
Don Chaffey
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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).
Known for
Credits

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Director

Pete's Dragon (1977)
Director

One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Director

The Prince and the Pauper (1962)
Director

Greyfriars Bobby (1961)
Director

C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979)
Director

Danger Within (1959)
Director

The Viking Queen (1967)
Director

Clinic Exclusive (1971)
Director

The Magic of Lassie (1978)
Director

Casino (1980)
Director

Persecution (1974)
Director

A Twist of Sand (1968)
Director

The Gift of Love (1978)
Director

The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
Director

Lassie: The New Beginning (1978)
Director

Creatures the World Forgot (1971)
Director

International Airport (1985)
Director

Shimmering Light (1978)
Director

Ride a Wild Pony (1975)
Director

A Matter of WHO (1961)
Director

Charley-One-Eye (1973)
Director

Dentist in the Chair (1960)
Director

Born to Run (1977)
Director

The Horse Without a Head (1964)
Director

A Jolly Bad Fellow (1964)
Director

The Crooked Road (1965)
Director

Journey to the Unknown (1969)
Director

A Question of Adultery (1958)
Director

Time Is My Enemy (1954)
Director

The Man Upstairs (1958)
Director
The Case of the Missing Scene (1951)
Director

Strange Stories (1953)
Director

Nearly a Nasty Accident (1961)
Director

The Flesh Is Weak (1957)
Director

The Webster Boy (1962)
Director

The Girl in the Picture (1957)
Director

Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent (1989)
Director
Lies My Father Told Me (1960)
Director

Bouncer Breaks Up! (1953)
Director

Skid Kids (1953)
Director

The Mask (1953)
Director

Watch Out (1953)
Director

The Fourth Wish (1976)
Director

A Good Pull-Up (1953)
Director
The Mysterious Poacher (1972)
Director





