Biography

Franklin J. Schaffner was one of the most innovative creative minds in the early days of American network television, utilizing a moving camera in the days when most television directors kept the camera static. His eye for visuals was developed in the dozens of live television programs he directed on prestigious shows such as Studio One (1948) and Playhouse 90 (1956), not to mention his work in news and public affairs on "March of Time" and as one of the directors of TV coverage of the 1948 political conventions in Philadelphia. His visual sense came to be one of the important attributes of his work in feature films, such as the trek taken across the desert by the astronauts at the start of Planet of the Apes (1968). In addition to his Oscar and DGA Awards for Patton (1970), Schaffner also won Sylvania Awards in 1953 and 1954, Emmy Awards in 1954, 1955 and 1962 and a Variety Critics Poll Award in 1960.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: rtvf (qv's & corrections by A. .Nonymous)

Franklin spent the first 6 years of his life in Japan with his missionary parents. When his father died he and his mother returned to America. After graduating he enlisted in the navy and during WWII he was an officer on landing craft and convoys seeing action in Africa, Sicily, Normandy, Burma and China.. Returning to civilian life he got a job as an assistant director on 'The March of Time' then later joined CBS television where he gained valuable experience in covering public events, sports and political conventions. After working on Studio One for 4 years he spent 2 years on 'Playhouse 90'during which he directed the 1961 Broadway play 'Advise and Consent'which won him the Variety Critics Poll for direction which led him to 'The Stripper', his film direction debut. He went on to direct ;Patton' one of the most successful films of 1970-71 which won him the Acadeny Award for direction, Director's Guild of America Award and NATO director of the Year

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5