Goldwyn

Goldwyn is a surname of Jewish origin that became synonymous with American cinema in the early 20th century. Samuel Goldwyn (born Szmuel Gelbfisz in 1882, died 1974) was a Polish-born American film producer who became a central figure in Hollywood. In 1916 he co-founded Goldwyn Pictures Corporation with Archibald Selwyn and Marcus Loew, aiming to produce films in the silent era.

Goldwyn Pictures produced several films until 1924, when it merged with Metro Pictures and the production interests of Louis B. Mayer to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), one of the best-known U.S. studios. The Goldwyn name survives in the MGM history, and in later branding and film production activities attributed to the Goldwyn family.

Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the son of Samuel Goldwyn, was a notable film producer who founded The Samuel Goldwyn Company, a production and distribution label that released independent and prestige titles.