Robert Bassler

After completing his education at George Washington University, Bassler began his career in the film industry as a researcher at Paramount in 1924. He then graduated to the studio's cutting room, where he worked as editor between 1928 and 1930. During the succeeding decade, Bassler was active as a literary agent for Reader's Digest. He was based in Vienna (staying at the famous Hotel Sacher), at the time of the Austrian 'Anschluss' with Germany, conferring with Dr. Paul Koretz, 20th Century Fox's resident expert on international copyright. Bassler returned to Hollywood as a producer in 1942, under contract at 20th Century Fox. He was put in charge of several A-grade productions, including The Black Swan (1942), The Lodger (1944), The Snake Pit (1948), Halls of Montezuma (1951), Kangaroo (1952) (overseeing the picture at 'Zanuckville', near Port Augusta in South Australia) and the thriller Suddenly (1954). On a less happy note, Bassler also served as executive producer on the abysmal musical comedy Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), the failure of which likely prompted his move from feature films to episodic television. He retired in 1960.