Howard W. Koch: Howard W. Koch. Producer: The Manchurian Candidate. Getting his start in the movie business in Universal's contract and playdate department in New York City, Howard W. Koch moved on to 20th Century-Fox as a film librarian and then entered production as second assistant director on The Keys of the Kingdom (1944). After many films as assistant director, Koch joined forces with his professional benefactor Aubrey Schenck and Edwin F. Zabel...