Jacob Safra
Jacob (Jacqui) Safra is a billionaire scion of the Swiss-Lebanese Jewish Safra banking family. Some of Safra's investments include the
Encyclopædia Britannica,
Merriam-Webster, and Spring Mountain Vineyard, a large wine growing estate, located in
Saint Helena, California. He is the nephew of
Edmond Safra who died in a fire intentionally started by his nurse in 1999.
Under the name
J.E. Beaucaire (the name of the character played by
Bob Hope in the film
Monsieur Beaucaire), Safra appeared in minor roles in three movies and financed eight
Woody Allen films through a production company, Sweetland Films, run with girlfriend
Jean Doumanian, who was a dear friend to Allen.
In May 2001, Allen filed a lawsuit against both, alleging $12 million in earnings plus interest entitled to him was withheld and accurate financial information was not provided. The trial which took place the next year was characterized by digressive banter. Allen's testimony was sometimes cut short by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman, who tired of his rambling responses. Safra appeared on the stand the next day and was no less of a frustration to the judge. Meandering or reluctant at various questions, Gammerman berating Safra at one point said, "I didn't think there was a witness who could make Mr. Allen look responsive. This witness has." Under questioning, Safra admitted he billed unpurchased insurance and half the cost of trips Allen took on his plane back to him without Allen's knowledge. The parties reached an undisclosed settlement during the proceedings.
Actor
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Oxen (1991) - Shop Owner
*
Radio Days (1987) - Diction Student
*
Stardust Memories (1980) - Sam
Executive producer
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Small Time Crooks (2000) (executive producer)
*
Just Looking (1999) (executive producer)
*
Women Talking Dirty (1999) (executive producer)
*
Sweet and Lowdown (1999) (executive producer)
*
Celebrity (1998) (executive producer)
*
Into My Heart (1998) (executive producer)
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The Spanish Prisoner (1997) (executive producer)
*
Deconstructing Harry (1997) (executive producer)
*
Wild Man Blues (1997) (executive producer)
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Everyone Says I Love You (1996) (executive producer)
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Mighty Aphrodite (1995) (executive producer)
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Don't Drink the Water (1994) (TV) (executive producer)
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Bullets Over Broadway (1994) (executive producer)
*
Oxen (1991) (executive producer)
*Weinraub, Bernard. (June 11, 2001). "A Friendship Founders Over Suit by Woody Allen".
The New York Times, p. 1.
*Claffey, Mike & Goldiner, Dave. (June 6, 2002). "Judge Backhands Woody's Rival".
Daily News (New York), p. 8.
*Claffey, Mike & Goldiner, Dave. (June 7, 2002). "Woody's Backer Admits to Some Overcharging".
Daily News (New York), p. 4.
*Wapshott, Nicholas. (June 7, 2002). "To the jury, Woody Allen's former friend Jean Doumanian must appear scheming and grasping, while the diminutive comic seems a classic dupe"
The Times (London).
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Safra's IMDB entry*
Spring Mountain Vineyard's webpage
