Brian G. Hutton Explained

Brian G. Hutton
Birth Name:Brian Geoffrey Hutton
Birth Date:May 2, 1935
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years Active:1954–2014
Occupation:Film Director, actor

Brian Geoffrey Hutton (May 2, 1935[1] – August 19, 2014) was an American actor and film director whose notable credits include the World War II action films Where Eagles Dare (1968) and Kelly's Heroes (1970).

Acting career

Hutton was born in New York City and studied at the Actors Studio.[1] He had a brief acting career between 1954 and 1962, including an appearance as an army deserter in the episode "Custer" in Gunsmoke (series 2, 1956). He played a young gunslinger, Billy Benson in season 2, episode 4 of The Rifleman. He made two guest appearances on Perry Mason in 1957: as Rod Gleason in "The Case of the Sulky Girl" and as a parking attendant in "The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink." His last television appearance was in the series Archer in 1975.[2]

In 1958, Hutton played a young gunfighter named The Kid in the episode "Yampa Crossing" of the western series Sugarfoot.[3] The following year, he portrayed a remorseful defendant on trial for causing a traffic death in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (the episode "Your Witness").Hutton played twins in an episode of Have Gun Will Travel as Adam and Sam M.

Director

Hutton made his debut as a director in 1965 with Wild Seed starring Michael Parks.[4]

His first studio film was The Pad and How to Use It (1966) produced by Ross Hunter, shot in 19 days.[5]

Hutton then did Sol Madrid (1967) for producer Elliot Kastner. Kastner hired Hutton to direct Where Eagles Dare, from a screenplay by Alistair MacLean at MGM starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. It was a huge success.[6]

MGM hired Hutton to direct Clint Eastwood again in Kelly's Heroes.[1]

He then directed Elizabeth Taylor in X Y & Zee (1972) and Night Watch (1973).[7] He was going to do Sleep is for the Rich for Kastner but it was never made.[8] In November 1972 Martin Poll announced he would direct The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing but he did not make the final movie.[9]

Retirement

After Night Watch came out in 1973, Hutton stopped making films for seven years because he lost his enthusiasm for it.[10]

Temporary return to filmmaking

He came back at the behest of Elliot Kastner who needed a director to replace Roman Polanski on The First Deadly Sin (1980) with Frank Sinatra.[11] Hutton then made High Road to China (1983) with Tom Selleck.

Hutton retired from making films altogether in the 1980s and began working in real-estate.[1] He died in Los Angeles, California on August 19, 2014, at age 79, a week after suffering a heart attack. He was survived by his wife.[2] [7]

Filmography

Director

Actor

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1955Good Morning, Miss Dove Student Uncredited
1957Fear Strikes Out Bernie Sherwill
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Rick
Carnival Rock Stanley
1958The Case Against Brooklyn Jess Johnson
King Creole Sal
1959Last Train from Gun Hill Lee Smithers
The Big Fisherman John
1962Geronimo Indian scout Uncredited
The Interns Dr. Joe Parelli

Television

YearTitleRoleEpisode
1956Gunsmoke Joe Trimble "Custer"
1957Official Detective Branton "The Wristwatch"
Perry Mason Rod Gleason "The Case of the Sulky Girl"
1958The Walter Winchell File Jerry Milner "The Bargain"
1959Alfred Hitchcock Presents Kenneth Jerome "Your Witness"
1961Rawhide Chandler "Incident on the Road Back"
1962Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mitch "The Big Kick"

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Anthony. The Times . Obituary. London. August 25, 2014.
  2. Web site: Brian G. Hutton, Director of 'Kelly's Heroes' and 'Where Eagles Dare', Dies at 79. Hollywoodreporter.com. 2014-08-20.
  3. Web site: "Yampa Crossing", Sugarfoot, December 9, 1958. Internet Movie Database. December 13, 2013.
  4. Obituary: Brian G Hutton: Director who created two great popular film classics - Kelly's Heroes and Where Eagles DareBergan, Ronald. The Guardian; London (UK) [London (UK)]09 Sep 2014: 39.
  5. News: Ross Gambling on Unknowns. Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times. Oct 2, 1965. A9.
  6. Preview: a young director and his $9 million cliff-hanger: 'Chat' pictures 'What's that?' 'Positive' alternativesBy Roderick Nordell. The Christian Science Monitor 7 Mar 1969: 4.
  7. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/24/brian-g-hutton Obituary
  8. Drive, Gene Hackman Said: Drive, Gene Hackman SaidBy A. H. WEILER. New York Times 6 Feb 1972: D15.
  9. Hutton for 'Cat'The Christian Science Monitor24 Nov 1972: 6.
  10. News: Brian G Hutton. Film Director. January 1, 1935 - August 19, 2014. Aged 79 . 12 February 2020 . . 30 August 2014.
  11. Brian G HuttonPendreigh, Brian. The Herald; Glasgow (UK) [Glasgow (UK)]30 Aug 2014: 18.