That legendary 90-year-old movie producer Saul Zaentz is litigious is nothing new. Today he’s suing Miramax and Disney for breach of contract alleging he hasn’t seen enough profit from the 15-year-old Best Picture Oscar-winner The English Patient. He’s accusing the studios of blatant self-dealing and manipulation and misstating the movie’s revenue by millions in order to enrich itself — but not Zaentz — as well as deceptive and unfair accounting practices in connection with the movie. The lawsuit was filed today by Lavely & Singer’s Marty Singer in Los Angeles Superior Court. But here’s
the thing: This isn’t the first time Zaentz has done this. He sued Miramax and Disney over pretty much the same stuff in the same court over the same pic back in 2006. And it was Lavely & Singer who filed that lawsuit, too. (Did they just Xerox today’s complaint?) That first scuffle was dismissed in 2008. In this latest legal battle, Zaentz also is seeking $20 million in damages — same as before. Of course, the Weinsteins owned Miramax when the film was released, but now it’s Disney’s problem because Zaentz claims the Mouse House promised to be good for the dough. Of course, Disney doesn’t own Miramax anymore. What a mess.


Dude you’re 90. You really want to spend your final years in court? Go play golf or play with your grandkids.
Why does no one mention this was the guy who John Fogerty says ripped off Creedence Clearwater Revival? The songs “Zaentz Can’t Dance,” with the line “Zaentz can’t dance but he’ll steal your money, watch him go and rob you blind,” and “Mr. Greed” are about him. The Weinsteins always have to be sued to get a nickel out of them, but Zaentz isn’t exactly innocent of ripping people off himself.
Coen brothers should sue Zaentz for their Best Picture Oscar back!
I’d sue too if I thought I could get my ticket money back for that POS.
I completely support artists suing for what they are due. I can only guess that the current lawsuit is for monies due for a specific time period not covered by the prior lawsuit. Some movies continue to generate revenue for years after release, not all but some. The English Patient is one of those movies.
Good for Saul. they screwed him over big time with the English Patient, As for Fogerty, none of the other members of Creedence ever had a problem with him as they all know if Zaents didn’t given them another shot at making an album after their first album bombed, they never would of become a success or even wealthy.
If…as you seem to allege , the 1st Creedence album was a flop , maybe it was down to the producer …one Saul Zaentz !…The production of subsequent albums was down to John Fogerty and ,apart from “Mardis Gras” ,where Stu Cook and Doug Clifford demanded more input , they would have seemed to have fared quite well !!…John Fogerty`s multi-talents financed Mr Zaentz`s venture into film production …some say by legitimate means… whilst others question this !
Zaentz might be the epitome of “crotchety old man” but the reality is that studios are doing stuff like this constantly, and it is about time talent put an end to this practice, and stopped passively endowing it.
I guess when you are 90, have a couple Oscars and a gagillion dollars, you don’t feel threatened by the thought of being blacklisted for suing.
” Some movies continue to generate revenue for years after release, not all but some. The English Patient is one of those movies.”
Actually most movies even if they flat-out bomb do quite well as DVD, TV, cable, VOID being in profits years after a movie has left the theaters.
Exactly right. I had an Oscar nominated producer tell me the same thing years ago. Very few films actually lose money over the long haul.
The real losers here are the crew of the film, who apparently never got their full pay for their services. This includes the late Anthony Minghella, who Harvey offered to pay but the director refused to take money until the crew got their dues. Sadly, that never happened. The studio still claims the film is a money-loser. Yeah right!
Side Note – Saul owns the rights to “LORD OF THE RINGS” and “The Hobbit” – he can buy and sell Harvey. This isn’t about the money. This is about all of the people who worked on that movie, and never got paid. Good for him.
Zaentz is one of the most supportive, tenacious, creative producers of the last generation. Make that two generations. OTOH, if Miramax won’t pay what they owe, force them to watch “The English Patient” until they cave.
I covered this story when he first sued them before 2006, and the fact of the matter is that there were legitimate questions raised. This is, at the end of the day, a contractual issue.
This is really strange Saul has alzheimers, how come nobody is discussing that?
-RnsW
Saul Zaentz is a ‘crotchety old man’…but, he is right about this issue. Saul has not been easy to work with and many feel he has not been fair in all his dealings, but I appreciate he isn’t giving up his voice…like it or not.
one mistake in previous post. this was supposed to be Fox Searchlight’s first film. Saul and Fox couldnt’ agree on cast and Saul took the film to Harvey and Bob at Miramax/Disney.