Dick Randall, a renowned film producer, left an indelible mark on the cinematic world with his remarkable repertoire of low-budget exploitation pictures. Born Irving Reuben on March 3, 1926, in the picturesque Catskill Mountains, New York, Randall's journey in the entertainment industry began as a writer.
He crafted gags for the legendary Milton Berle and contributed to various popular 1950s television quiz shows. Randall's foray into films started as a distributor, before he ventured into producing his own features.
Throughout his illustrious career, Randall created a diverse range of movies, including mondo documentaries, low-rent horror films, giallo murder mystery thrillers, martial-arts action films, secret agent action thrillers, soft-core sleaze, and slasher schlock.
Some of his most notable works include Mondo Inferno (1964),The Wild Wild World of Jayne Mansfield (1968),Kong Island (1968),The Mad Butcher (1971),Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (1974),Crocodile (1979),The Girl in Room 2A (1974),The French Sex Murders (1972),Snake Fist Fighter (1973),Bruce: King of Kung Fu (1980),Challenge of the Tiger (1980),Death Dimension (1978),Y'ur Height Only (1981),Le journal érotique d'une Thaïlandaise (1980),The Daughter of Emanuelle (1975),The Erotic Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1976),Pieces (1982),Don't Open Till Christmas (1984),and Slaughter High (1986).
Randall's creative endeavors extended beyond producing, as he either wrote the story or co-wrote the scripts for several of his films. He occasionally appeared in quirky small roles, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker.
Randall was married to singer Corliss Randall, who appeared in a few of his pictures and worked behind the scenes on several of them as well. His last film, the twisted horror black comedy Living Doll (1990),was a testament to his innovative spirit.
Dick Randall passed away at the age of 70 on May 14, 1996, in London, England, due to a stroke. Despite his untimely departure, Randall's legacy as a pioneering film producer continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.
