Don Chaffey

Directing·Aug 5, 1917·Hastings, Sussex, England

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Donald Chaffey (5 August 1917 – 13 November 1990) was a British film director, writer, producer, and art director. Chaffey's film career began as an art director in 1947, and his directorial debut was in 1953. He remained active in the industry until his death in 1990 from heart failure. His film Charley One-Eye (1973) was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. He is chiefly remembered for his fantasy films, which include Jason and the Argonauts (1963), The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963), One Million Years B.C. (1966), The Viking Queen (1967), Creatures the World Forgot (1971), Pete's Dragon (1977), and C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), his final feature film. Concurrent with his theatrically released films, Chaffey directed episodes of numerous British television series, including multiple installments of Danger Man, The Prisoner, and The Avengers. From the 1980s until his death, all of his work was in American made-for-TV movies, and in such TV series as Fantasy Island, Stingray, MacGyver, Vega$, T. J. Hooker, Matt Houston, and Charlie's Angels. Chaffey began his career in the art department of Gainsborough Pictures where he worked as a draftsman on Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945), The Rake's Progress (1945), and Caravan (1946). He was art director of The Adventures of Dusty Bates (1947) and The Little Ballerina (1948). He directed the documentary shorts Thames Tideway (1948) and Cape Cargoes (1948). Chaffey directed the short features The Mysterious Poacher (1950) and The Case of the Missing Scene (1950). He returned to the art department for King of the Underworld (1950), The Stolen Plans (1952), Murder at the Grange (1952), Murder at Scotland Yard (1952), and Black 13 (1953). Chaffey resumed his directing career with the family film Skid Kids (1953). He made the short Watch Out (1953), then did Strange Stories (1953), Bouncer Breaks Up (1953, a short), The Mask (1952), and A Good Pull Up (1953). Chaffey directed Time Is My Enemy (1954). After the short Dead on Time (1955) he made The Secret Tent (1956), The Flesh Is Weak (1957) and The Girl in the Picture (1957). He directed episodes of TV series like Theatre Royal, The Adventures of the Big Man, Chevron Hall of Stars, The Errol Flynn Theatre, Assignment Foreign Legion, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dial 999, and The New Adventures of Charlie Chan. He interspersed these with features like A Question of Adultery (1958), The Man Upstairs (1958), Danger Within (1959), Dentist in the Chair (1960), Lies My Father Told Me (1960), and Nearly a Nasty Accident (1961).

Film	Credit
Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent1989 · Director	Director
International Airport1985 · Director	Director
Six Into One: The Prisoner File1984 · Self	Self
Casino1980 · Director	Director
C.H.O.M.P.S.1979 · Director	Director
Shimmering Light1978 · Director	Director
The Gift of Love1978 · Director	Director
Lassie: The New Beginning1978 · Director	Director
The Magic of Lassie1978 · Director	Director
Pete's Dragon1977 · Director	Director
Born to Run1977 · Director	Director
The Fourth Wish1976 · Director	Director
Ride a Wild Pony1975 · Director	Director
Persecution1974 · Director	Director
Charley-One-Eye1973 · Director	Director
TThe Mysterious Poacher1972 · Director	Director
Creatures the World Forgot1971 · Director	Director
Clinic Exclusive1971 · Director	Director
Journey to the Unknown1969 · Director	Director
A Twist of Sand1968 · Director	Director
The Viking Queen1967 · Director	Director
One Million Years B.C.1966 · Director	Director
The Crooked Road1965 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
A Jolly Bad Fellow1964 · Director	Director
The Horse Without a Head1964 · Director	Director
The Three Lives of Thomasina1963 · Director	Director
Jason and the Argonauts1963 · Director	Director
The Webster Boy1962 · Director	Director
The Prince and the Pauper1962 · Director	Director
A Matter of WHO1961 · Director	Director
Greyfriars Bobby1961 · Director	Director
Nearly a Nasty Accident1961 · Director	Director
Dentist in the Chair1960 · Director	Director
LLies My Father Told Me1960 · Director	Director
Danger Within1959 · Director	Director
The Man Upstairs1958 · Director	Director
A Question of Adultery1958 · Director	Director
The Flesh Is Weak1957 · Director	Director
The Girl in the Picture1957 · Director	Director
Time Is My Enemy1954 · Director	Director
The Mask1953 · Director	Director
Skid Kids1953 · Director	Director
A Good Pull-Up1953 · Director	Director
Watch Out1953 · Director	Director
Bouncer Breaks Up!1953 · Director	Director
Strange Stories1953 · Director	Director
TThe Case of the Missing Scene1951 · Director	Director