[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 156 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING DANIEL MELNICK

 Mr. DODD. Madam President, I wish to speak in honor of a good 
friend and a friend to American cinema, Daniel Melnick, who passed away 
recently at the age of 77.
  Those who know Hollywood will remember Daniel as a successful 
producer of film and television, and as a studio executive who believed 
in audacity and creativity--a filmmaker's studio executive, if you 
will.
  He was a prodigy, becoming the youngest producer at CBS Television at 
the age of 19, where he worked on such series as the legendary ``Get 
Smart,'' and producing his first feature film at MGM, the thrilling 
``Straw Dogs,'' before he turned 40. Over the next decade, he played a 
role in the development of films ranging from ``Network'' to ``Kramer 
vs. Kramer'' to ``The China Syndrome,'' while serving as head of 
production at both MGM and Columbia.
  As a film producer, Daniels's credits include ``All That Jazz,'' 
``Altered States,'' ``Footloose,'' ``Roxanne,'' and ``L.A. Story.'' 
Fittingly, his work as a producer was bold and vibrant--just the sort 
of films he encouraged as a studio executive.
  In all, Daniel's films were nominated for more than 80 Academy 
Awards, and won more than two dozen Oscars.
  I will remember Daniel as a warm, funny, breathtakingly creative 
friend whose beautiful house in Utah was the site of many wonderful 
get-togethers. We are poorer for the loss, but richer for all he gave 
to our country and the arts.

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