Patriot Games

Background:

Robert Rehme produced the box office hits “Patriot Games” (1992), “Clear and Present Danger” (1994), “Beverly Hills Cop III” (1994) and “Lost in Space” (1998). He is known for his long running partnership with producer Mace Neufeld, with whom he co-founded Neufeld/Rehme Productions in 1989. Rehme was the Chief Operating Officer of Avco Embassy Pictures from 1978 to 1980, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at Universal Pictures from 1981 to 1982 and Co-Chairman and CEO of New World Pictures from 1985 to 1989.

An avid philanthropist, Rehme served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) from 1992 to 1993 and 1997 to 2001.

Cincinnati Native

Childhood and Family:

Robert Rehme was born on May 5, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor Degree from the University of Ohio, in Cincinnati. As a teenager, he worked as a theater usher.

Lost in Space

Career:

Robert Rehme was hired as the General Sales Manager of Roger Corman's independent production/distribution company, New World Pictures, in 1972 and would keep the post until 1978. After leaving New World Pictures, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Avco Embassy Pictures from 1978 to 1981. While with Avco Embassy, Rehme was responsible for the distribution of William Girdler's “The Manitou” (1978, starred Tony Curtis), Don Coscarelli's “Phantasm” (1979), John Carpenter's “The Fog” (1980) and Joe Dante's “The Howling” (1981). It was during this period that Rehme made his debut as an executive producer with the studio's film “An Eye for an Eye” (1981), which starred Chuck Norris. He did the same duty for “Vice Squad” (1982), an action movie directed by Gary Sherman.

Following his resignation from Avco Embassy, Rehme became Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at Universal Pictures before returning to New World Pictures in 1982 when an investment group purchased the company from Roger Corman. He was then appointed Co-Chairman and CEO of New World Pictures, which he served from 1985 to 1989. While there, Rehme helped New World become one of the fastest growing independent studios in Hollywood. New World acquired Highgate Pictures, Learning Corporation of America, and Marvel Comics before changing its name to New World Entertainment in 1987. However, because of economic conditions within the film business, New World was sold to Ronald O. Perelman in 1989 and the New World Pictures division shut down at the end of 1989. It was not long before Rehme quit and collaborated with producer Mace Neufeld to create Neufeld/Rehme Productions. Neufeld /Rehme Productions scored a production contract with Paranormal Pictures in 1990.

With his producing partner, Neufeld, Rehme executive produced the Canadian TV series “Lightning Force,” which ran from 1991 to 1992. He then had an unaccredited producing credit on the 1991 action film “Flight of the Intruder,” starring Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe and Brad Johnson, and producing credit for the 1991 comedy film “Necessary Roughness,” starring Scott Bakula, Hector Elizondo and Robert Loggia. Rehme, however, did not experience his first box office hit until he produced the film adaptation of Tom Clancy's novel “Patriot Games” (1992), which was helmed by Phillip Noyce. Starring Harrison Ford and Anne Archer, the film debuted at No. 1 at the America's box office.

Two years later, Rehme produced “Beverly Hills Cop III” (1994), the third film in the Beverly Hills Cop series, which was directed by John Landis and starred Eddie Murphy. Despite its commercial success, the film was panned by critics and Rehme received a Razzie nomination for Worst Remake or Sequel, which he shared with Neufeld. The same year, Rehme produced the “Patriot Game” sequel “Clear and Present Danger,” which reunited him with Philip Noyce and Harrison Ford. “Clear and Present Danger” also debuted at No. 1 at the box office in the United States.

Rehme returned to television in 1996 when he executive produced the television thriller “Gridlock,” starring David Hasselhoff, Miguel Fernandes and Kathy Ireland. He did the same duty for the TV films “For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal” (also 1996), “Woman Undone” (1997) and “Escape: Human Cargo” (1998). In 1998, Rehme executive produced Ernest R. Dickerson's “Blind Faith” (starred Courtney B. Vance and Charles S. Dutton), “Lost in Space,” a science fiction film starring William Hurt, Mimi Rogers, Heather Graham, Matt LeBlanc, Gary Oldman, Jack Johnson, and Lacey Chaber that was directed by Stephen Hopkins, and Kevin Hook's “Black Dog” (starred Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis and Meat Loaf). An adaptation of the 1960s CBS television series of the same name, “Lost in Space” gave Rehme another No. 1 box office hit in America.

In 2000, Rehme executive produced “Bless the Child,” a film directed by Chuck Russell that starred Kim Basinger, Angela Bettis, Rufus Sewell, Christina Ricci and Holliston Coleman. An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Cathy Cash Spellman, the film opened at No. 7 at the box office with $9.4 million in its opening weekend. After executive producing the TV films “Love and Treason” (2001) and “Conviction” (2002), he executive produced “Gods and Generals” (2003), which was based on Jeffrey Shaara's novel of the same name. The film was directed and scripted by Ronald F. Maxwell and starred Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Mira Sorvino and Kevin Conway, among other actors.

In 2005, Rehme served as executive producer on “Asylum,” a British drama directed by David Mackenz that was an adaptation of Patrick McGrath's novel of the same title. The film starred Natasha Richardson, Marton Csokas, Ian McKellen and Sean Harris. The same year, he also lent his producing talent to the television film “Deacons for Defense.”

Awards:

• ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award, Producer of the Year, 1993