970s, Crown distributed its films through Gold Key Entertainment, which operated as a subsidiary of Vidtronics, Inc. at the time.

A number of Crown’s films have been made available on DVD through BCI Home Entertainment’s collections, including Welcome to the Grindhouse, Starlite Drive-In Theater, and Drive-In Cult Classics. Additionally, several of these movies have been broadcast on the show Mystery Science Theater 3000. After Navarre Corporation ceased operations for BCI Home Entertainment, Mill Creek Entertainment took over the DVD distribution responsibilities. The television rights to Crown’s film catalog are predominantly held by Lionsgate, following their 2005 purchase of Modern Entertainment.

External links