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Robinson: From Car Cleaning to Blockbuster Producer
6 Mar
Summary
- Robinson founded Morgan Creek with $80 million of his own money.
- Morgan Creek's first hit, Young Guns, grossed $45 million.
- Robinson remained devoted to Baltimore, operating from his hometown.
James G. Robinson, who amassed his fortune in the auto import industry, co-founded Morgan Creek Entertainment in 1988 with producer Joe Roth, investing $80 million of his personal funds. The independent studio aimed to finance and produce films without handling their distribution, a model that proved successful.
Morgan Creek's inaugural film, "Young Guns" (1988), a biographical drama about Billy the Kid, was a breakout hit. Made for approximately $11 million, the film, distributed by Fox, garnered $45 million at the box office, establishing the company's viability.
Robinson, born in Baltimore on December 16, 1935, developed an early entrepreneurial spirit. His career began in Baltimore with a car cleaning service for imported automobiles, later expanding into auto parts distribution with Subaru Mid-America Inc.
He entered the film industry in the late 1970s by providing bridge financing for independent productions. His first executive producer credit was for the 1984 family drama "The Stone Boy."
Morgan Creek, named after the Preston Sturges comedy, went on to produce a slate of successful films. These included "Major League" (1989), "Dead Ringers" (1988), "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994), which launched Jim Carrey to stardom.
Robinson was honored as ShoWest Producer of the Year in 1996. He emphasized the importance of a good script, strong cast, and appropriate budget in film selection.
In 2014, Morgan Creek sold international distribution rights and copyrights for its film library to Revolution Studios for $36.75 million. Robinson passed away in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and six children, several of whom followed him into the industry.
Despite Morgan Creek's Los Angeles operations, Robinson maintained a strong connection to Baltimore, often working from his hometown and expressing a preference for filming there if costs were comparable.
