Michael Schlesinger, influential film executive and classic cinema advocate, dies at 74

Michael Schlesinger, a prominent repertory executive, passed away on January 9 at the age of 74. He died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after battling a rare form of cancer. Schlesinger was influential in restoring classic films, overseeing projects like the 70mm restoration of "Lawrence of Arabia" and the 50th anniversary release of "Citizen Kane." He also contributed to international cinema, rewriting dialogue for "Godzilla 2000." In addition to his work in film restoration, Schlesinger provided DVD commentaries for several classic movies and created his own films. His latest project, "Rock and Doris (Try to) Write a Movie," premiered in 2024.