Happy Birthday, Franklin J. Schaffner! Born today in 1920 as Franklin James Schaffner, this American film, television, and stage director was one of the most innovative creative minds in the early days of American network television.
In the days when most television directors kept a camera static, Schaffner had utilized one that moved.
In the days when most television directors kept a camera static, Schaffner had utilized one that moved.
Schaffner was born in Tokyo, Japan. He was raised there as the son of American missionaries Sarah Horting (née Swords) and Paul Franklin Schaffner.
Among his credits in the 1960s, Schaffner is best known for directing the 1968 American Deluxe Color sci-fi/adventure film 'Planet of the Apes'.
It had been co-written by American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator Rod Serling.
It had been co-written by American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator Rod Serling.
The film was loosely based on French novelist Pierre Boulle's titular 1963 French science fiction fantasy dystopian fiction novel La Planète des singes (known in English as Planet of the Apes in the United States and Monkey Planet in the United Kingdom).
Regarding it's legacy, the film, over time, spawned a vast franchise. This included an original series sequels, a television series, a remake, a reboot series, documentaries, comics and parodies alike.
The film's other recognitions include the following:
• AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies—Nominated
- Colonel George Taylor—Nominated Hero
- "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"—#66
• AFI's 10 Top 10—Nominated Science Fiction Film
Among his credits in the 1970s, Schaffner is best known for directing the three-hour 1970 American epic biographical war/drama film 'Patton'.
The film had been based on Hungarian military historian and journalist Ladislas Faragó's 1954 biography Patton: Ordeal and Triumph and American United States General of the Army Omar N. Bradley's 1961 autobiography A Soldier's Story.
The following year, 'Patton' won seven Academy Awards. This included Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (co-written by a then-unknown Francis Ford Coppola).
Rod Steiger had first turned down the role as the lead, later admitting that it was the worst decision of his career.
However, George C. Scott won Best Actor for his portrayal of the five-star Major General George S. Patton, but declined to accept the award. This occurred at the 43rd Academy Awards in April 1971.
However, George C. Scott won Best Actor for his portrayal of the five-star Major General George S. Patton, but declined to accept the award. This occurred at the 43rd Academy Awards in April 1971.
Also among his credits of the 1970s, Schaffner is best known for co-producing and directing the 1973 French/American historical prison/drama film 'Papillon'. The film was based off of French writer Henri Charrière's titular 1969 autobiography.
Charrière got the nickname "Papillon" for the butterfly tattoo on his chest. In 1931, he had been convicted in Paris, France of a murder he did not commit.
Sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, he became obsessed with one goal: escape.
The autobiography details Papillon's incarceration and subsequent escape from the French penal colony of French Guiana, and covers a fourteen-year period between 1931 and 1945 regarding his time spent on Devil's Island.
Schaffner’s other notable works include directing the 1971 British biographical drama/history film ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ and the 1978 British-American thriller/sci-fi film ‘The Boys from Brazil’.
Schaffner’s other notable works include directing the 1971 British biographical drama/history film ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ and the 1978 British-American thriller/sci-fi film ‘The Boys from Brazil’.
In 2001, 'Planet of the Apes' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In 2003, 'Patton' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".
Schaffner had been active from 1949–1989.
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