1



                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   

                                (Amendment No. 17)
                                     ------
    
                             20th Century Industries

                                (Name of Issuer)

                        Common Stock, Without Par Value

                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   901272 20 3

                                 (CUSIP Number)

                         Florence Davis, General Counsel
                       American International Group, Inc.
                  70 Pine Street, NYC, NY 10270 (212) 770-7000



            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                     to Receive Notices and Communications)
   

                               December 16, 1998
    

             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)           

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box: [ ].

NOTE:  Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be
filed with the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom
copies are to be sent.








   2
CUSIP NO. 901272 20 3


 (1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S.
      IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

American International Group, Inc.
(I.R.S. Identification No. 13-2592361)

 (2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                              (a)  / /
                              (b)  / /

 (3)  SEC USE ONLY


 (4)  SOURCES OF FUNDS

            WC, OO

 (5)  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
      TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
                                   / /

 (6)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Incorporated in the State of Delaware

   

NUMBER OF               (7)  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                          
BENEFICIALLY            (8)  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY                        50,141,420           
EACH                    (9)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH            (10)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                50,141,420           
    
   

(11)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                50,141,420
    

(12)  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES
                                   / /
   

(13)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

           57.2%
    

(14)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      HC, CO


                                 -2-
   3
CUSIP NO. 901272 20 3



 (1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S.
      IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

American Home Assurance Company
(I.R.S. Identification No. 13-5124990)

 (2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                              (a)  / /
                              (b)  / /

 (3)  SEC USE ONLY


 (4)  SOURCES OF FUNDS

            OO

 (5)  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
      TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
                                   / /
   

 (6)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Incorporated in the State of New York


NUMBER OF               (7)  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES                         
BENEFICIALLY            (8)  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY                       13,658,165           
EACH                    (9)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH            (10)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                               13,658,165          
    
   

(11)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                               13,658,165
    

(12)  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES
                                   / /
   

(13)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

          15.6%     
    

(14)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      IC, CO


                                 -3-
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CUSIP NO. 901272 20 3


 (1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S.
      IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Commerce & Industry Insurance Company
(I.R.S. Identification No. 31-1938623)

 (2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                              (a)  / /
                              (b)  / /

 (3)  SEC USE ONLY


 (4)  SOURCES OF FUNDS

            OO

 (5)  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
      TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
                                   / /

 (6)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Incorporated in the State of New York


NUMBER OF               (7)  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY            (8)  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY                        5,414,827
EACH                    (9)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH            (10)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                5,414,827

(11)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                5,414,827

(12)  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES
                                   / /

(13)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

      6.2%

(14)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      IC, CO


                                 -4-



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CUSIP NO. 901272 20 3


 (1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S.
      IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

New Hampshire Insurance Company
(I.R.S. Identification No. 02-0172170)

 (2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                              (a)  / /
                              (b)  / /

 (3)  SEC USE ONLY


 (4)  SOURCES OF FUNDS

            OO

 (5)  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
      TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
                                   / /

 (6)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania


NUMBER OF               (7)  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY            (8)  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY                        5,414,827
EACH                    (9)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH            (10)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                5,414,827

(11)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                5,414,827

(12)  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES
                                   / /

(13)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

      6.2%

(14)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      IC, CO


                                 -5-
   6
CUSIP NO. 901272 20 3


 (1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S.
      IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa.
(I.R.S. Identification No. 25-0687550)

 (2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                              (a)  / /
                              (b)  / /

 (3)  SEC USE ONLY


 (4)  SOURCES OF FUNDS

            WC, OO

 (5)  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
      TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
                                   / /

 (6)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania



NUMBER OF               (7)  SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY            (8)  SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY                       25,653,601  
EACH                    (9)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH            (10)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                               25,653,601    

(11)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                               25,653,601    
 
(12)  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES
                                   / /


(13)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

        29.3%


(14)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      IC, CO


                                 -6-
   7
ITEM 1.  SECURITY AND ISSUER.
   

            This Amendment No. 17 amends and supplements Item 5 of the Statement
on Schedule 13D dated December 16, 1994, as amended and supplemented by
Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D dated March 23, 1995, Amendment No. 2 to
Schedule 13D dated January 20, 1998, Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D dated April
9, 1998, Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D dated May 12, 1998, Amendment No. 5 to
Schedule 13D dated June 4, 1998, Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13D dated June 15,
1998, Amendment No. 7 to Schedule 13D dated June 25, 1998, Amendment No. 8 to
Schedule 13D dated July 14, 1998, Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13D dated July 23,
1998, Amendment No. 10 to Schedule 13D dated July 27, 1998, Amendment No. 11 to
Schedule 13D dated August 10, 1998, Amendment No. 12 to Schedule 13D dated
August 19, 1998, Amendment No. 13 to Schedule 13D dated August 24, 1998,
Amendment No. 14 to Schedule 13D dated September 3, 1998, Amendment No. 15 to
Schedule 13D dated September 11, 1998 and Amendment No. 16 to Schedule 13D filed
on November 10, 1998 ("Schedule 13D") previously filed by American International
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AIG"), relating to the common stock,
without par value ("Common Stock"), of 20th Century Industries, a California
corporation (the "Company"). The principal executive offices of the Company are
located at Suite 700, 6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367.
    

            Each capitalized term used in this statement which is defined in the
Schedule 13D shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Schedule 13D.
            
          
ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
   

            (a) Between November 12, 1998, and December 16, 1998 AIG, through
its subsidiary American Home, purchased 897,500 shares of Common Stock in open
market transactions effected on the New York Stock Exchange at prices ranging
from $22.4375 to $23.9375 per share as follows:
    
   

DATE SHARES PRICE ---- ------ ----- November 12, 1998 104,700 23.8750 " 900 23.8125 " 79,400 23.9375 November 16, 1998 400 23.8125 " 16,400 23.9375 November 17, 1998 2,000 23.9375 November 18, 1998 4,000 23.9375 November 19, 1998 2,900 23.9375 November 23, 1998 1,900 23.9375 December 2, 1998 1,500 23.9375 December 3, 1998 12,700 23.9375 December 4, 1998 47,900 23.9375 December 7, 1998 105,300 23.9375 December 8, 1998 165,000 23.9375 December 9, 1998 1,300 23.8125 " 7,400 23.8750 " 1,100 23.7500 December 10, 1998 24,600 23.9375 December 11, 1998 153,600 23.9375 December 14, 1998 64,000 22.6875 " 600 22.6250 December 15, 1998 37,000 22.6250 " 28,900 22.5000 " 1,000 22.4375 December 16, 1998 1,600 22.6250 " 29,900 22.6875 " 2,600 22.7500
American Home's and each other AIG Sub's current ownership interests in the Company and the Common Stock is set forth on the cover pages to this Amendment No. 17 to Schedule 13D. The ownership percentages appearing on such pages have been calculated based on the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of October 31, 1998 (87,601,698 shares) as reported by the Company in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended September 30, 1998. -7- 8 (b). AIG and each AIG Sub share voting and dispositive power as to the securities owned by such AIG Sub. (c). AIG, American Home, Commerce & Industry, National Union, New Hampshire, SICO, The Starr Foundation and Starr, and, to the best of each of their knowledge, the Covered Persons, have not engaged in any transactions in the Common Stock since the filing of Amendment No. 16 to Schedule 13D, except for the purchase by American Home between November 12, 1998 and December 16, 1998 of 897,500 shares of Common Stock as described in (a) above. -8- 9 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: December 16, 1998 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. By: /s/ Kathleen E. Shannon --------------------------------------- Kathleen E. Shannon, Vice President, Secretary and Associate General Counsel AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ Edward E. Matthews --------------------------------------- Edward E. Matthews, Senior Vice President COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY INSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ Edward E. Matthews --------------------------------------- Edward E. Matthews, Senior Vice President NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PA. By: /s/ Edward E. Matthews --------------------------------------- Edward E. Matthews, Senior Vice President NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ Edward E. Matthews --------------------------------------- Edward E. Matthews, Vice President -9-