In 1961, he was manager of RKO Theatres in Cincinnati and in 1969 he joined United Artists's advertising department.[5][6] In 1976, he formed his own exhibition and distribution firm but later joined New World Pictures as vice president and general sales manager in February 1978.[5][6]
Head of Avco Embassy
He joined Avco Embassy Pictures in December 1978 as vice-president and chief operating officer. In November 1979, he was elected president and chief executive officer.[5][6]
When Rehme started at Avco, he asked for $5 million to make movies. He used it to make eight. "The important thing was not to put Avco at risk for any major amount of money," he said. "We'd finance a movie and find a financial group to buy us out, so we could use the money over again."[7]
Under Rehme's stewardship, the company went from earning $20 million in 1978 to $90 million in 1981. Among its successful films were two from John Carpenter, The Fog and Escape from New York. He also backed The Howling and had a big success with Time Bandits which Avco picked up from Britain. Other hits included Phantasm, The Onion Field and Watership Down. Flops included Winter Kills, Death Ship and Hog Wild.[7]
In December 1981, Avco was bought by Norman Lear and Jerry Perenchio.
Universal
In June 1981, Rehme joined Universal Pictures, becoming president of the Theatrical Motion Picture Group in December 1982.[6] He quit in December 1983.[8]
In 1989, Rehme and producer Mace Neufeld co-founded the motion picture production company Neufeld/Rehme Productions.[2] It was during this time that he created the pictures for which he is most known, such as Patriot Games and Flight of the Intruder.[2]
Rehme served as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for eight years before becoming president in 1992, succeeding Karl Malden. Prior to that, he had been President of the Academy Foundation. He could only serve as Academy President for one year, as Academy rules stipulated that he could only sit on the board for nine consecutive terms.[9] He rejoined the board and became president for a second time from 1997 to 2001.[2]
Select credits
He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
