From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joseph Herman "Joe" Pasternak (September 19, 1901 – September 13, 1991) was an Hungarian-born American film producer in Hollywood. He was born to a Jewish family in Szilágysomlyó, Austria-Hungary (now Șimleu Silvaniei, Romania). His father was a town clerk and Pasternak was one of eleven children. In 1920 he emigrated to the US as a teenager and went to stay with an uncle in Philadelphia. He worked in a factory, punching holes in leather belts, and did a variety of other jobs. He also studied acting in New York. Pasternak became an assistant director at Paramount on The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Several years later he was directing at Universal. In 1928 Universal sent him as an associate producer to Germany. Upon return from Europe he produced a number of hits with new talent such as Deanna Durbin and Gloria Jean, reputedly saving Universal from Bankruptcy. Pasternak also had careers at MGM, Fox and Euterpe. He made mostly musicals. In 1968 he was stricken with Parkinson's Disease. He recovered slightly two years later but made no more films. He said at the time "I am proud that I have produced 105 pictures and not one of them is adults only." In 1980 he estimated his films had earned $400 million. "If I had a percentage I'd be the richest man in town," he said. His career as a film producer spanned 40 years and earned him two Oscar nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. He retired in 1968, having produced more than ninety feature-length films as well as three Academy Award shows.
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Biography from TMDB.
- September 19, 1901
- September 13, 1991 (aged 89)
- Szilágysomlyó, Austria-Hungary
- Producer, also actor
- 54 on MovieCove · 95 credits in all
What are Joe Pasternak's films like?
Across their 52 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 52
Light 46 · Serious 4 · Dark 2
Grounded 22 · Stylized 25 · Heightened 5
Gentle 44 · Charged 6 · Intense 2
Steady 47 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 29 · Funny 18
Slow burn 30 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 0
Casual 47 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 46 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 3
Resolved 52 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy39
- Bittersweet13
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Joe Pasternak's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (6).
Subscription and free streaming for Joe Pasternak's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
95 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
Unerwünschtes Kino(2005)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
The Sweet Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Penelope(1966)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Spinout(1966)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Made in Paris(1966)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Girl Happy(1965)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Looking for Love(1964)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
A Ticklish Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Billy Rose's Jumbo(1962)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Where the Boys Are(1960)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Ask Any Girl(1959)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Party Girl(1958)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
This Could Be the Night(1957)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Ten Thousand Bedrooms(1957)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
The Opposite Sex(1956)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Meet Me in Las Vegas(1956)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Love Me or Leave Me(1955)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Hit the Deck(1955)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Athena(1954)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Student Prince(1954)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Flame and the Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Easy to Love(1953)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Latin Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Small Town Girl(1953)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
The Oscars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Because You're Mine(1952)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Merry Widow(1952)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Skirts Ahoy!(1952)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
The Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Rich, Young and Pretty(1951)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Great Caruso(1951)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Summer Stock(1950)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
The Toast of New Orleans(1950)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Duchess of Idaho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Nancy Goes to Rio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
That Midnight Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Kissing Bandit(1948)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Luxury Liner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
A Date with Judy(1948)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
On an Island with You(1948)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Big City(1948)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Three Daring Daughters(1948)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
This Time for Keeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
The Unfinished Dance(1947)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Holiday in Mexico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Two Sisters from Boston(1946)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
No Leave, No Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Anchors Aweigh(1945)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Thrill of a Romance(1945)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Music for Millions(1944)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Two Girls and a Sailor(1944)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Song of Russia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
Thousands Cheer(1943)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Presenting Lily Mars(1943)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Seven Sweethearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
It Started with Eve(1941)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
The Flame of New Orleans(1941)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Nice Girl? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
A Friend Indeed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Seven Sinners(1940)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
A Little Bit of Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Spring Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
It's a Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Destry Rides Again(1939)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
The Under-Pup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
That Certain Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Youth Takes a Fling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Mad About Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Three Smart Girls(1936)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Catherine the Last (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Little Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Peter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Frühjahrsparade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Csibi, der Fratz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Scandal in Budapest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Pardon, tévedtem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Five from the Jazzband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
I Go Out and You Stay Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
One Hour of Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Zeugen gesucht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Ludwig II, King of Bavaria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Frühlingsrauschen - Tränen, die ich dir geweint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Der Teufelsreporter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Brandenburg Arch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Help Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Phantom of the Opera(1925)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Career shape
A full career of 95 titles from 1925 to 2005.
Biggest box office
The Merry Widow (1952)
Highest rated
It Started with Eve (1941)
Most popular right now
The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Joe Pasternak's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 54; across their 52 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up10
- 50th to 74th22
- 25th to 49th21
- Below 25th1
Shape of the crowd
36 of their 54 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved3
- Crowd Pleaser36
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed12
Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 51 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Joe Pasternak work with?
People who share at least 2 of Joe Pasternak's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; George Stoll shares the most, 23.
Directors
- Richard ThorpeShared titles: The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), Athena (1954), The Student Prince (1954), The Great Caruso (1951), A Date with Judy (1948), On an Island with You (1948), Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945), Thrill of a Romance (1945), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)See all 10 shared titles with Richard Thorpe
- Henry KosterShared titles: Unerwünschtes Kino (2005), The Unfinished Dance (1947), Two Sisters from Boston (1946), Music for Millions (1944), It Started with Eve (1941), Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939), One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937), Three Smart Girls (1936)See all 8 shared titles with Henry Koster
- Charles WaltersShared titles: Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), Ask Any Girl (1959), Athena (1954), Easy to Love (1953), Summer Stock (1950)See all 6 shared titles with Charles Walters
- Norman TaurogShared titles: Spinout (1966), Rich, Young and Pretty (1951), The Toast of New Orleans (1950), Big City (1948), Presenting Lily Mars (1943)See all 5 shared titles with Norman Taurog
Writers
- George WellsShared titles: Penelope (1966), The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), Where the Boys Are (1960), Ask Any Girl (1959), Party Girl (1958), Summer Stock (1950), The Toast of New Orleans (1950)See all 7 shared titles with George Wells
- Isobel LennartShared titles: Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), This Could Be the Night (1957), Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), Skirts Ahoy! (1952), The Kissing Bandit (1948), Anchors Aweigh (1945)See all 7 shared titles with Isobel Lennart
- William LudwigShared titles: Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), Hit the Deck (1955), Athena (1954), The Student Prince (1954), The Merry Widow (1952), The Great Caruso (1951)See all 6 shared titles with William Ludwig
- Sonya LevienShared titles: Hit the Deck (1955), The Student Prince (1954), The Merry Widow (1952), Three Daring Daughters (1948)See all 4 shared titles with Sonya Levien
Actors
- Jane PowellShared titles: Hit the Deck (1955), Athena (1954), Small Town Girl (1953), Rich, Young and Pretty (1951), A Date with Judy (1948), Three Daring Daughters (1948)See all 6 shared titles with Jane Powell
- Spring ByingtonShared titles: Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), Because You're Mine (1952), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), Thrill of a Romance (1945), Presenting Lily Mars (1943)See all 5 shared titles with Spring Byington
- Cyd CharisseShared titles: Party Girl (1958), Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), Easy to Love (1953), On an Island with You (1948), The Unfinished Dance (1947)See all 5 shared titles with Cyd Charisse
- June AllysonShared titles: The Opposite Sex (1956), Two Sisters from Boston (1946), Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945), Music for Millions (1944), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)See all 5 shared titles with June Allyson
Composers and cinematographers
- George StollShared titles: Made in Paris (1966), Spinout (1966), Girl Happy (1965), Looking for Love (1964), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962), The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), Where the Boys Are (1960), Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), This Could Be the Night (1957), The Opposite Sex (1956), Hit the Deck (1955) and 11 moreSee newest 12 of 23 shared titles with George Stoll
- Robert Van EpsShared titles: Spinout (1966), Girl Happy (1965), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962), Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), This Could Be the Night (1957), The Opposite Sex (1956), Hit the Deck (1955), Easy to Love (1953), In the Good Old Summertime (1949)See all 10 shared titles with Robert Van Eps
- Robert J. BronnerShared titles: The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), Where the Boys Are (1960), Ask Any Girl (1959), Party Girl (1958), Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), The Opposite Sex (1956)See all 8 shared titles with Robert J. Bronner
- Robert SurteesShared titles: The Merry Widow (1952), A Date with Judy (1948), Big City (1948), The Kissing Bandit (1948), The Unfinished Dance (1947), Two Sisters from Boston (1946), Music for Millions (1944), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)See all 8 shared titles with Robert Surtees
Producers
- Martin MelcherShared titles: Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)See all 2 shared titles with Martin Melcher
- Charles R. RogersShared titles: One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937), Three Smart Girls (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Charles R. Rogers