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Richard Donner

Director

"If I came on to direct a running series it could be a drag because you couldn’t change the characters, the lead characters, the sustaining characters. You didn’t want to create a whole new visual style because it was established. But the anthologies and pilots I loved doing- on those you could always try something new and different."

About This Interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Richard Donner talks about his start as an actor in New York and the career-changing moment when director Martin Ritt told him that he should work behind-the-camera as his assistant. Donner describes his start as a director, working in commercials and documentaries initially for George Blake, then for his own company. He recalls his transition to Los Angeles where he directed commercials with the cast of I Love Lucy. He recounts his work for several studios as a television director in the 1960s on Wanted: Dead or Alive (with Steve McQueen), Wagon Train (in an episode guest-starring Bette Davis), The Loretta Young Show, The Hathaways (a series featuring three chimpanzees), Gilligan's Island, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, and, most notably, The Twilight Zone. Donner outlines the challenges of directing the memorable Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which William Shatner sees a gremlin on the wing of an airplane. He talks of his early forays into feature filmmaking and his return to television each time, feeling that he was not ready to make the jump. He remembers working on ‘70s projects The Banana Splits Hour and the acclaimed television movie Sarah T.— Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, before his breakthrough success in movies with "The Omen." Donner then chronicles the development and casting of hits "Superman," "The Goonies," and "Lethal Weapon." He also describes his later work in television as a producer-director of the television series Tales From the Crypt. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on June 22, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Banana Splits Adventure Hour
  • Cannon
  • Combat
  • Fugitive, The
  • Get Smart
  • Gilligan’s Island
  • Hathaways, The
  • Have Gun, Will Travel
  • Kojak
  • Loretta Young Show, The
  • Lucas Tanner
  • Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
  • Perry Mason
  • Rifleman, The
  • Route 66
  • Tales from the Crypt
  • Texaco Star Theater (1948-53)
  • Twilight Zone, The
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
  • Wagon Train
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive

People

  • Lucille Ball
  • Milton Berle
  • William Shatner

Topics

  • Classic TV series episodes
  • Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
  • Industry Crossroads
  • Pop Culture
  • TV Theme Songs
  • TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s)
  • Technological Innovation

Professions

  • Director

Featured Content

Video Clip: Watch scenes from Danger Island:
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  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
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Highlights

  • Richard Donner on directing <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">The Loretta Young Show</i>Richard Donner on directing The Loretta Young Show
    Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 54s
  • Richard Donner on the technical challenges of <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">The Twilight Zone</i> <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">'s</i> "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"Richard Donner on the technical challenges of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
    Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 01m 21s
  • Richard Donner on the practical joke played on him on the set of <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">The Twilight Zone</i> <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">'s</i> "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by star William Shatner and Edd Byrnes (actor and husband to "Nightmare" co-star Asa Maynor) Richard Donner on the practical joke played on him on the set of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by star William Shatner and Edd Byrnes (actor and husband to "Nightmare" co-star Asa Maynor) 
    Clip begins at: 14:13, Duration: 01m 25s
  • Richard Donner on "sneaking" messages into his moviesRichard Donner on "sneaking" messages into his movies
    Clip begins at: 03:40, Duration: 00m 47s
  • Richard Donner on directing <i gx_name="i" class="gx_element gx_inline gx_name_i">Kojak</i>Richard Donner on directing Kojak
    Clip begins at: 12:33, Duration: 04m 02s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his early life and influences; on his acting career; on his first television job
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his military service; on directing commercials; on his memories of live television and his first television set
    Clip begins at: 15:22
  • Part 2
  • On the Hollywood Blacklist; on directing Steve McQueen in Wanted: Dead or Alive
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On directing Wagon Train; on directing Have Gun, Will Travel
    Clip begins at: 16:53
  • Part 3
  • On directing The Loretta Young Show; on directing The Hathaways; on how he came to direct The Twilight Zone
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On directing the classic Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet;" on directing various other Twilight Zone episodes
    Clip begins at: 10:39
  • Part 4
  • On the legacy of The Twilight Zone; on making the transition from directing television to directing features
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On directing the feature film "The Omen;" on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
    Clip begins at: 18:08
  • Part 5
  • On directing Gilligan's Island and The Banana Splits Adventure Hour; on directing Kojak
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On directing various episodic television shows in the '60s and '70s
    Clip begins at: 16:35
  • Part 6
  • On directing Sarah T. Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic; on directing the feature film "The Omen;" on directing the feature film "Superman"
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On how his training directing for television helped him in features; on directing the feature films "Inside Moves" and "The Goonies;" on directing the "Lethal Weapon" film franchise
    Clip begins at: 16:20
  • Part 7
  • On directing the feature "Maverick" and producing and directing Tales from the Crypt
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On then-current projects; on his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner; on how he'd like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 08:16

Shows

  • Banana Splits Adventure Hour
    • Richard Donner on directing the Banana Splits Adventure Hour
      Clip begins at: 05:15, Duration: 06m 15s
  • Cannon
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Combat
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Fugitive, The
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Get Smart
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
  • Gilligan’s Island
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
    • Richard Donner on directing Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 39s
    • Richard Donner on the importance of television theme songs
      Clip begins at: 04:27, Duration: 00m 48s
  • Hathaways, The
    • Richard Donner on directing The Hathaways
      Clip begins at: 05:03, Duration: 01m 47s
  • Have Gun, Will Travel
    • Richard Donner on directing Have Gun, Will Travel
      Clip begins at: 24:48, Duration: 03m 32s
  • Kojak
    • Richard Donner on directing Kojak
      Clip begins at: 12:33, Duration: 04m 02s
  • Loretta Young Show, The
    • Richard Donner on directing The Loretta Young Show
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 54s
  • Lucas Tanner
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
    • Richard Donner on directing The Man From U.N.C.L.E (Donner incorrectly identifies Jill Ireland as Jill St. John)
      Clip begins at: 21:18, Duration: 03m 00s
  • Perry Mason
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Rifleman, The
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Route 66
    • Richard Donner on various episodic television shows he directed in the '70s
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 11m 18s
  • Tales from the Crypt
    • Richard Donner on producing and directing Tales from the Crypt for HBO
      Clip begins at: 03:02, Duration: 05m 14s
  • Texaco Star Theater (1948-53)
    • Richard Donner on his first memory of television, watching Texaco Star Theater
      Clip begins at: 25:46, Duration: 03m 13s
  • Twilight Zone, The
    • Richard Donner on how he came to direct for MGM and The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 06:50, Duration: 03m 49s
    • Richard Donner on the short shooting schedule of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 10:39, Duration: 00m 54s
    • Richard Donner on the technical challenges of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 01m 21s
    • Richard Donner on the practical joke played on him on the set of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by star William Shatner and Edd Byrnes (actor and husband to "Nightmare" co-star Asa Maynor) 
      Clip begins at: 14:13, Duration: 01m 25s
    • Richard Donner on working with actor William Shatner on The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 00m 37s
    • Richard Donner on the potential he saw in the script of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," and his own style of creating a reality for his work
      Clip begins at: 18:42, Duration: 00m 53s
    • Richard Donner on working with actor Wally Cox on The Twilight Zone 's "From Agnes — with Love"
      Clip begins at: 22:14, Duration: 01m 35s
    • Richard Donner on directing various Twilight Zone episodes
      Clip begins at: 23:49, Duration: 04m 48s
    • Richard Donner on the legacy of The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 03:58, Duration: 03m 34s
    • Richard Donner on directing various episodes of The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 57s
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
    • Richard Donner on the short shooting schedule of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 10:39, Duration: 00m 54s
    • Richard Donner on the technical challenges of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 01m 21s
    • Richard Donner on the practical joke played on him on the set of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by star William Shatner and Edd Byrnes (actor and husband to "Nightmare" co-star Asa Maynor) 
      Clip begins at: 14:13, Duration: 01m 25s
    • Richard Donner on working with actor William Shatner on The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 00m 37s
    • Richard Donner on the potential he saw in the script of The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," and his own style of creating a reality for his work
      Clip begins at: 18:42, Duration: 00m 53s
    • Richard Donner on the legacy of The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 03:58, Duration: 03m 34s
  • Wagon Train
    • Richard Donner on directing the series Wagon Train
      Clip begins at: 19:46, Duration: 05m 02s
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive
    • Richard Donner on directing Wanted: Dead or Alive and his relationship with Steve McQueen
      Clip begins at: 05:57, Duration: 07m 56s
    • Richard Donner on working with Steve McQueen on Wanted: Dead or Alive
      Clip begins at: 14:20, Duration: 02m 33s
    • Richard Donner on shooting stunts for Wanted: Dead or Alive
      Clip begins at: 16:52, Duration: 01m 31s

People

  • Don Adams
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
  • Desi Arnaz
    • Richard Donner on opening his own commercial company
      Clip begins at: 15:22, Duration: 03m 51s
  • Lucille Ball
    • Richard Donner on opening his own commercial company
      Clip begins at: 15:22, Duration: 03m 51s
  • Milton Berle
    • Richard Donner on his first memory of television
      Clip begins at: 25:46, Duration: 03m 13s
  • Wally Cox
    • Richard Donner on working with actor Wally Cox on The Twilight Zone 's "From Agnes — with Love"
      Clip begins at: 22:14, Duration: 01m 35s
  • Bette Davis
    • Richard Donner on directing the series Wagon Train
      Clip begins at: 19:46, Duration: 05m 02s
  • Bob Denver
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
  • Peter Falk
    • Richard Donner on directing the pilot of The Trials of O'Brien with Peter Falk
      Clip begins at: 11:30, Duration: 01m 03s
  • Jodie Foster
    • Richard Donner on directing the feature film "Maverick"
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 01s
  • Mel Gibson
    • Richard Donner on directing the "Lethal Weapon" series of feature films and working with Mel Gibson
      Clip begins at: 22:35, Duration: 05m 27s
    • Richard Donner on directing the feature film "Maverick"
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 01s
  • Alan Hale, Jr.
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
  • Cloris Leachman
    • Richard Donner on his experience in live television
      Clip begins at: 22:53, Duration: 02m 53s
  • Steve McQueen
    • Richard Donner on directing Wanted: Dead or Alive and his relationship with Steve McQueen
      Clip begins at: 05:57, Duration: 07m 56s
    • Richard Donner on working with Steve McQueen on Wanted: Dead or Alive
      Clip begins at: 14:20, Duration: 02m 33s
    • Richard Donner on shooting stunts for Wanted: Dead or Alive
      Clip begins at: 16:52, Duration: 01m 31s
  • Christopher Reeve
    • Richard Donner on directing the feature film "Superman" and working with Christopher Reeve
      Clip begins at: 08:03, Duration: 08m 17s
  • Martin Ritt
    • Richard Donner on the Hollywood Blacklist and Martin Ritt
      Clip begins at: 00:59, Duration: 03m 08s
  • Telly Savalas
    • Richard Donner on directing Kojak
      Clip begins at: 12:33, Duration: 04m 02s
  • William Shatner
    • Richard Donner on working with actor William Shatner on The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 00m 37s
  • Steven Spielberg
    • Richard Donner on directing the feature film "The Goonies"
      Clip begins at: 19:26, Duration: 03m 09s

Topics

  • Pop Culture
    • Richard Donner on directing the classic Twilight Zone  episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 10:39, Duration: 08m 56s
    • Richard Donner on the importance of television theme songs
      Clip begins at: 04:27, Duration: 00m 48s
  • Pop Culture > Classic TV series episodes
    • Richard Donner on directing the classic Twilight Zone  episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 10:39, Duration: 08m 56s
  • Pop Culture > TV Theme Songs
    • Richard Donner on the importance of television theme songs
      Clip begins at: 04:27, Duration: 00m 48s
  • TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s)
    • Richard Donner on his experience in live television
      Clip begins at: 23:53, Duration: 01m 53s
  • Technological Innovation
    • Richard Donner on technology's affect on film and television
      Clip begins at: 15:02, Duration: 01m 58s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads
    • Richard Donner on the Hollywood Blacklist and Martin Ritt
      Clip begins at: 00:59, Duration: 03m 08s
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
    • Richard Donner on the Hollywood Blacklist and Martin Ritt
      Clip begins at: 00:59, Duration: 03m 08s

Genres

  • Adventure/Espionage Series
    • Richard Donner on directing The Man From U.N.C.L.E  (Donner incorrectly identifies Jill Ireland as Jill St. John)
      Clip begins at: 21:18, Duration: 03m 00s
  • Children’s Programming
    • Richard Donner on directing The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
      Clip begins at: 05:15, Duration: 06m 15s
  • Classic Anthology Series
    • Richard Donner on directing The Loretta Young Show
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 54s
    • Richard Donner on directing The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 06:50, Duration: 21m 47s
    • Richard Donner directing The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 07m 31s
    • Richard Donner on producing and directing Tales from the Crypt  for HBO
      Clip begins at: 03:02, Duration: 05m 14s
  • Comedy Series
    • Richard Donner on directing Get Smart  and Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 24:18, Duration: 04m 06s
    • Richard Donner on directing Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 05m 14s
  • Commercials
    • Richard Donner on opening his own commercial company
      Clip begins at: 15:22, Duration: 03m 51s
  • Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
    • Richard Donner on directing Kojak
      Clip begins at: 12:33, Duration: 04m 02s
  • TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
    • Richard Donner on directing the made-for-television movie Sarah T. Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 12s
  • Western Series
    • Richard Donner on directing Wanted: Dead or Alive
      Clip begins at: 05:57, Duration: 12m 26s
    • Richard Donner on directing the series Wagon Train
      Clip begins at: 16:52, Duration: 07m 56s
    • Richard Donner on directing Have Gun, Will Travel
      Clip begins at: 24:48, Duration: 03m 32s

Professions

  • Director
    • Richard Donner on the short shooting schedule and technical challenges of directing The Twilight Zone 's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 10:39, Duration: 04m 04s
    • Richard Donner on making the transition from directing television to directing features
      Clip begins at: 07:32, Duration: 10m 36s
    • Richard Donner on how directing for television helped him shoot "Superman" and "Superman II" simultaneously
      Clip begins at: 16:20, Duration: 01m 06s
    • Richard Donner on advice to aspiring directors
      Clip begins at: 14:20, Duration: 00m 42s
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Submitted by fluteplaya22593 on Thu, 2011-04-21 22:34.

@pedalero of course he can... but lets hope the producers dont fire him... stupid salkinds

Submitted by 7777theguy on Tue, 2011-04-12 19:24.

wheres richard donner live?

Submitted by 7777theguy on Tue, 2011-04-12 13:53.

i hear richard donner lives in seattle now is that true?

Submitted by jimk5447 on Sun, 2011-03-06 18:22.

@thinlizzybone. Richard donners cousin plays the police captain he is also in scrooged at the end of the movie when bobcat golthwait busts into the control room.

Submitted by moh1612 on Thu, 2011-02-17 15:05.

@GOPJ00 Me too

Submitted by moh1612 on Thu, 2011-02-17 14:36.

Richard Donner has Sylvester Stallone eye's. Such a great director

Submitted by RASOOL28 on Mon, 2011-02-14 21:37.

His brother plays the captain.

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