MICHAEL ANDERSON

Does the name Michael Anderson ring a bell? Well, it didn’t to me either, but then I looked him up and found a distinguished directing career including an Oscar nomination. 
London born, Anderson later moved to Canada in the 1970's and lived there until he died recently at the age of 98. His early work was as an assistant director to Peter Ustinov, David Lean and Noel Coward.
He had made a few feature films, but really hit the big time with the outstanding British war drama The Dam Busters (1955). Based on true wartime events, the film brilliantly portrays the RAF’s destruction of several key Axis dams. The method used is both original and effective. The film started Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave, and was the most popular film in England in 1955.
Following that success, Anderson directed the first film version of George Orwell’s 1984 (1956). Many later versions garnered more attention, and Anderson’s was not well-received at the time of its release. But with Edmund O’Brien (as the famous Winston Smith), Jan Sterling and Michael Redgrave it is quite good. A decent argument could be made that this black-and-white film is the best of the litter about the iconic sci-fi novel.
Because of his earlier successes and his signature visual style, producer Mike Todd hired Michael Anderson to direct the huge hit Around The World In 80 Days (1956). The film won five Oscars, including Best Movie. It was nominated for three more, including Best Director. But Anderson lost the award to George Stevens for Giant. It is adapted from Jules Verne’s classic of the same name, and it starred Cantinflas (who?) and David Niven. The story involves a hot air balloon trip and is visually stunning for that time. 
Operation Crossbow (1965) is at least a partly true story. The complicated plot involves the German effort to invent and manufacture the V-2 rocket, and the British attempt to stop them. There are lots of big names scattered through the film, including Sophia Loren, John Mills, Tom Courtenay and George Peppard. Michael Anderson successfully handles the large cast and elaborate plot. 
An even better Anderson effort is The Quiller Memorandum (1966). George Segal plays an American agent sent to Berlin to find and infiltrate a neo-Nazi organization. The film also stars Alec Guiness, Max Von Sydow and Senta Berger. The somewhat complicated screenplay was penned by playwright Harold Pinter and it is a good one. 
Michael York and Jenny Agutter are the featured actors in Logan’s Run (1976), which is Michael Anderson’s last good feature film. It takes place in 2774 in a world where everyone is eliminated on reaching the age of 30, because of the scarcity of sustaining materials. The main characters had been among those assigned termination duty, but decide to kick the traces and run away together. This film developed a cult following that is still around today.
Other Michael Anderson directorial efforts worth a look are Pope Joan (1972) and Conduct Unbecoming (1975). 
All of the movies in this article are available on DVD, and all are just fine for 10 and up.