Stewart Raffill is a British writer and director.
Biography Raffill was born in England and grew up near Stratford before immigrating to the US and working in the motion picture industry. His writing and directing work in film and TV spans several genres including science fiction, family, comedy and drama.
Film Raffill made his feature debut as director with The Tender Warrior, starring Dan Haggerty and sold to Warner Brothers. It was filmed on location in Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia.
He sold his next script, Napoleon and Samantha, to Disney. Raffill also worked on the film as a producer. The film starred Jodie Foster and Michael Douglas.
He wrote and directed When the North Wind Blows.
Raffill wrote and directed The Adventures of the Wilderness Family with Robert Logan, leading to two sequels.Roughing It for Togetherness Gross, Linda. Los Angeles Times 23 December 1976: f10.
He followed it with two films with Logan, Across the Great Divide and The Sea Gypsies.
Raffill wrote and directed High Risk, shot in Mexico, starring James Brolin which he later described as a personal favorite. The film got him the job of writing and directing The Ice Pirates, made for John Forman and David Begelman at MGM.
Raffill directed and did uncredited writing on The Philadelphia Experiment which won Best Science Fiction Film at the Rome Film Festival.
Raffill directed and wrote Mac and Me, made to provide royalties to the McDonald's Foundation and starring Jade Calegory, who had spina bifida. The film is frequently cited as one of the worst ever made, but it later attained cult status and was re-released in 2019.
Begelmen hired Raffill to direct Mannequin Two: On the Move. Raffill wrote the original screenplay for Passenger 57.DRESSED FOR SUCCESS: AMONG THE ESPRESSO MAKERS AND PATIO FURNITURE OF WANAMAKERS IN CENTER CITY, A MANNEQUIN HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN. WHAT'S SHE DOING? WHY, MAKING A MOVIE, OF COURSE. Rea, Steven. Philadelphia Inquirer16 June 1990: D.1.
Raffill wrote and directed Lost in Africa made for the Tusk charity. He also wrote and directed Tammy and the T-Rex, which starred Paul Walker, Denise Richards and Terry Kiser, which was re-released in 2019 and was the official selection for the Fantastic Fest and premiered at Beyond Fest. It was also featured in its entirety in the 2022 comedic video game, High on Life.
Other credits include A Month of Sundays, starring Rod Steiger, Sal Sapienza and Dee Wallace Stone; Survival Island, starring Billy Zane and Juan Pablo DiPace; Mysterious; and the family musical Standing Ovation.
Television He moved into directing for TV with The New Adventures of Robin Hood and the TV movie The New Swiss Family Robinson with Jane Seymour and David Carradine, which he also wrote. He directed Grizzly Falls that won the Heartland Award and starred Bryan Brown.
Raffill directed episodes of Pensacola: Wings of Gold and 18 Wheels of Justice, and the TV movie Croc (2007).
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Notes1971The Tender Warrior1972Napoleon and SamanthaNational Association of Theatre Owners Movie of the Month1974Snow Tigers (aka When the North Wind Blows)1975The Adventures of the Wilderness Family1976Across the Great Divide1978The Sea Gypsies1981High Risk1984The Philadelphia ExperimentThe Ice Pirates1988Mac and Me1991Mannequin Two: On the Move1992Passenger 571994Tammy and the T-RexLost in Africa1998The New Swiss Family Robinson1999Grizzly Falls2001A Month of Sundays2002While You Were Waiting2006Survival Island2007CrocTV movieSirens of the Caribbean2010Standing Ovation
Television Year Title Episodes 1999–2000 Pensacola: Wings of Gold "True Stories""A Wing and a Prayer""Cuba Libre""Busted" 2000–2001 18 Wheels of Justice "Two Eyes for an Eye""Through a Glass, Darkly""A Place Called Defiance""Hot Cars, Fast Women""Dance with the Devil"
Awards and nominations Year Title Award1976Across the Great Divide Outstanding Merit Award - So. California Motion Picture Council1978The Sea Gypsies Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence1984The Philadelphia Experiment Best Science Fiction Rome International Film FestivalFantafestival Award for Best Film1988Mac and MeGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (Tied with Blake Edwards of Sunset)Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (with Steve Feke) 1999Grizzly FallsAward of Excellence Winner - Heartland Film FestivalMarco Island Film Festival - Audience WinnerGolden Reel Award Nominee2001A Month of Sundays Feature Film Award for Best Actor - Rod Steiger - 2001 New York International Independent Film and Video FestivalWinner - Best of the Festival - Feature Film - Stewart Raffil - 2002 Atlantic City Film Festival2002While You Were Waiting Silver Award for Dramatic Short Atlantic City Film Festival2010Standing OvationOfficial Selection - May Film Festival 2011
References
External links Personal website Stewart Raffill - AFI Catalog of Feature Films