Boris Sagal

Russian-born, Yale-educated American director Boris Sagal was primarily a director of TV movies, varying in both quality and originality. Even his few theatrical films featured TV actors for the most part. He worked frequently with Lorne Greene, Shelley Fabares, David McCallum, Jim Davis, etc., although he had a penchant for using veteran screen actors (Claude Rains, Myrna Loy, Edward G. Robinson) in featured roles. With a few exceptions (Dime with a Halo and The Greatest Gift) Sagal's films reflect a seeming preoccupation with tension and violence. His least successful effort was probably The Failing of Raymond (1971, "Film looks as though it was directed by hypnosis" -Leonard Maltin), but his best films are not half bad: Destiny of a Spy (1969): a memorable episode of Night Gallery (the pilot film, 1969)! Indict and Convict (1973), A Case of Rape (1974), and The Greatest Gift (1974). Sagal also co-directed (with Melville Shavelson) the verv successful TV mini-series Ike (1978). Sagal was killed during a mishap in the filming of World War 3.

~ All Movie Guide