Michael Samuels

Directing

Michael Samuels

Michael Samuels is British television director, producer and writer

Known For

The Windermere ChildrenThe Windermere Children · 2020
The Windermere Children
7.42020
MovieDramaWar
The story of the pioneering project to rehabilitate child survivors of the Holocaust on the shores of Lake Windermere.
The Last Days of Lehman BrothersThe Last Days of Lehman Brothers · 2009
The Last Days of Lehman Brothers
5.52009
MovieDramaTV Movie
The heads of Wall Street's biggest investment banks were summoned to an evening meeting by the US Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson, to discuss the plight of another - Lehman Brothers. After six months' turmoil in the world's financial markets, Lehman Brothers was on life support and the government was about to pull the plug. Lehman CEO, Dick Fuld, recently sidelined in a boardroom coup, spends the weekend desperately trying to resuscitate his beloved company through a merger with Bank of America or UK-based Barclays. But without the financial support of Paulson and Lehman's fiercest competitors, Fuld's empire - and with it, the stability of the world economy - teeters on the verge of extinction.
Caught in a TrapCaught in a Trap · 2008
Caught in a Trap
6.02008
MovieDrama
Gemma collects money out of parking meters. But really she's obsessed with Elvis.
Power: The Downfall of Huw EdwardsPower: The Downfall of Huw Edwards · 2026
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards
6.02026
MovieDrama
Docudrama following the downfall of BBC Presenter Huw Edwards.
Mrs MandelaMrs Mandela · 2010
Mrs Mandela
4.02010
MovieTV MovieDrama
How Winnie Mandela went from innocent country girl to a fighter against apartheid.
The TrialThe Trial · 2025
The Trial
5.02025
MovieDrama
In 2035, a new law holds parents responsible for their children’s crimes. Set in the United Kingdom, Dione and David Sinclair are thrust into a nightmarish legal battle when their teenage daughter, Teah, commits a serious crime.
The Falklands PlayThe Falklands Play · 2002
The Falklands Play
7.02002
MovieWarDrama
The Falklands Play is a dramatic account of the political events leading up to, and including, the 1982 Falklands War. The play was written by Ian Curteis, an experienced writer who had started his television career in drama, but had increasingly come to specialise in dramatic reconstructions of history. It was originally commissioned by the BBC in 1983, for production and broadcast in 1986, but was subsequently shelved by Controller of BBC One Michael Grade due to its alleged pro-Margaret Thatcher stance and jingoistic tone. This prompted a press furore over media bias and censorship.The play was not staged until 2002, when it was broadcast in separate adaptations on BBC Television and Radio.
The Curse of SteptoeThe Curse of Steptoe · 2008
The Curse of Steptoe
5.82008
MovieDramaTV Movie
In the early 1960s aspiring stage actor Harry H. Corbett jumps at the chance to play junk-dealer Harold Steptoe in a television comedy show 'Steptoe and Son'. However, the show's success proves to be a poisoned chalice for him, type-casting him and thwarting his stage ambitions. Wilfrid Brambell, the actor playing his father, is marginalized in a different way. He is a gay man in an England where homosexuality is still illegal.

Filmography

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The Last Days of Lehman BrothersThe Last Days of Lehman Brothers · 2009
The Last Days of Lehman Brothers
5.52009
MovieDramaTV Movie
The heads of Wall Street's biggest investment banks were summoned to an evening meeting by the US Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson, to discuss the plight of another - Lehman Brothers. After six months' turmoil in the world's financial markets, Lehman Brothers was on life support and the government was about to pull the plug. Lehman CEO, Dick Fuld, recently sidelined in a boardroom coup, spends the weekend desperately trying to resuscitate his beloved company through a merger with Bank of America or UK-based Barclays. But without the financial support of Paulson and Lehman's fiercest competitors, Fuld's empire - and with it, the stability of the world economy - teeters on the verge of extinction.

Director

The ViceThe Vice · 1999
The Vice
5.61999
SeriesCrimeDrama
The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. Spanning five short series from 1999 and 2003, it follows the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and such organised crime are regular occurrences. Most episodes end where the main villain is caught but often not in a 'naturally' concluded way expected from other TV dramas, and often ending with more unanswered questions than answered. Leader DI Pat Chappel struggles to manage the balance between his private and professional lives — as do the rest of the team. Working in the seedy underworld leads to a continual dilemma — the tension between the Vice Squad and vice-related crimes runs throughout the series and gives the show a rich viewing experience. The line of the team staying on the right side of the law is often blurred, as almost every member at different points submits briefly or permanently to the dubious temptations, sometimes with drastic consequences.

Director