One of the most successful of the early independent film producers, Samuel Goldwyn will be remembered for many of his classic films, for his uncultured style, and for his misuse of the English language—so-called Goldwynisms such as "a verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on." Goldwyn was one of a pioneering group of immigrant men who came to America and helped shape the Hollywood studio system.

He was born Samuel Gelbfisz in Minsk, Poland. At 16, he emigrated to London and then New York state to make his fortune. Once in America, Goldfish, as he was now called, obtained work at Louis Meyers and Son as a glovemaker and by age 18 was one of the top glove salesmen in the world and a partner in the Elite Glove Company. When the woman he was trying to court married Jesse Lasky instead, Goldfish...