Brian Geoffrey Hutton (May 2, 1935 – August 19, 2014) was an American film director and actor. As a filmmaker, he was best known for directing the World War II action films Where Eagles Dare (1968) and Kelly's Heroes (1970).

Early life and acting career Hutton was born in New York City, and studied at the Actors Studio. He was discovered by film producer Hal B. Wallis, who first brought him to Hollywood in the mid-1950s.

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.

In 1958, Hutton played a young gunfighter named The Kid in the episode "Yampa Crossing" of the western series Sugarfoot. 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.

Hutton also taught acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, where he staged a production of The Connection that starred Robert Blake and was produced by Albert S. Ruddy.

Director Hutton made his debut as a director in 1965 with Wild Seed, a low-budget drama starring Michael Parks and Celia Kaye. His first studio film was The Pad and How to Use It (1966), produced by Ross Hunter, shot in 19 days.

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.Preview: a young director and his $9 million cliff-hanger: 'Chat' pictures 'What's that?' 'Positive' alternatives By Roderick Nordell. The Christian Science Monitor 7 Mar 1969: 4.

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

He then directed Elizabeth Taylor in X Y & Zee (1972) and Night Watch (1973). He was going to do Sleep is for the Rich for Kastner but it was never made.Drive, Gene Hackman Said: Drive, Gene Hackman Said By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 6 Feb 1972: D15. In November 1972, Martin Poll announced Hutton would direct The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing; the film ended up being directed by Richard C. Sarafian..Hutton for 'Cat' The Christian Science Monitor24 Nov 1972: 6.

Retirement After Night Watch came out in 1973, Hutton stopped making films for seven years because he lost his enthusiasm for it:

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.Brian G Hutton Pendreigh, Brian. The Herald; Glasgow (UK) [Glasgow (UK)]30 Aug 2014: 18. Hutton then made High Road to China (1983), this time replacing Sidney J. Furie, with Tom Selleck.

Hutton retired from making films altogether 1980s by the end of the decade, and worked in real-estate.

Death 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 Victoria.

Appraisal Erin Free of FilmInk included Hutton in the publication's "Unsung Auteur" series, writing "Though not as driven to the task as most successful directors, Brian G. Hutton nevertheless helmed a number of excellent features, most notably a truly cracking Clint Eastwood double-shot with 1968’s Where Eagles Dare and 1970’s Kelly’s Heroes (....) Hutton imbued his films with something a little extra in terms of attitude and originality."

Filmography Director +YearTitleStarring castStudio/Distributor1965Wild SeedMichael Parks, Celia KayeUniversal Pictures1966The Pad and How to Use ItBrian Bedford, Julie Sommars, James Farentino1968Sol MadridDavid McCallum, Stella Stevens, Telly SavalasMetro-Goldwyn-MayerWhere Eagles DareRichard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure1970Kelly's HeroesClint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles1972X Y & ZeeElizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah YorkColumbia Pictures1973Night WatchElizabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey, Billie WhitelawAvco Embassy Pictures1980The First Deadly SinFrank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, James WhitmoreFilmways Pictures1983High Road to ChinaTom Selleck, Bess Armstrong, Jack WestonWarner Bros. Pictures

Actor Film Year Title Role Notes1955 Good Morning, Miss Dove Student Uncredited1957 Fear Strikes Out Bernie Sherwill Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Rick Carnival Rock Stanley 1958 The Case Against Brooklyn Jess Johnson King Creole Sal 1959 Last Train from Gun Hill Lee Smithers The Big Fisherman John 1962 Geronimo Indian Scout Uncredited The Interns Dr. Joe Parelli

Television Year Title RoleNotes1956 Gunsmoke Joe Trimble Episode: "Custer"1957 Official Detective Branton Episode: "The Wristwatch" Perry Mason Rod Gleason Episode: "The Case of the Sulky Girl"1958 The Walter Winchell File Jerry Milner Episode: "The Bargain"1959, 1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Kenneth Jerome, Mitch Episodes: "Your Witness", "The Big Kick"1961 Rawhide Chandler Episode: "Incident on the Road Back"

References

External links

Brian G. Hutton profile, allmovie.com; accessed August 25, 2014.