Nicholas Webster (July 24, 1912 – August 12, 2006) was an American film and television director.
Television works
He is chiefly remembered for his
CBS program ''The Violent World of
Sam Huff
Robert Lee "Sam" Huff (October 4, 1934 – November 13, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He played college foot ...
'' (1960; featuring the first use of a wireless microphone on television); the
ABC ''Close Up'' documentary ''Walk in My Shoes'' (1961), nominated for an
Emmy as the best television program of the year, it was the first time the story of
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
s was told in their own words on television; ''Purlie Victorious'' (1963; also known as ''
Gone Are the Days!''), the film version of
Ossie Davis
Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP ...
' acclaimed stage play starring Davis,
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (19 ...
, and
Alan Alda
Alan Alda (; born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; January 28, 1936) is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for playing Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the war come ...
in his first film role) and the ABC special ''Ridin' the Rails: The Great American Train Story'' (1974), which featured
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American Country music, country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later s ...
(the program was re-released by Wea Corp. in 2005).
''Santa Conquers the Martians''
His well-known work is the sole feature film ''
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
''Santa Claus Conquers the Martians'' is a 1964 American science fiction comedy film directed by Nicholas Webster, produced and written by Paul L. Jacobson, based on a story by Glenville Mareth, that stars John Call as Santa Claus. It also featu ...
'' (1964), a children's favorite for more than 40 years and noteworthy to trivia buffs as
Pia Zadora's first film.
It was originally reviewed as "a children's film adults won't mind sitting through", though it was later listed by the
Medved brothers as one of
the 50 worst films of all time and mocked by the sci-fi TV series ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy film review television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 1 ...
'', thus ensuring its ongoing cult status).
Accolades
*1972: Technical
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
nomination for ''The Plot to Murder Hitler: The Last Days of John D''
Television Academy
/ref>
References
External links
*
''Ridin' the Rails'' on DVD
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Nicholas
1912 births
2006 deaths
American film directors
American television directors