Background
Levathes was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Washington.
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Peter Levathes
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended Harvard University and studied law at Georgetown University.
Career
Joined Fox in 1937 as legal assistant to Spyros Skouras, president of the company. During World War Two he was a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Brazil, helping survey German military operations in Latin American. From 1945-1952 he led the Fox news and television production departments.
He helped put together the documentary Crusade in Europe, worked as a television consultant to Citizens for Eisenhower in 1952, then as vice president in change of media and television for advertising agency Young & Rubicam for eight years.
He left advertising in 1959 to run Fox"s television division. In May 1961 he was appointed head of production, replacing Robert Goldstein, who had been doing the job since the death of Buddy Adler.
Among Levathes main actions at Fox were:
signing Irwin Allen to a three picture contract
signing Rod Taylor to a deal for films and television
purchasing the rights to Doctor Dolittle
In March 1962 Levathes announced Fox would make 14 films from a possible 17 including:
two unnamed productions from Daryl F. Zanuck
Gideon Goes to War from Mark Robson
Something"s Got to Give starring Marilyn Monroe
The Story of General Patton
The Jungle from the novel by James Michener
First Love from the play based on the Romain Gary novel
Celebration based on the play by William Inge produced by Wald
Ulysses based on the novel by James Joyce produced by Wald
Take Her She"s Mine based on the hit play
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
Happily Ever After based on the story by Vera Caspry
Drink to Maine Only by Ira Wallack and Abram South. Giness
Evil Come, Evil Go a suspense story starring Pat Boone
Love in a Cool Climate based on novel by Frederick Kohner to star Ann-Margret and Pamela Tiffin
Five Weeks in a Balloon based on novel by Jules Verne
Levathes cancelled Something"s Got to Give during production. Daryl F. Zanuck returned as president and Levathes resigned from his position in August, becoming head of television
Ulysses, Promise at Dawn and Take Her, She"s Mine were all postponed.
He was fired from Fox in 1962, then returned to advertising. Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
Tender is the Night (1962)
Cleopatra (1963)
Something"s Got to Give (1963) (abandoned)
Films Purchased But Made Under Different Regime
The Sound of Music (1965)
Films Announced But Not Made
A Summer World (1962) - postponed
The Greatest Story Ever Told - studio passed on project, which was made by United Artists
Big River, Big Manitoba
