Peter Hyams

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Peter Hyams
Born (1943-07-26) July 26, 1943
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation Film director, screenwriter, cinematographer
Years active 1974–present
Spouse(s) George-Ann Spota (m. 1964)
Children 3

Peter Hyams (born July 26, 1943) is an American director, screenwriter and cinematographer, probably best known for directing the 1981 science fiction thriller Outland, Capricorn One, 2010 (the sequel to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey), the action/comedy Running Scared, the comic book adaptation Timecop, the action film Sudden Death (both starring Jean-Claude Van Damme), and the horror films The Relic and End of Days.[1]

Early life

Hyams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Ruth Hurok and Barry Hyams, who was a theatrical producer and publicist on Broadway. His maternal grandfather was Sol Hurok, the Russian Jewish impresario. His stepfather was blacklisted Arthur Lief. His sister is casting director Nessa Hyams.[2] His son John Hyams is also a film director and nephew Stephen Hyams.

Career

Hyams studied art and music at Hunter College and Syracuse University, before working as a producer/anchorman for WHDH-TV and later WBBM-TV. He has described himself as "one of the very few writer/directors of major films who also photographs his own pictures". During his time with CBS (where he worked from 1964 to 1970), he began to shoot documentary films. Hyams moved to Los Angeles in 1970 where he sold his first screenplay, T.R. Baskin, to Paramount Pictures in 1971.[2]

Hyams worked in television through the early to mid-1970s. His first major film was Capricorn One (1978), a critically acclaimed conspiracy thriller about a faked mission to Mars. This was followed by the less successful Hanover Street (1979) which starred Harrison Ford, and the science fiction cult classic Outland (1981), which starred Sean Connery in a 'High Noon' scenario set on Io, one of Jupiter's moons. In 1983, he produced, directed, and wrote the screenplay for 2010 (1984), collaborating closely with author Arthur C. Clarke (2010).

Hyams also co-authored with Clarke The Odyssey File: The Making of 2010, published 1985, a collection of their email correspondence which illustrates their fascination with the then pioneering medium, and its use for them to communicate on an almost daily basis while planning and producing the film.

Since the mid-1980s, Hyams has directed/photographed several Hollywood-based movies with varying degrees of commercial and critical success. These movies include: The Star Chamber (1983), Running Scared (1986), The Presidio (1988), Narrow Margin (1990), Stay Tuned (1992), Timecop (1994), and The Relic (1997). The blockbuster End of Days (1999) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is the highest-grossing film in Hyams' career, grossing over $200 million at the worldwide box-office but met with negative reception.

His two most recent films are The Musketeer (2001) and A Sound of Thunder (2005). The Musketeer (2001) was a minor box office success in the United States. However, A Sound of Thunder (2005), which faced troubles during its production (including the bankruptcy of the original production company during post-production[3]), performed particularly badly at the box office worldwide and poorly received by critics.

In addition, Hyams also directed various episodes of Steven Spielberg's television show, Amazing Stories. He executive produced the 1980s cult kids movie, The Monster Squad (1986), and co-wrote the screenplay for the Charles Bronson thriller, Telefon (1977).

In 2007, it was reported that he would direct the remake of his own Capricorn One,[4][5] instead he directed the remake of the 1956 film noir Beyond a Reasonable Doubt[6] starring Michael Douglas, which was released in 2009 as a result the film was a box office flop and panned by critics. He also elaborated the cinematography of his son John's effort, Universal Soldier: Regeneration, the third official Universal Soldier sequel starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren.

He directed the thriller Enemies Closer which began filming in late 2012. It marked his fourth (third directorial) collaboration with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Personal life

On December 19, 1964 he married George-Ann Spota, with whom he has three children.[7] His son John Hyams is also a film director; Peter performed cinematography duties on his son's film Universal Soldier: Regeneration.

Trademark

Hyams is well known for acting as his own cinematographer on the movies he directs.

As a reference to his wife's family, there's a minor character named Spota in many of his films, the exceptions being, A Sound of Thunder (although there was a market called "Spotas"), End of Days (although there was a bar called "Spotas"), Stay Tuned, Narrow Margin, Running Scared, 2010, Hanover Street and Peeper.[8]

Filmography

film (as director) released box office adjusted annual ranking
Enemies Closer 2013
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt 2009 [DP]
A Sound of Thunder May 15, 2005 $1,901,000 [9] [DP] $2mio [10] 217
The Musketeer September 9, 2001 $27,054,000 [11] [DP] $33mio [12] 87
End of Days November 24, 1999 $66,890,000 [13] [DP] $91mio [14] 36
The Relic January 10, 1997 $33,957,000 [15] [DP] $51mio [16] 65
Sudden Death October 26, 1995 $20,215,000 [17] [DP] $32mio [18] 104
Timecop September 16, 1994 $44,854,000 [19] [DP] $75mio [20]
Stay Tuned August 14, 1992 $10,737,000 [21] [DP] $18mio [22]
Narrow Margin September 21, 1990 $10,874,000 [23] [DP][W] $18mio [24]
The Presidio June 10, 1988 $20,037,000 [25] [DP] $34mio [26]
Running Scared June 27, 1986 $38,501,000 [27] [DP] $71mio [28]
2010 December 7, 1984 $41,000,000 [29] [DP][W] $81mio [30]
The Star Chamber August 5, 1983 $5,600,000 [31] [W] $12mio [32]
Outland May 22, 1981 ~$18–20mio [33] [W] ~$43–49 [34]
Hanover Street May 18, 1979 $3,000,000 [35] [W] $8mio [36]
Capricorn One June 1978 [W]
Peeper 1975
Busting February 1974 [W]
Our Time 1974 [W]

Additionally, in 1972 he directed the TV movies Goodnight, My Love and Rolling Man.

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Peter Hyams at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ford, Luke. "Director Peter Hyams". Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  3. ↑ Cited in imdb.com.
  4. ↑ Peter Hyams To Remake Capricorn One. Posted by Sean on February 9, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  5. ↑ Archived page of Capricorn Two?. Posted by Clint Morris on February 9, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  6. ↑ Beyond a Reasonable Doubt at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  7. ↑ Peter Hyams biography at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "Platinum Celebs". Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  9. ↑ A Sound of Thunder - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  10. ↑ Annual Movie Chart for Year 2005 at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  11. ↑ The Musketeer - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  12. ↑ Annual Movie Chart for Year 2001 at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  13. ↑ End of Days - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  14. ↑ Annual Movie Chart for Year 1999 and Annual Movie Chart for Year 2000 at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  15. ↑ The Relic - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  16. ↑ Annual Movie Chart for Year 1997 at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  17. ↑ Sudden Death - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  18. ↑ Annual Movie Chart for Year 1995 and Annual Movie Chart for Year 1996 at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  19. ↑ Timecop - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  20. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Pulp Fiction (with 1.6433) and Clear and Present Danger (with 1.6861) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  21. ↑ Stay Tuned - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  22. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Unforgiven (with 1.6591) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  23. ↑ Narrow Margin - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  24. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Ghost (with 1.6303) and Home Alone (with 1.6321) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  25. ↑ Box office/business for The Presidio at the Internet Movie Database and The Presidio - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  26. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Big (with 1.6757) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (with 1.6755) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  27. ↑ Running Scared - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  28. ↑ Inflation adjusted using The Karate Kid, Part II and Back to School (both with 1.8544) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  29. ↑ 2010 - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  30. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Beverly Hills Cop (with 1.9773) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  31. ↑ The Star Chamber - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  32. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Risky Business (with 2.1841) and The Big Chill (with 2.1541) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  33. ↑ Box office/business for Outland at the Internet Movie Database (stating $17,374,595) and Outland - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers (stating $20,000,000). Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  34. ↑ Inflation adjusted using The Four Seasons and The Cannonball Run (both with 2.4748) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  35. ↑ Box office/business for Hanover Street at the Internet Movie Database and Hanover Street - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  36. ↑ Inflation adjusted using Manhattan (both with 2.741) on table at The Numbers. Retrieved 15 July 2008.

External links

Films directed by Peter Hyams
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