A tapestry of triumph and tragedy
The incredible, varied story of a hotel with a front row to history.
Media Reviews/Videos/News
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie offered jaw-dropping amount"
"Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie offered jaw-dropping amount"
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie offered jaw-dropping amount"
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt Offered a Staggering Amount To Appear on Screen Together Again"
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Danny Rossner says he 'is on a mission' to reunite Brangelina for his fascinating blockbuster film
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Will They or Won't They? Angelina Jolie and Bratt Pitt offered a whopping amount"
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Brad Pitt?Angelina Jolie réunis au cinéma ?Un producteur pense avoir trouvé l'argument imparable"
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"The Hotel Martinez is a riveting 'theatre of the mind' experience from start to finish"
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"Within its walls lurks an untold story "
"Beneath its cinematic glitz lies a harrowing history that haunts the Hotel Martinez to this day"
"Within its walls lurks an untold story "
"Within its walls lurks an untold story "
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About The Book
An illuminating and inspiring blend of biography, history, and unadulterated mayhem, Hotel Martinez is the essential, sweeping account of a hotel with a long-standing affair with the world’s most famous movie stars and industry moguls.
Author Phillip M. Kenny's stunningly accurate prose masterfully addresses the intriguing and intractable questions of the lengthy legal battle over the legendary hotel with precision and never-before-revealed details. A magnetic, gripping story!
The Hotel Martinez, a beacon of luxury on the French Riviera, has long stood as the epitome of glamor and elegance, especially during the Cannes Film Festival. Yet, behind its opulent façade lies a story far more prosperous and compelling than any film shown within its vicinity - a narrative of ambition, war, love, and a fight for justice that spanned decades, centering around its founder, Emmanuel Michel Martinez.
Born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1882, Emmanuel's journey from the son of a harbor master to the pinnacle of the hotel industry is a testament to his relentless ambition and resilience. Emmanuel's early success in Paris was just the beginning. His strategic investments in London's hotel industry during the early 20th century showcased his business acumen, turning failing establishments into profitable ventures. Emmanuel's dream of establishing a world-class hotel on the French Riviera materialized with the opening of the Hotel Martinez in 1929. Quickly, it became the preferred destination for the elite, embodying the extravagance of "La Belle Époque." However, the prosperity of the Hotel Martinez and the Martinez family was short-lived. The Great Depression, followed by World War II, brought unprecedented challenges. The Nazi occupation of France during the war saw the Hotel Martinez commandeered by German and Italian officers, forcing Emmanuel to walk a tightrope of compliance and resistance. His covert support for the French Resistance and the Allies often facilitated through his future son-in-law Tom Kenny, a Canadian intelligence officer, highlighted his courage and moral conviction.
The legacy of Emmanuel Martinez is a complex tapestry of triumph and tragedy, innovation and injustice.
Destined to become a modern classic, author Phillip M. Kenny dares to retell the incredible, varied story of a hotel with a front row to history.
About The Author
Author Phillip M. Kenny is a member of the French Centre National du Cinéma and the Guild of Film Production Executive, Great Britain. He has lived in England, France, Canada, Spain, and the U.S. Phillip is a renowned line producer and production manager, having worked on over 100 films and TV commercials.
Destined to become a modern classic
And Now A Word From The Executive Producer, Danny Rossner
The story of The Hotel Martinez and its founder, Emmanuel Martinez, has been in the making for 24 years. Still, my relationship with the book's author, Phillip M. Kenny, dates back even further.
The year is 1988, and I am a successful production manager living in Montreal, anxious to work. As the local production scene is quiet, I explored opportunities in Toronto. At the DGC office, I found several potential positions I qualified for. In pre-email days, I wrote three letters, and the next day, I was surprised when Phillip called and asked me to come over and meet him and his late wife, Evelyne. The meeting in a Forest Hills mansion lasted an hour, and I was hired on the spot.
Then the fun began!
The film Thirteen was to be directed by two Armenian brothers whose uncle was Charles Aznavour. I mention him because, at one of our nightly dinners at Phillip’s house, Mr. Aznavour was approached by Phillip for a temporary loan to get us through a cash flow crunch. In return for the funds, Mr. Aznavour was promised a credit! In less than 5 minutes, I burned through those funds. The next day, I stopped the production two weeks into filming as we were very deep in the red.
The cast included Natasha Kinski, Peter Fonda, and others. The production designer was Michael Seymour of Alien fame. The DP was Jack Cardiff, who filmed the African Queen.
The stunt coordinator was Remy Julienne, famous for his work on Bond films and Renault commercials in which a car jumps the quay as a boat leaves the dock.
I stuck around at Phillip’s house for another week, fielding calls from many angry people who were owed big money, and decided to limit my exposure by leaving Toronto as I and Phillip were now branded as being responsible for this fiasco even though I was only the lowly production manager and Phillip was only the lowly Line Producer. We commiserated in our misfortune but agreed to remain allies and friends. A dozen years later, when Phillip told me the amazing epic of his grandfather and the storied hotel Martinez, we struck a deal where my company, Sandy Productions Ltd, optioned the underlying material for, at the time, a feature film, which then expanded to include the publication of this fascinating book.
Thank you, Phillip.
Danny Rossner is a highly acclaimed film producer who is turning The Hotel Martinez book into a major motion picture.
