For which the most loving producer in the world was threatened with a samurai sword by a Japanese director: Harvey Weinstein

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Not only are Studio Ghibli renowned for their great animated films, but apparently they are also a bunch of incredibly tough guys. The animation studio's boss character emerged during the infamous trial of producer Harvey Weinstein, who was eventually convicted of harassment. Director Hayao Miyazaki, an icon of Studio Ghibli, said at the time that he once had to threaten Harvey with … a samurai sword! What happened then and why is the entire press now seething with reports of this incident?

In the late 1990s, the infamous producer Harvey Weinstein was distributing Hayao Miyazaki's animated film Princess Mononoke (1997). The original timing of the cartoon is 134 minutes. The producer demanded to cut it down to 90 minutes, and in response to the refusal he began to threaten the employee of Studio Ghibli in an extremely rude and obscene manner. Miyazaki's answer was not only firm but extremely original.

The contract between Miramax Films and Miyazaki initially assumed that the work would be released in the original version and would not be cut off. Weinstein flew into a rage and told Studio Ghibli's director, Steve Alpert, that if the director didn't cut the film, he would never work for that studio again, not even as a janitor.

Further events developed very rapidly and fascinatingly. Studio Ghibli's co-founder and producer, Toshiro Suzuki, was aware of a small secret shop in Tokyo hidden under the train tracks between Shinbashi and Yurakucho. It was here that Japanese film studios bought realistic looking weapons used in Japanese samurai films. Suzuki bought a sword there and brought it with him to New York to meet with Harvey. It was a very convincing replica of the Japanese samurai sword. It was incredibly realistic down to the smallest detail, only its blade was not sharp. At the glance, it was impossible to assess the sharpness of the sword.

Steve Alpert says: “Those were the days when you could take a samurai sword with you in your carry-on baggage and fly on a commercial flight from Tokyo to New York. Suzuki handed the sword to Harvey Weinstein shouting, "You can't cut the mononoke!" In a conference room full of frightened Miramax employees. One of them later came up to me and said, “Did you give Harvey the SWORD? Are you crazy?"

Of course, for many viewers, especially outside the United States, the name of Harvey Weinstein will say little. Only here it is necessary to take into account the specifics of Hollywood, which is arranged in such a way that the film is much more influenced by the producers, and not the director. Films, released with the direct participation of the notorious producer, have always been great for the most part. Many of them have taken their rightful place in the treasury of the classics of world cinema. That is why the scandal with Weinstein's sexual harassment caused such a violent reaction, because his figure is one of the most influential in the American "Dream Factory".

How it all began

Harvey Weinstein founded Miramax in 1979 with his brother Bob. The studio was named after their parents Miriam and Max. The first years of its existence, the activities of Harvey's company did not bode well for anything outstanding. The studio was mainly engaged in independent cinema and only true connoisseurs can name the films of that time.

The studio was famous for the successful promotion of projects, and the brothers had a reputation for energetic enthusiasts and people “outside the system”. The period from 1992 to 1994 became a landmark for Miramax. At this time, several mega-successful projects came out there and the studio took the lead. Harvey Weinstein has a reputation for being an Oscar-maker. The films that propelled Miramax to the big leagues are Reservoir Dogs, Cruel Game, Piano, Raven, Little Buddha, and the film that became the studio's trademark, Pulp Fiction.

The paintings collected not only a record box office, but also a real harvest of various prestigious nominations and awards. All successes were associated with the name of Harvey, his fame as a tough producer grew exponentially. Weinstein's figure has become one of the most popular in Hollywood.

The Big Man from the Dream Factory

The producer's close friends are Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, Madonna and Courtney Love. Harvey's parties are legendary. Secular and criminal chronicles had something to write about after them.

In 1993, the Weinstein brothers sold their brainchild to the Walt Disney Company, but on the condition that they retain control of the company. Disney didn't mind - Harvey was the goose that lays the golden eggs. You had to be insane to stab her.

Films, in the production of which the loving producer has participated, have received more than 300 Academy Awards nominations. Such stars as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and many others owe their success to Harvey. Weinstein's name is associated with the discovery by the general public of Billy Bob Thornton.

In 2005, the restless Weinstein founded the new Weinstein Company. The studio began to churn out hits and discover more and more new talents. The most famous successful projects: Lucky Number Slevin, The Reader, Inglourious Basterds, The King Speaks, The Iron Lady, Django Unchained.

Weinstein's style of work has always been highly authoritarian and aggressive. He actively intervened in the creative process. This is what caused the conflict between Harvey and director Hayao Mizayaki. After the presentation of the samurai sword with the requirement not to cut anything, a scandal erupted. Weinstein said that editing is not his whim, but the benefit to the business. The producer had every reason to be so self-confident - the box office and numerous awards confirmed his words. However, in the end, the animated film Mizayaki was released without cuts.

The manner of the producer's treatment, not only with women, but with everyone in general, was not a secret behind seven seals. They knew about it, just everyone put up with it. After all, cooperation with Weinstein brought many actresses out of the shadow of obscurity. Weinstein was also active in politics, supporting the Democrats. He poured significant sums into the 2016 campaign. The top officials of the state, such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, met with him without disdain. Among other things, Weinstein is a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and the Order of the Legion of Honor for his services in the field of motion pictures.

An inglorious end

When the sexual harassment scandal became public, many of the producer's former friends began making condemning speeches in the press. Representatives of the Democratic Party, which Harvey so actively supported financially, now declare that all the money that was transferred by Weinstein, the party will donate to charity.

Everybody left him. Even my wife. After all these events, Harvey gave up badly. Either as a PR move, or really he felt so bad, but Weinstein appeared in court with a walker. He asked him to give him a chance to improve and said that he would work on himself. Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. His name continues to not leave the pages of eminent publications, more and more interesting stories emerge from his activities. It is stupid to deny Harvey's merits in world cinema, but despite this, he and his family were subjected to real persecution. Deservedly or not - it's not up to us to decide, but the court has already said its word.

Hollywood is not a very welcoming place, in fact, read our article Not just men: 10 celebrities who have been accused of sexual harassment.