Arthur Cohn, Stubborn Oscar-Winning Producer, Dies at 98

Arthur Cohn has died at age 98. His family announced his passing on Friday in Jerusalem. He was a celebrated and fiercely independent film producer.He won three Academy Awards for feature documentaries. He also helped three other films win Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.

A Career Defined by Oscar Gold and Defiance

His first Oscar came in 1961. He won for the documentary “Le ciel et la boue.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, it followed a dangerous New Guinea expedition.He won again in 1990 for “American Dream.” That film covered a major meat-packing plant strike. His third documentary Oscar was for 1999’s “One Day in September.”That film detailed the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. Cohn said a screening in Munich later led to German compensation for victims’ families.

An Eye for Talent and a Firm Hand

Cohn had a legendary partnership with Italian director Vittorio De Sica. He produced six films with the master filmmaker from 1967 to 1973.Their film “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” won the foreign language Oscar in 1970. Cohn convinced De Sica to change the ending first. He always insisted on having final cut on his films.He also championed first-time directors. He discovered Jean-Jacques Annaud and produced his debut, “Black and White in Color.” It won the foreign language Oscar in 1976.He repeated this with director Richard Dembo on “Dangerous Moves.” That film also won the foreign language Oscar in 1984. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992.

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The film industry loses a unique and determined voice with the passing of Arthur Cohn. His legacy as an Oscar-winning producer is cemented by a lifetime of challenging, award-winning cinema.

Dropping this nugget your way-

How many Oscars did Arthur Cohn win?

Arthur Cohn won three Academy Awards. All were in the Best Documentary Feature category. His winning films were from 1961, 1990, and 1999.

What was his most famous collaboration?

He is best known for working with Italian director Vittorio De Sica. They made six films together. Their 1970 film “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” won a foreign language Oscar.

Did he work with first-time directors?

Yes, he actively sought new talent. He produced the debut films of directors Jean-Jacques Annaud and Richard Dembo. Both of those first films went on to win Academy Awards.

What was his role in “One Day in September”?

He was a producer on the 1999 documentary. The film examined the Munich Olympics terrorist attack. He said it led to German government payments to victims’ families.

Where was Arthur Cohn from?

He was born in Basel, Switzerland. He began his career as a radio journalist there. He later worked internationally, from Europe to Hollywood.