John Ronald Smight (March 9, 1925 – September 1, 2003) was an American film and television director. He was best known for his thriller and action films, notably Harper (1966), No Way to Treat a Lady (1968), Airport 1975 (1974), Midway (1976), Damnation Alley (1977), and Number One with a Bullet (1987). FilmInk described him as "a perfect example of the 'journeyman' director."
Early life and education Smight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Irish Catholic immigrants. He graduated from Cretin High School with future actor Peter Graves. They acted together in summer stock productions, and Graves played in a 15-piece band that Smight led.
He joined the Army Air Forces, flying missions in the Pacific during World War II, before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1949. He then sought work as an actor. He worked as a radio actor and had a bit part in a stage production of Anna Lucasta in 1949.
Career
Television He became stage manager for TV's The Good Egg of the Week and then assistant director on The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Dennis Day Show. He said a big break was working on Visit to a Small Planet with Cyril Ritchard.
In 1959, he won an Emmy Award for his direction of the hour-long play Eddie, which starred Mickey Rooney. He directed episodes for The Twilight Zone and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.
He directed the 1960 Broadway play The 49th Cousin.
Feature films Smight's first feature film was I'd Rather Be Rich (1964), a remake of It Started with Eve (1941). Smight said "it was not a particularly good script but it opened up a whole new life for me."Hollywood Kind to TV Directors Los Angeles Times 17 May 1966: c9.
Smight then signed a contract with Warners to make six films in one a year. He produced and directed The Third Day (1965) and then directed the Paul Newman vehicle Harper (1966).Smight makes best of both: Go anywhere By Kimmis Hendrick. The Christian Science Monitor 3 Aug 1965: 6. He followed that with the British action comedy, Kaleidoscope (1966) with Warren Beatty.
In 1966, he signed a three-picture deal with Mirisch Brothers and bought the rights to the book The Illustrated Man.MOVIE CALL SHEET: Jack Smight Signs Contract Los Angeles Times 12 Dec 1966: D25. In 1968, he directed the cult classic comedic thriller No Way to Treat a Lady, starring Rod Steiger and George Segal. Other notable films directed by Smight include Airport 1975 (1974) and Midway (1976), back-to-back box office hits.
In 1976, Smight was hired to direct the technically-complex Damnation Alley, expected to be another box office hit upon release. After the director's cut was delivered, and Smight moved on to other projects, studio meddling and re-editing resulted in a drastically altered film, which was released and failed at the box office.
Smight's last film, The Favorite (1989), also known as La Nuit du serail, was a co-production of the United States and Switzerland.
Personal life Smight was married to actress Joyce Cunning, and he had two sons, including editor/director Alec Smight.
Death Smight died of cancer on September 1, 2003, in Los Angeles.
Filmography Film Year TitleNotes 1964 I'd Rather Be Rich 1965 The Third Day Also producer 1966 Harper Kaleidoscope 1968 The Secret War of Harry Frigg No Way to Treat a Lady 1969 The Illustrated Man Strategy of Terror 1970 Rabbit, Run The Traveling Executioner Also producer 1974 Airport 1975 1976 Midway 1977 Damnation Alley 1979 Fast Break 1980 Loving Couples 1987 Number One with a Bullet 1989 The Favorite
Television Year Title Notes1949 One Man's Family TV series 1955 Repertory Theatre 2 episodes Goodyear Playhouse 2 episodes1956-57 Climax! 13 episodes1956-58 General Electric Theater 2 episodes 1957 The Seven Lively Arts Episode: "The Sound of Jazz" 1957-58 Studio One in Hollywood 4 episodes1957-58 Suspicion 3 episode1958 Alcoa Theatre Episode: Eddie 1959 Oldsmobile Music Theatre Episode: "A Nice Place to Hide" The DuPont Show with June Allyson 2 episodes 1959-61 The Twilight Zone 4 episodes 1960 The United States Steel Hour Episode "Shadow of a Pale Horse" 1960-61 Art Carney Special 2 episodes NBC Sunday Showcase 2 episodes Our American Heritage 4 episodes 1961 Naked City Episode: "Dead on the Field of Honor" Route 66 Episode: "Goodnight Sweet Blues" The Law and Mr. Jones Episode: "Lincoln" 1961-62Westinghouse Presents2 episodes 1962 The Defenders 2 episodes The DuPont Show of the Week 5 episodes Alcoa Premiere Episode: "Broken Year" 1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 4 episodes East Side/West Side 2 episodes Arrest and Trial 5 episodes 1963-64 Dr. Kildare 3 episodes 1964-65 Kraft Suspense Theatre 4 episodes 1971 Columbo Episode: "Dead Weight" 1971-72 McCloud 2 episodes 1972 Banacek 2 episodes Madigan 2 episodes 1986 Code of Vengeance 2 episodes
TV films, specials, and miniseries Year Title1958 Victor Borge's Comedy in Music III 1959 The Ten Commandments The Sound of Miles Davis 1960 Destiny, West! 1961 The Enchanted Nutcracker 1972 The Screaming Woman The Longest Night 1973 Partners in Crime Double Indemnity Linda Frankenstein: The True Story Legend in Granite 1974 The Man from Independence 1978 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry 1982 Remembrance of Love
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1959 Directing for a Drama Series Alcoa Theatre 1962 Westinghouse Presents Hugo Award 1970 Best Dramatic Presentation The Illustrated Man
References
External links
Obituary-Jack Smight The Guardian