Directing

Michael Ritchie

Born November 28, 1938 · Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA

Died April 16, 2001 · aged 62

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Michael Brunswick Ritchie (November 28, 1938 - April 16, 2001) was an American film director. Ritchie was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the son of Patricia (née Graney) and Benbow Ferguson Ritchie. His family later moved to Berkeley, California, where his father was a professor of experimental psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and his mot…

Known For

Cool Runnings

Cool Runnings · 1993

MovieComedyAdventure

When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican bobsled team.

The Golden Child

The Golden Child · 1986

The Golden Child

MovieActionAdventure

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

Innocent Blood

Innocent Blood · 1992

MovieComedyHorror

Marie is a vampire with a thirst for bad guys. When she fails to properly dispose of one of her victims, a violent mob boss, she bites off more than she can chew and faces a new, immortal danger.

Fletch

MovieComedyCrime

When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.

Fletch Lives

Fletch Lives · 1989

MovieComedyCrime

Fletch is a fish out of water in small-town Louisiana, where he's checking out a tumbledown mansion he's inherited. When a woman he flirts with turns up dead, he becomes a suspect and must find the killer and clear his name.

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears · 1976

The Bad News Bears

MovieFamilyComedy

An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.

The Island

The Island · 1980

MovieThrillerMystery

David Nau leads a band of modern day pirates who raid yachts and sail boats of people on vacation in the Caribbean. When reporter Blair Maynard and his son arrive to investigate the mystery of the disappearing boats, Nau and his band of raiders decide to induct them into their tribe.

A Simple Wish

A Simple Wish · 1997

MovieAdventureComedy

Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.

Filmography

Sort

Cool Runnings

Cool Runnings · 1993

MovieComedyAdventure

When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican bobsled team.

Story

The Golden Child

The Golden Child · 1986

The Golden Child

MovieActionAdventure

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

Director

Innocent Blood

Innocent Blood · 1992

MovieComedyHorror

Marie is a vampire with a thirst for bad guys. When she fails to properly dispose of one of her victims, a violent mob boss, she bites off more than she can chew and faces a new, immortal danger.

Night Watchman

Fletch

MovieComedyCrime

When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.

Director

Fletch Lives

Fletch Lives · 1989

MovieComedyCrime

Fletch is a fish out of water in small-town Louisiana, where he's checking out a tumbledown mansion he's inherited. When a woman he flirts with turns up dead, he becomes a suspect and must find the killer and clear his name.

Director

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears · 1976

The Bad News Bears

MovieFamilyComedy

An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.

Director

The Island

The Island · 1980

MovieThrillerMystery

David Nau leads a band of modern day pirates who raid yachts and sail boats of people on vacation in the Caribbean. When reporter Blair Maynard and his son arrive to investigate the mystery of the disappearing boats, Nau and his band of raiders decide to induct them into their tribe.

Director

A Simple Wish

A Simple Wish · 1997

MovieAdventureComedy

Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.

Director

Wildcats

Wildcats · 1986

High school track coach Molly McGrath knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach's position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.

Director

The Couch Trip

The Couch Trip · 1988

The escaped mental patient and delinquent John W. Burns Jr. replaces Dr. Maitlin on a radio show, saying he's the psychiatrist Lawrence Baird.

Director

Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer · 1969

An ambitious young skier, determined to break all existing records, is contemptuous of the teamwork advocated by the US coach when they go to Europe for the Olympics.

Director

The Scout

The Scout · 1994

When his star recruit botches a Major League Baseball debut, humiliated talent scout Al Percolo gets banished to rural Mexico, where he finds a potential gold mine in the arm of young phenom Steve Nebraska. Soon, the New York Yankees put a $55 million contract on the table—provided a psychiatrist can affirm Nebraska's mental stability.

Director

The Candidate

The Candidate · 1972

MovieComedyDrama

Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.

Director

The Survivors

The Survivors · 1983

MovieDramaComedy

Having both lost their jobs, two strangers become unlikely friends after a run in with a would be robber, who is actually a hitman with a grudge against the two.

Director

Smile

It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?

Director

Diggstown

Diggstown · 1992

MovieComedyDrama

Gabriel Caine has just been released from prison when he sets up a bet with a business man who owns most of Diggstown, a boxing-mad town. The bet is that Gabe can find a boxer that will knock out 10 Diggstown men, in a boxing ring, within 24 hours. Roy 'Honey' Palmer is that man that, at 48, many say he is too old.

Director

Semi-Tough

Semi-Tough · 1977

MovieComedyDrama

A three-way friendship between two free-spirited professional football players and the owner's daughter becomes compromised when two of them become romantically involved.

Director

Prime Cut

Prime Cut · 1972

MovieActionCrime

A group of ruthless Chicago mob enforcers are sent to Kansas City to settle things with the owner of a slaughterhouse who has taken money that is not his to keep.

Director

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan · 1978

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

A small time promotor/hustler takes the pint-sized baseball team to Japan for a match against the country's best little league baseball team which sparks off a series of adventures and mishaps the boys come into.

Producer

Cops & Robbersons

Cops & Robbersons · 1994

Cops & Robbersons

MovieComedyThriller

When the police discover that a mob hitman has moved in next door to the Robbersons, they set up a stakeout in the Robbersons' home. Hard-nosed, tough-as-nails Jake Stone and his young partner Tony Moore are assigned to the stakeout, but now it is a question of whether Jake can last long enough to capture the bad guys. The Robbersons want to help, and by doing so, drive Jake crazy.

Director

Student Bodies

Student Bodies · 1981

MovieComedyHorror

This zany send-up of teen slasher flicks features a maniacal psycho known as the Breather, who stalks –and murders– promiscuous students at a suburban high school. The fanatical killer's unusual weapons include paper clips, blackboard erasers and eggplants.

Producer

An Almost Perfect Affair

An Almost Perfect Affair · 1979

An Almost Perfect Affair

MovieComedyDrama

An idealistic first-time director lives for his art — until he meets a wife of an Italian producer at the Cannes Film Festival. A passionate affair begins, but the couple's romance is tested as they face the temptations of fame and fortune.

Director

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom · 1993

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

MovieComedyDrama

A Texas housewife plots hire a hit man to kill the girl who beat out her daughter for a place on the cheerleading squad.

Director

Skip Chasers

Skip Chasers · 1998

MovieActionComedy

An unsold CBS pilot about a mailman named Deacon, who gets entangled in a mess involving a team of Bail Enforcement Agents (bounty hunters who chase after people who have ‘skipped’ bail).

Director

The Big Valley

The Big Valley · 1965

SeriesWesternDrama

The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California rancher. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman, and produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven for Four Star Television.

Director

Run for Your Life

Run for Your Life · 1965

Run for Your Life

Run for Your Life is an American television drama series starring Ben Gazzara as a man with only a short time to live. It ran on NBC from 1965 to 1968. The series was created by Roy Huggins, who had previously explored the "man on the move" concept with The Fugitive.

Director

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. · 1964

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

SeriesAction & AdventureComedy

Agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin work for a secret intelligence service working under the auspices of the U.N. Their immediate superior is Mr. Waverly. Together they operate out of a secret base beneath the streets of New York City, and accesses through several cover business such as Del Floria's Tailor Shop and the Masque Club. This secret intelligence service is called U.N.C.L.E. United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

Director

Felony Squad

Felony Squad · 1966

SeriesCrimeDrama

Twenty-year veteran Detective Sergeant Sam Stone is paired with rookie Briggs in a large Western metropolis.

Director

Beggars and Choosers

Beggars and Choosers · 1999

Beggars and Choosers

SeriesComedyDrama

A harried executive tries to keep a fledgling TV network afloat.

Director

The Outsider

The Outsider · 1968

The Outsider was the story of David Ross, a go-it-alone private investigator who's always where the action is. Darren McGavin played Ross, a man living in an off-beat, always-dangerous world. The series aired for one season on NBC and was a precursor of sorts to The Rockford Files in that it featured a loner private detective who had previously done time in prison for a crime he didn't commit and who never quite fit into a rapidly changing environment.

Director