Richard Compton
Not many Hollywood directors got their break working for the federal government, but Richard Compton was making propaganda films for the United States Information Agency years before releasing "Angels Die Hard" in 1970. The film flipped the script on the standard biker gang movies of its day, presenting them as heroes rather than thugs as they come to the rescue during a local mining disaster. Not only was this Compton's United States motion picture debut, but it was also the first picture released by New World Pictures, the production company founded by legendary filmmaker Roger Corman. Soon after, Compton wrote and directed his most noteworthy film, the gritty low-budget revenge flick "Macon County Line." The box office success of the project allowed him to put out a string of similar movies, including a pseudo-sequel, "Return to Macon County," though none matched the success or cult following of the original. Compton worked exclusively in television from the '80s until the end of his career, directing episodes of iconic series through several generations, such as the stylized cop drama "Miami Vice" and the science-fiction mystery "The X-Files."
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Home for the Holidays | Director | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Babylon 5 | Director | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Keys | Director | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kojak: It's Always Something | Director | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Super Force | Director | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier | Director | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kojak: Fatal Flaw | Director | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Desperado: Avalanche at Devil's Ridge | Director | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ravagers | Director | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Deadman's Curve | Director | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Maniac | Director | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ransom | Director | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
|
Return to Macon County |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 1975 |
56% |
|
Macon County Line |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Welcome Home, Soldier Boys | Director | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet |
|
Angels Die Hard |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 1970 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | JAG | Director | 2002 2005 |
74% | 86% | The X-Files | Director | 2000-2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Director | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The District | Director | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 7 Days | Director | 2000 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Charmed | Director | 1998-1999 |
No Score Yet | 75% | Sliders |
Director, Producer |
1996-1997 1999 |
No Score Yet | 72% | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Director | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sentinel | Director | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Commish | Director | 1995 |
No Score Yet | 92% | Babylon 5 | Director | 1994 |
71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Director | 1987-1988 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Equalizer | Director | 1985-1988 |
92% | 90% | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Director | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Houston Knights | Director | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel | Director | 1985 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Street Hawk | Director | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Otherworld | Director | 1985 |
80% | 89% | Star Trek | Technical officer (Guest Star) | 1967-1968 |