Peter Hyams
About
Biography
Biography
This craftsman's action-oriented films are often singled out for their lush cinematography. Early on, Hyams distinguished himself as a quadruple threat, fulfilling the duties of writer, producer, director and cinematographer, or some combination thereof, on many of his cinematic outings.
Originally a jazz drummer and then a new anchor at CBS, a post he left to cover the Vietnam War (about which he made a documentary), Hyams launched a film career producing and scripting "T.R. Baskin" (1970), which starred Candice Bergen as a naive girl having her first fling with big city life. This led the way for Hyams to direct two well-received ABC TV-movies, "The Rolling Man" and "Goodnight My Love" (both 1972), before getting a chance to write and direct his first theatrical feature, the less successful "Busting" (1973), about two rogue Los Angles cops.
Undaunted, Hyams wrote and/or directed a string of features throughout the next two decades: among the better received were the romantic drama "Our Time" (1974) and "Telefon" (1977), a slick spy thriller based on a Walter Wager novel for which Hyams co-wrote the screenplay. Considered visually innovative were the political sci-fi thriller "Capricorn One" (1978), which had lots of great chases punctuated by Hyams' witty dialogue; the slickly-made "Outland" (1981), starring Sean Connery in a loose remake of "High Noon" set in outer space; and "2010" (1984), based on Arthur C. Clarke's sequel novel, which Hyams not only wrote and photographed but also produced and directed.
In the suspenseful "Narrow Margin" (1990), a remake of a 1950s classic which Hyams wrote, directed and photographed, star Gene Hackman reveled in a juicily written part opposite Anne Archer. Hyams followed up with the futuristic thriller "Timecop" (1994), a vehicle for the Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. Hyams' direction and cinematography, plus the film's elaborate technical effects simulating time travel, all got high marks, if the film itself received less than stellar notices. He reteamed with Van Damme for "Sudden Death" (1995), a routine thriller distinguished by its camerawork, then scored a critical success with "The Relic" (1997), which he, again, directed and photographed.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (Short)
Life Events
1964
Was youngest news anchorman in the country at WCBS-TV, New York
1966
Covered the Vietnam War for the CBS Network; made a documentary on the conditions in the battle zone
1970
Sold first screenplay, "T.R. Baskin", which he also produced
1972
TV-movie directing debut, "Rolling Man" (ABC)
1973
Feature film directing debut, "Busting"; also wrote original screenplay
1978
Wrote and directed the modest thriller "Capricorn One"
1981
First screen collaboration with Sean Connery, "Outland", a loose remake of "High Noon" set in outer space; Hyams directed and scripted
1984
Wrote, produced, directed and photographed sci-fi feature "2010", a sequel to "2001: A Space Odyssey"
1986
Produced, shot and directed "Running Scared"
1988
Reteamed with Connery for the thriller "The Presidio"; directed and served as director of photography
1994
Was director and cinematographer on "Timecop", starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
1995
Helmed and shot second Van Damme film, "Sudden Death"
1997
Was director and director of photography on the thriller "The Relic"
2001
Directed "The Musketeer"; also served as cinematographer
2005
Directed Edward Burns and Ben Kingsley in "A Sound of Thunder," based on a short story by master of science fiction Ray Bradbury
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