Movies - Film Ventures International

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Film Ventures International (FVI) was one of the most notorious production companies in the motion picture industry. The company, founded by Edward L. Montoro in 1968, had a goal of producing independent films, and acquiring international film productions, mostly from Italy.

Montoro served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FVI, and directed and wrote the company's first feature. It was an adult film entitled "Getting into Heaven", which eventually made 20 times its $13,000 budget. FVI also had some success with the acquisition of the sequel to the "Trinity" films, entitled "Boot Hill", in 1969.

Montoro and FVI expanded in the early 1970s and the company began making such impressions in theaters and in the drive-in market with the films distributed, becoming known for releasing exploitable film product. FVI acquired "Beyond the Door" in 1974, an Italian-made clone of "The Exorcist". It prompted a law-suit by Warner Bros., but it was another successful release for FVI and earned $9 million at the box office.

"Grizzly", which was directed by the late William Girdler, is perhaps the most notable film that was produced and released by FVI and Edward Montoro. The film, about a killer grizzly bear attacking a National Forest, starring Christopher George and Richard Jaeckel, became one of the successful indepednent films of 1976, earning over $38 million dollars worldwide. The director reteamed with FVI in 1977 to direct another killer animal feature for FVI, entitled "Day of the Animals", shot in California with an all-star cast. Other efforts released in the late 1970's produced and/or acquired by FVI included "Beyond the Door II", "Survival Run", "The Shape of Things to Come" and "The Dark".

In 1980, FVI acquired an Italian-made "Jaws" clone entitled "Great White", starring James Franciscus and Vic Morrow. Edward Montoro and FVI spent nearly $4 million dollars in advertising and the film was released to great success; but Universal Pictures, the distributor of "Jaws", filed a multi-million dollar law-suit against Montoro and FVI. "Great White" was eventually pulled from theaters. Despite Universal's successful law-suit, it was not enough to bring down FVI.

Upon FVI and Montoro merging with another company, Artists Releasing Corporation, the company had successful releases in the early 1980s with films such as "The Incubus", "Vigilante" and "Mutant". However by the beginning of 1984, the costs, marketing and advertising of their films began to see major finanical problems. FVI also poured thousands of dollars into some of their finished films, that performed poorly at the box office. Montoro allegedly took a million dollars in cash from the company and vanished, never seen again. Film Ventures International eventually went bankrupt and collapsed in 1985 and was later bought by the INI Corporation.

Many of FVI's films are still re-released today by small-scale companies, which include Anchor Bay and Platinum Disc Corp..

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