Harry Blum, 71; Producer Whose Firm Backed Indie Films

Harry N. Blum, 71, whose Blum Group financed, produced and marketed motion pictures and who personally helped produce such films as Brian De Palma’s 1976 “Obsession,” died Jan. 18 of congestive heart failure at UCLA Medical Center.

A native of Cleveland, Blum graduated from the University of Michigan and its law school. He was an executive in the toy and hobby industry before turning to the film business.

In 1973, he formed the Blum Group to back and distribute independent films. As part of his work, he was executive producer of “Diamonds,” starring Robert Shaw in 1975, and of “At the Earth’s Core,” starring Doug McClure in 1976. He also was the producer of “Skateboard” in 1978.

More recently, Blum was executive producer of Duran Duran’s “Arena” in 1985, and of the motion picture “Eminent Domain,” set in pre-Solidarity Poland and starring Donald Sutherland in 1991.