Chapter 352: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Versailles, located in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, is the capital of the Yvelines department, more than 20 kilometers from Paris.

It is world-famous because of the renowned Palace of Versailles and the Versailles Garden!

In the morning, a Porsche 993 drove from Paris to Versailles. Arthur was driving the car and heard Christiana Reali asking about the World Cup.

He replied with a smile, "The World Cup starts in mid-next month, but France and England were eliminated in the qualifiers. France didn't make it to the finals. Who are you planning to watch then?"

"Brazil, of course. I'm a Brazilian-French," Christiana explained.

"Makes sense. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles, is a key venue. I can accompany you to watch the matches since it's a World Cup at our doorstep," Arthur said, showing some interest.

Upon arriving in Versailles, even before they reached the vicinity of the Palace of Versailles, they saw a group of young people on the street staging a protest.

Such occurrences were common in France, so Arthur wasn't surprised. However, the signs reading "Protest against American Imperialism" piqued his interest!

Soon, a group of police officers rushed in, clashing with the demonstrators, leading to arrests. The protestors scattered into the surrounding alleys.

Arthur directly parked the car, got out, and started watching the scene on the street, just like many bystanders.

"This is the far-right French student organization - Groupe Union Defense (GUD), composed of white French university students," Christiana explained, standing beside Arthur.

"GUD is known for its violent activities. At the beginning of the month, they held a large-scale protest on the Champs-Elysees, opposing NATO-led American imperialism. They were beaten and arrested by the police. One student even died after falling from a building while being chased by the police," Christiana elaborated.

"Protesting against NATO? Right now, France is taking the lead in supporting the Bosnian War," Arthur sneered.

Although France had left NATO years ago, since the end of the Cold War, NATO had become overwhelmingly powerful, with Europe unable to do much without NATO's approval.

Last year, France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain formed a European Corps in Strasbourg, France, but they also signed an agreement to use the European Corps "within the NATO framework!"

"These guys," Arthur laughed. It wasn't that he looked down on French men. It was just that this group of people hardly inspired any expectations.

"Let's go take a look at the Palace of Versailles. I haven't been there yet," Arthur tugged at Christiana.

Yvelines, the westernmost department of the Ile-de-France region, wasn't small in area. Besides the Palace of Versailles, there were many other palaces and castles.

The Palace of Versailles, being the most famous, also had the highest reputation.

With the Societe Generale underwriting a $300 million bond issue for Galaxy, Galaxy announced in Los Angeles that it had successfully acquired MGM for $1.5 billion.

Instantly, the entire Hollywood was shocked, with Galaxy MGM undeniably becoming one of the Hollywood's seven major film studios!

The Los Angeles Times exclaimed, "Hollywood ushers in a new wave of change..."

In early June, Arthur returned to Los Angeles to begin reforming MGM, which was in dire need of strong leadership.

With MGM under his belt, Arthur immediately decided to make MGM the flagship label under Galaxy Entertainment; MGM Pictures, Galaxy Pictures, United Artists, and Orion Pictures, while reorganizing Galaxy International Pictures into MGM International.

Revitalizing MGM's international distribution business and assigning MGM Home Entertainment to take over the group's video and DVD business.

At the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Galaxy held a grand cocktail party, inviting numerous Hollywood celebrities.

Galaxy MGM now had the foundation and strength to compete with the other six major studios!

The creators of the hit films The Mask and Forrest Gump were all present, along with other big directors like Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Ridley Scott, Oscar winners like Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, plus other high-ranking executives and producers from various film companies...

Everyone who met Arthur greeted him with smiles and congratulations. Tonight was undoubtedly Arthur Smith's shining moment!

"Arthur, MGM signed a movie distribution contract with Carolco. Their investments, Cutthroat Island and Showgirls, will be distributed by MGM next year," Tom Rothman reminded Arthur at some point.

Arthur smiled indifferently, "It doesn't matter. Carolco is the investor. MGM currently doesn't have many self-produced films. Frank Mancuso's main focus is on the new Bond film!"

Carolco's Mario Kassar managed to secure European financing for blockbuster films. Carolco had always collaborated with Columbia TriStar. But since the release of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Columbia TriStar was unhappy about not being able to invest in some of Carolco's lucrative blockbusters.

For example, Terminator 3, Carolco consistently refused Columbia TriStar's investment, and Columbia TriStar was quite resistant to just being a distributor.

Now, Carolco chose MGM because MGM's situation wouldn't give it much say. Mario Kassar had a strong desire to control Carolco's projects.

Tom Rothman nodded, "The 007 producer Albert R. Broccoli is here too!"

The latest Bond film, GoldenEye, was in the works. The previous James Bond actor Timothy Dalton had exited, and the role of James Bond had just been assigned to the Irish actor Pierce Brosnan. During the last casting for Bond, the producers had already favored Pierce Brosnan, but he couldn't commit due to a contract with the TV show Remington Steele.

Since GoldenEye was based on a completely original script, the screenplay was still being revised, and the film was in the pre-production stage.

After a while, Albert R. Broccoli approached Arthur with a middle-aged man and woman.

"Good evening, Arthur. This is my daughter, Barbara Broccoli, and my adopted son, Michael G. Wilson!"

Albert Broccoli seemed to be in poor health, speaking in a low voice.

Arthur smiled, "Let's sit over there and have a chat."

The Broccoli family's Eon Productions had only produced Bond movies over the years; Eon held the production rights for Bond films, and United Artists held the distribution rights, a detail Arthur couldn't change.

*****

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