Max Youngstein; Helped Rescue UA Studio

Max E. Youngstein, 84, producer and longtime United Artists film executive. Youngstein and four other partners purchased the failing United Artists from two of its founders, Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford, in 1951 and turned it into a profitable studio. He served as head of production and marketing at United Artists for 11 years before leaving to become an independent producer. At UA, he approved such prize-winning films as “Marty” in 1955 and “Around the World in 80 Days,” in 1956. He was also president of United Artists’ records and music divisions. As an independent producer, Youngstein’s credits include “Fail Safe” with Henry Fonda in 1964 and “The Money Trap” with Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth in 1966. Born in New York City in 1913, Youngstein was trained in the legal profession, graduating from Fordham University and Brooklyn Law School. He parlayed his business acumen to the motion picture industry, landing a job as assistant director of advertising and marketing at 20th Century Fox in 1942. During the war years, he served as publicity director of the motion picture section of the Treasury Department’s war bond division. On Tuesday in Los Angeles of natural causes.