Filmways, Inc. (also known as
Filmways Pictures and
Filmways Television) was a
television and
film production company founded by both
American film executive
Martin Ransohoff and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production company of
CBS’ “
rural comedies” of the 1960s, including
The Beverly Hillbillies,
Petticoat Junction, and
Green Acres, as well as the comedy-drama
The Trials of O'Brien, the western
Dundee and the Culhane, the adventure show
Bearcats!, the police drama
Cagney & Lacey, and the sitcoms
Mr. Ed and
The Addams Family. Notable films the company produced include
The Sandpiper,
The Cincinnati Kid,
The Fearless Vampire Killers,
Ice Station Zebra,
Summer Lovers,
The Burning,
King and
Brian De Palma's
Dressed to Kill and
Blow Out.