Peter Hyams

Peter Hyams(born July 26, 1943) is an Americanfilm director,screenwriterandcinematographerknown for directing 1977 conspiracy thriller filmCapricorn One(which he also wrote), the 1981 science fiction-thrillerOutland,the 1984 science fiction film2010: The Year We Make Contact(a sequel toStanley Kubrick's2001: A Space Odyssey), the 1986 action/comedyRunning Scared,the comic book adaptationTimecop,the action filmSudden Death(both starringJean-Claude Van Damme), and the horror filmsThe RelicandEnd of Days.

Peter Hyams
Born	(1943-07-26)July 26, 1943 New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film director,screenwriter,cinematographer
Years active	1971–present
Spouse	George-Ann Spota ​ (m.1964)​
Children	3, includingJohn Hyams

Biography

Early life

Hyams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Ruth Hurok and Barry Hyams, who was atheatrical producerand publicist onBroadway.His maternal grandfather wasSol Hurok,the RussianJewishimpresario.His stepfather wasblacklistedconductor Arthur Lief. His sister iscastingdirector Nessa Hyams.His sonJohn Hyamsis also a film director.

Television

Hyams studied art and music atHunter CollegeandSyracuse Universitybefore working as a producer/anchormanforWHDH-TV.During 1966 while working for a CBS owned station in New York, he served three months as a news correspondent in Vietnam. He worked in Boston then in January 1968 he joinedWBBM-TVinChicagoas an anchorman and reporter to replaceFahey Flynn.A contemporary report described him as a "glamor type".

During his time with CBS (where he worked from 1964 to 1970), he then began to shootdocumentary films.

Screenwriter

Hyams moved to Los Angeles in 1970 where he sold his first screenplay,T.R. Baskin,toParamount Picturesin 1971.Herbert Rossdirected the film and Hyams produced.

Directing

Hyams made his directorial debut with anABC Movie of the WeekforAaron Spelling,Rolling Man(1972) starringDennis Weaver.Hyams worked on it solely as director, with the script being written by the producers.

Hyams followed it directing another TV movie which he also wrote,Goodnight, My Love(1972), about a private eye and a dwarf. The film was highly acclaimed.

Hyams optioned a novelGoing All the Waywhich he intended to adapt and direct but it was not made.

The praise forGoodnight My Lovemeant Hyams was able to get finance for his debut feature as writer-director,Busting(1974), a buddy cop movie starringElliott Gouldand Robert Blake. He followed it withOur Time(1974), a romance withPamela Sue Martin,which he directed only.

Hyams madePeeper(1975), for the producers ofBustingwithMichael CaineandNatalie Wood.It was a financial failure and Hyams' career was at a low ebb. He wrote the scriptHanover Streetwhich he could have sold outright but Hyams insisted on directing. He wrote the screenplay for the Charles Bronson thrillerTelefon(1977), doing a draft forRichard Lester(who ended up not directing the film). It was rewritten extensively.

Capricorn One

Hyams had written the script forCapricorn One(1977) a number of years earlier. It was a conspiracy thriller about a faked mission to Mars. Paul Lazarus managed to raise financing with Hyams as director and the film was his first hit.

This was followed by the less successfulHanover Street(1979) which starredHarrison Ford.

Hyams did a rewrite ofTed Leighton's screenplay for theSteve McQueenfilmThe Hunter(1980) which he was to direct. However he dropped out after clashes with McQueen.

He wanted to do a Western but was unable to get financing so he then wrote and directed the science fiction cult classicOutland(1981), which starredSean Conneryin a 'High Noon' scenario set onIo,one of Jupiter's moons.

Hyams directed the thrillerThe Star Chamber(1983), starringMichael Douglas,also rewriting the script.

MGM

For MGM Hyams produced, directed, and wrote the screenplay for2010(1984), collaborating closely with authorArthur C. Clarke(2010).

Hyams also co-authored with ClarkeThe Odyssey File: The Making of 2010,published 1985, a collection of theiremailcorrespondence 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.

Hyams directed an episode ofAmazing Stories,"The Amazing Falsworth".

Hyams had a hit with a buddy cop film,Running Scared(1986) at MGM withGregory HinesandBilly Crystal.

He followed it withThe Presidio(1988), another buddy action film, starringSean ConneryandMark Harmon.In between he executive produced the 1980s cult kids movieThe Monster Squad(1987).

Less popular wasNarrow Margin(1990), a remake of the 1952 film, and the comedyStay Tuned(1992).

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Hyams had a big hit with theJean-Claude Van DammefilmTimecop(1994). The director and actor subsequently reteamed onSudden Death(1995) which did less well.

Hyams did a horror monster movie calledThe Relic(1997) which received mixed reviews and grossed $48 million at the box office.

The blockbusterEnd of Days(1999) starringArnold Schwarzeneggeris the highest-grossing film in Hyams' career, grossing over $200 million at the worldwide box-office but was met with negative critical reception.

Hyams followed withThe Musketeer(2001), a new version of the novel byAlexandre Dumas,which was a minor box office success.

However, his next film,A Sound of Thunder(2005), a science-fiction movie, had serious difficulties during its production (including the bankruptcy of the original production company during post-production), performed particularly badly at the box office worldwide and was poorly received by critics.

He directed an episode of the seriesThreshold(2005).

In 2007, it was reported that he would direct the remake of his ownCapricorn One;instead he directed the remake of the1956film noirBeyond a Reasonable DoubtstarringMichael Douglas,which was released in 2009, was abox office flop,and panned by critics.

Reunion with Van Damme

Hyams also contributed the cinematography to his son John's effort,Universal Soldier: Regeneration,the third officialUniversal Soldiersequel starringJean-Claude Van DammeandDolph Lundgren.

Hyams directed the thrillerEnemies Closerwhich began filming in late 2012. It marked his fourth (third directorial) collaboration with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

O.J.: Made in America

Hyams was interviewed byEzra Edelmanin the latter's documentaryO.J.: Made in America,which touched on Hyams' former friendship withO. J. Simpson,whom he had directed inCapricorn One.In his interview, Hyams revealed his initial belief that Simpson was innocent ofmurderinghis ex-wifeNicole Brown Simpsonand her friendRon Goldman,but began to have doubts following the revelation of DNA evidence that suggested otherwise. Hyams said he felt particularly betrayed when Simpson continued to insist that he was innocent when Hyams' friend also began to voice his doubts about Simpson's innocence. Following Simpson's acquittal, Hyams stated that he found the African-American celebration of the acquittal to be particularly offensive and hurtful, and later severed his ties with Simpson.

Personal life

On December 19, 1964, Hyams married George-Ann Spota, with whom he has three sons.His first son, Chris Hyams, is the CEO of the job search websiteIndeed.His second son,John Hyams,is also a film director; Peter performed cinematography duties on John's filmUniversal Soldier: Regeneration.His third son, Nick Hyams, works as abattle rappromoter and host under the name Lush One.

Trademark

Hyams is known for being his owncinematographeron the movies he has directed since 1984.

As a reference to his wife's family, there is a minor character named Spota in many of his films, including those which he only wrote (such as 1980'sThe Hunter); the exceptions beingA Sound of Thunder(although there was a market called "Spota's" ),End of Days(although there was a bar called "Spota's" ),Narrow Margin,Running Scared,2010,Hanover StreetandPeeper.InHanover Street,Harrison Ford pilots a B-25 bomber named Gorgeous George-Ann.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	DoP
1971	T.R. Baskin		Yes	Yes
1974	Busting	Yes	Yes
	Our Time	Yes
1975	Peeper	Yes
1977	Capricorn One	Yes	Yes
	Telefon		Yes
1979	Hanover Street	Yes	Yes
1980	The Hunter		Yes
1981	Outland	Yes	Yes
1983	The Star Chamber	Yes	Yes
1984	2010: The Year We Make Contact	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1986	Running Scared	Yes			Yes
1988	The Presidio	Yes			Yes
1990	Narrow Margin	Yes	Yes		Yes
1992	Stay Tuned	Yes			Yes
1994	Timecop	Yes			Yes
1995	Sudden Death	Yes			Yes
1997	The Relic	Yes			Yes
1999	End of Days	Yes			Yes
2001	The Musketeer	Yes			Yes
2005	A Sound of Thunder	Yes			Yes
2009	Beyond a Reasonable Doubt	Yes	Yes		Yes
	Universal Soldier: Regeneration				Yes
2013	Enemies Closer	Yes			Yes

Ref.:

Executive producer

• Running Scared(1986)
• The Monster Squad(1987)

Television

TV movies

Year	Title	Director	Writer
1972	Rolling Man	Yes
	Goodnight, My Love	Yes	Yes

TV series

Year	Title	Episode
1985	Amazing Stories	"The Amazing Falsworth"
2005	Threshold	"Trees Made of Glass: Part 2"

Narrator

Year	Title	Episode
2020	Airlines of the World	"American Airlines"

External links

• Peter HyamsatIMDb
• Peter HyamsatAllMovie