From the outset, Sumner Redstone was a curiosity.
A cluster of power players 50 years ago were suddenly bidding for control of Hollywoods revered movie studios.
Competition was intense but most of the bidders were not even movie people.
(L-R) Sumner Redstone; ‘Unscripted’ by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams; Julie Andrews receiving the Star of the Year Award from Redstone in 1965Charley Gallay/Getty Images/Everett Collection
In fact, theyd rarely seen a movie.
He wanted to champion filmmaking and build a media conglomerate around that zeal.
She was intrigued by the power, not the product, noted one key executive.
(L-R) Sumner Redstone and Robert Evans in 2003Carlo Allegri/Getty Images
Part of the problem stems fromUnscripteds determination to ignore movies the industry that inspired Redstones mission.
He sustained this passion even after he acquired Paramount.
The two presented a strongly united front at industry functions in promoting the studio slate.
He even played an occasional show tune on the piano that sat in Evans living room.
His main source of companionship consisted of a giant fish tank and an occasional movie.
He believed that he would live forever and informed everyone he met of this intention.
But dementia clearly clouded his judgment; efforts to find a voice in the ultimate corporate struggles became pitiable.
His daughter Shari was adept at the corporate wars and Sumner was a mere bystander.
The last conversation I had with him was not about health.
He wanted to talk about the box office results.
