Peter Hyams

Peter Hyams
Born (1943-07-26) July 26, 1943
New York City, New York, U.S.
Residence Los Angeles, California, 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 conductor Arthur Lief. His sister is casting director Nessa Hyams.[2] His son John Hyams is also a film director. His nephew is 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, a rewrite of Ted Leighton's screenplay for the Steve McQueen film The Hunter (1980), 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.

Hyams followed with The Musketeer (2001) and A Sound of Thunder (2005). The Musketeer (2001), a new version of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, was a minor box office success in the United States. However, A Sound of Thunder (2005), a science-fiction movie 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 was poorly received by critics.

In addition, Hyams also directed an episode 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, 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 being 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, including those which he only wrote (such as 1980's The Hunter); the exceptions being A Sound of Thunder (although there was a market called "Spotas"), End of Days (although there was a bar called "Spotas"), Narrow Margin, Running Scared, 2010, Hanover Street and Peeper.[8]

Filmography

The following is a list of all movies with Hyams acting as director.[9] Additional credits (as writer, cinematographer and producer) on these movies are indicated. Only domestic box office figures are given. Inflation-adjusted box office results are as of 2014.

Title Release Date Role Box Office Adjusted Annual Ranking Sources
Enemies Closer 2014 [DP] $0 $0 N/A [10]
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt 2009 [DP][W] $32,917 $35,800 390 [11][12]
A Sound of Thunder 2005 [DP] $1,900,451 $2,407,400 218 [12][13][14]
The Musketeer 2001 [DP] $27,073,640 $38,840,600 87 [12][15][16]
End of Days 1999 [DP] $66,889,043 $106,459,000 36 [12][17][18]
The Relic 1997 [DP] $33,956,608 $60,071,400 65 [12][19][20]
Sudden Death 1995 [DP] $20,350,171 $37,624,400 81 [12][21]
Timecop 1994 [DP] $44,853,581 $87,131,800 31 [12][22][23]
Stay Tuned 1992 [DP] $10,736,401 $21,007,100 93 [12][24][25]
Narrow Margin 1990 [DP][W] $10,873,237 $20,872,500 97 [12][26][27]
The Presidio 1988 [DP] $20,324,096 $40,153,700 48 [12][28]
Running Scared 1986 [DP][EP] $38,500,726 $84,265,800 27 [12][29][30]
2010 1984 [P][DP][W] $41,000,000 $96,600,000 17 [12][31][32]
The Star Chamber 1983 [W] $5,600,000 $14,400,000 75 [12][33][34]
Outland 1981 [W] $20,000,000 $58,000,000 44 [12][35][36]
Hanover Street 1979 [W] $3,000,000 $9,705,200 [12][37][38]
Capricorn One 1978 [W]
Peeper 1975
Busting 1974 [W]
Our Time 1974 [W]
Rolling Man 1972 (TV)
Goodnight, My Love 1972 [W] (TV)

References

  1. ↑ Peter Hyams at the Internet Movie Database
  2. 1 2 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. ↑ page at the Wayback Machine (archived January 1, 1996) 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Peter Hyams". IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Enemies Closer". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Peter Hyams Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "A Sound of Thunder". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Top Grossing Movies of 2005". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Musketeer". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Top Grossing Movies of 2001". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "End of Days". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Top Grossing Movies of 1999". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "The Relic". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Top Grossing Movies of 1997". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Sudden Death". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Timecop". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Timecop". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Stay Tuned". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Stay Tuned". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  26. ↑ "Stay Tuned". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "Narrow Margin". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "The Presidio". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "Running Scared". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "Running Scared". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  31. ↑ "2010". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  32. ↑ "2010". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "The Star Chamber". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  34. ↑ "The Star Chamber". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  35. ↑ "Outland". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "Outland". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "Hanover Street". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  38. ↑ "Hanover Street". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
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