Literary Agent Hits Producer With Glass
I (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)
NEW YORK. Jan. 8. A literary agent, Irving Lazar, aged 57, whose clients have included Noel Coward and Cole Porter, was today arrested on a felonious assault charge filed by a film producer, Otto Preminger.
' The arrest followed an argument between the two men in the chic “21 Club” early today when a water glass was hurled at the 59-year-old Vienna-born producer. He suffered cuts which required attention. Detective Gene Casey, who arrested Lazar at his luxury Park avenue home said the agent told him: “We had an altercation. 1 didn't think it was this serious. It’s too bad it happened.” Preminger, one of the top names in the film world, has produced a string of box office hits which include “Anatomy of a Murder,” “Exodus,” “Advise and Consent,” “The Cardinal,” and “to Harms Way.’ Two Broadway columnists for the “New York JournalAmerican” gave an on-the-scene report of the disp ‘e, the associated press reported. Witnesses said Preminger was incensed over Lazar’s deal to sell the film rights of Truman Capote’s new murder story, “In Cold Blood.” Preminger said he had been planning to buy rights to the book and produce it, starring Frank Sinatra.
“When Sinatra sees you he is going to punch you in the nose,” the witnesses quoted Preminger as saying. “You promised me and you promised Sinatra and then you old it to Richard Brooks.”
“Yes,” Lazar was quoted as saying, “for 500,000 dollars and 33 per cent of the net (income).”
' “That's not the point," Preminger replied. “You should have waited.”
Preminger then threatened to call Sinatra, who, be said, would punch Lazar in the nose.
I "Well, then, I think we’ll move from here. I don’t think we have to take this,” Lazar said.
The witnesses said Preminger then muttered something about Mrs Lazar, whereupon her husband picked up a water goblet and struck the producer on the head. An ann,v of waiters and attendants closed in and separated the men. Lazar traded blows in an argument with Raoul Levy, French producer and discovever of Brigitte Bardot in March, 1963. Lazar is regarded as one of the world’s foremost literary agents. He is the man who engineered the one million dollar sale of the film rights to “My Fair Lady.”
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Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 5
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384Literary Agent Hits Producer With Glass Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 5
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