William F. Claxton

William Francis Claxton (October 22, 1914 – February 11, 1996) was an American film and television producer, editor and director. He made a number of films for Robert L. Lippert. He also directed and produced episodes of Bonanza,[1] the NBC-TV series Little House on the Prairie, and also directed episodes of the NBC-TV series Father Murphy, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Fame, and The High Chaparral. Claxton got his start in Hollywood as a film editor in the 1940s, where he was employed an editor for Edward Small Productions, as he would move into directing of second feature films by 1950s and 1960s, and also delve into television directing during this period. During World War II, Claxton served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a captain. Claxton worked under Frank Capra as a film editor on the Why We Fight series. Claxton worked alongside Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) in the animation and film department of the U.S. Army. Claxton's very first directorial effort was 1951's All That I Can Have. Claxton, who is best known for his TV work, enjoyed a long stint as producer/director of the syndicated Christian anthology series This is the Life (which was his first work in TV) from 1951 to 1980. He spent much of the 1950s with 20th Century Fox's Regal Pictures subsidiary, turning out medium-budget films which included the films God Is My Partner (1956) and Desire in the Dust (1960); occasionally, as in the cast of Rockabilly Baby (1957), he produced as well as directed. Claxton was a close friend to actor Michael Landon, with whom he worked on the NBC-TV series Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and then Highway to Heaven, and who also enjoyed the This is the Life series, which Claxton was involved with. Claxton also directed the feature-length series pilot Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988).

Works

Bonanza: The Next Generation

This is the continuing saga of the Cartwrights, only none of the original Cartwrights are here anymore but their sons. Ben and Hoss have passed on, and Little Joe is MIA; he went with Teddy Roosevelt and is currently missing. Ben's brother, Aaron is now in charge of the Ponderosa, and Little Joe's wife Annie also lives there. His son, Benjamin has come back fom the East. Charlie Poke is a man who owes his life to Ben Cartwright and is now the ranch foreman, and is not exactly on good terms with Aaron. Aaron has allowed a mining company access to mine on the Ponderosa, but the man in charge has other ideas. And Hoss' son Josh whom no one has seen before, has come to the Ponderosa to kill Hoss cause he thinks Hoss deserted him and his mother not knowing that Hoss died before he could go back to bring his mother back to the Ponderosa.

Release Date:1988-03-22

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:2

The Canterville Ghost

The poor ghost of Sir Simon Canterville has been roaming his castle searching in vain for a brave descendant who will release him from the Canterville curse by performing a brave deed. An American family moves in and finds the ghost amusing, but a young girl in the family can release him - if she dares!

Release Date:1985-01-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:2

Highway to Heaven

A probationary angel is sent back to Earth to team up with an ex-cop and help people.

Release Date:1984-09-19

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:176

Fame

An American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show is based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. With a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although fictional, it was based heavily on the actual Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. Most interior scenes were filmed in Hollywood, California, and in all seasons but the third, several exterior scenes were shot on location in New York City. The popularity of the series, particularly in the UK, led to several hit records and live concert tours by the cast. Despite its success, very few of the actors maintained high-profile careers after the series was cancelled. A number of the cast members were seen again briefly in Bring Back...Fame, a reunion special made for British television in 2008.

Release Date:1982-01-07

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:62

Father Murphy

A good-hearted frontiersman poses as a priest to start an orphanage for a group of kids whose homes have been destroyed by an evil mining manager.

Release Date:1981-11-03

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:6

Dallas

The world's first mega-soap, and one of the most popular ever produced, Dallas had it all. Beautiful women, expensive cars, and men playing Monopoly with real buildings. Famous for one of the best cliffhangers in TV history, as the world asked "Who shot J.R.?" A slow-burner to begin with, Dallas hit its stride in the 2nd season, with long storylines and expert character development. Dallas ruled the airwaves in the 1980's.

Release Date:1978-04-02

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:208

Territorial Men

The story of Sara Yarnell, a schoolteacher who moves from Philadelphia to the Western frontier to start a new life. She becomes the only teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Independence, Colorado.

Release Date:1976-07-30

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s.

Release Date:1974-09-11

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:4

Vote Count:901

Night of the Lepus

Rancher Cole Hillman is fed up of rabbits plaguing his fields. Zoologist Roy Bennett conducts an experiment to curb their population, but it gives rise to giant rabbits that terrorise the town.

Release Date:1972-10-04

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:107

The High Chaparral

The High Chaparral is an American Western-themed television series starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The series, made by Xanadu Productions in association with NBC Productions, was created by David Dortort, who had previously created the hit Bonanza for the network. The theme song was also written and conducted by Bonanza scorer David Rose, who also scored the two-hour pilot.

Release Date:1967-09-10

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:22

A Letter to Nancy

A little Chinese girl comes into the life of a well-to-do lawyer.

Release Date:1965-01-14

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Stage to Thunder Rock

An aging sheriff is put in the position of having to arrest the outlaw father and two sons with whom he was raised.

Release Date:1964-11-11

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:4

Law of the Lawless

A former gunfighter, now a circuit court judge, faces his father's killer in a small post-Civil War Kansas town.

Release Date:1964-05-13

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:9

Desire in the Dust

Lonnie Wilson returns to small southern hometown after spending six years on the chain-gang for killing Colonel Ben Marquand's son in an automobile accident. He revives his love affair with Melinda Marquand........

Release Date:1960-10-10

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Young Jesse James

When Missouri farm boy Jesse James witnesses the lynching of his father by the Yankees, he forsakes his family's homestead to find his brother Frank, a soldier in Quantrill's Raiders, a renegade band of Confederates. Bent on revenge, Jesse begs to join the raiders.

Release Date:1960-08-02

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:4

I'll Give My Life

This story opens with John Bradford throwing a graduation party for his son, Jim, who has just earned a degree in engineering. John has planned to make his son a partner in his engineering firm for many years. However, Jim has decided to enter the ministry.

Release Date:1960-02-03

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Law of the Plainsman

Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.

Release Date:1959-10-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:4

Vote Count:2

Black Saddle

Black Saddle is an American Western television series starring Peter Breck that aired 44 episodes on ABC from January 10, 1959 to May 6, 1960. The half-hour program was produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Television, and the original pilot was an episode of CBS's Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, with Chris Alcaide portraying the principal character, Clay Culhane. For syndicated reruns, Black Saddle was combined with three other Western series from the same company, Law of the Plainsman starring Michael Ansara, Johnny Ringo starring Don Durant and Mark Goddard, and the critically acclaimed creation of Sam Peckinpah, The Westerner with Brian Keith, under the umbrella title, The Westerners, with new hosting sequences by Keenan Wynn.

Release Date:1959-01-10

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:4

God's Christmas Gift

A young girl helps her parents as she wonders what God's special gift is at Christmas time.

Release Date:1958-01-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Teenage Challenge

High school reporter Dave writes an essay for the school contest about the importance of finding God's will for his own life which causes quite a controversy. Teens weigh being popular party goers versus being a good Christian. This film is part of a series for teenagers who are questioning their faith in a modern world that doesn't seem very friendly to Christians.

Release Date:1958-01-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Young and Dangerous

Tommy Price is the leader of a gang of young thugs interested in thrills, hot rods and girls. His friends bet him he can't make it with 17-year-old Rosemary Clinton. Their date turns out badly and her parents forbid her to see him again. They keep meeting, and the relationship changes him to the extent that he plans on going to college and changing his life, which delights his parents.

Release Date:1957-10-30

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Rockabilly Baby

The mysterious Mrs. Eleanor Carter moves to Springville with her two teenage children Jimmy and Cathy. Eleanor makes friends with the town's social leader Mrs. Wellington, who supports her idea for a town youth center, and she is aided by Tom Griffith, the high school principal. At the town's annual picnic, to which Eleanor has bought a band, the town busy-body Eunice reveals what she had learned from Eleanor's past.

Release Date:1957-10-30

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

The Quiet Gun

A mild mannered sheriff must fight both a hired gun and local anti-Indian bigotry in a small frontier town.

Release Date:1957-07-18

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:6

God Is My Partner

A retired surgeon starts giving away money to religious causes and his family tries to file suit, claiming that he's incompetent.

Release Date:1957-07-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Stagecoach To Fury

A group of stagecoach passengers are held hostage by bandits waiting for a shipment of gold they plan to steal.

Release Date:1956-12-13

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:4

The Christmas Spirit

Story about two boys who want ponies for Christmas but their family can only afford one. The horse owner, who is bitter about the loss of his son in the war, is softened by the boys' sacrifice for each other.

Release Date:1956-12-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Fangs of the Wild

A young boy living at a mountain lodge witnesses a murder, and is then targeted himself by the killer.

Release Date:1954-04-02

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Giving Thanks Always

During the many challenges in preparing for Thanksgiving holiday festivities, Anna and other family members forget the real meaning of the day. That is, until Rev. Martin remind them of the blessings God has given through salvation in Christ and assurance of eternal life in heaven.

Release Date:1953-11-20

Department:Directing

Job:Director

All That I Have

As a wealthy retired surgeon nears the end of his life, he begins to distribute his wealth to those in need, stating that "all that I have belongs to God." His nephews bring him to court to determine his mental competence in the hopes of stopping him from disposing of all his money.

Release Date:1951-10-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Does Christ Live in Your Home?

A 1950's family man is out of work and looking for a job discovers that putting God first in your life is what matters most.

Release Date:1951-07-05

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Home Town Story

Blake Washburn blames manufacturer MacFarland for his defeat in the race for re-election to the state legislature. He takes over his uncle's newspaper to take on big business as an enemy of the people. Miss Martin works in the "Herald" newspaper office. When tragedy strikes, Blake must re-examine his views.

Release Date:1951-05-18

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:18

Tucson

The story of Andy Bryant, a University of Arizona student whose grades suffer because of his preoccupation with an upcoming intercollegiate rodeo. Andy's father is more interested in embarrassing a rival at the rodeo than he is with his son's academic progress. When his lack of focus nearly causes a tragic accident in the university chemistry lab, Andy decides to hunker down and study.

Release Date:1949-04-27

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Miss Mink of 1949

Winning a mink coat brings nothing but trouble to a couple on a budget.

Release Date:1949-02-11

Department:Editing

Job:Supervising Editor

Night Wind

A boy tries to protect his dog, a German shepherd that served with U.S. Army forces after it begins attacking strangers several years after the war.

Release Date:1948-09-01

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Fighting Back

An ex-convict, freed to fight in World War II, gets a factory job and is accused when a bracelet is missing.

Release Date:1948-07-30

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:2

Arthur Takes Over

A young woman must find a way to break the news to her parents and a stuffy suitor that she is now married to a sailor.

Release Date:1948-04-07

Department:Editing

Job:Supervising Editor

Vote Count:1

Half Past Midnight

A detective encounters a woman in a nightclub. He finds that she is being blackmailed by a dancer who is murdered that very night. Of course, the woman becomes the main suspect. She and the gumshoe team up and begin searching for the real killer.

Release Date:1948-03-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Dangerous Years

Jeff Carter has put an end to the town's delinquency with a boys' club. Young hoodlum Danny shows up and influences teenagers Doris, Willy and Leo. They hang out at a juke joint where Eve works. When Jeff tries to stop a robbery planned by Danny, he is killed and Danny goes on trial.

Release Date:1947-12-07

Department:Editing

Job:Supervising Editor

Vote Count:5

The Invisible Wall

A former GI gets his old job back working for a bookie after returning from serving in the military. Unfortunately, he loses the $20,000 he was supposed to deliver to gambling and a con artist. His attempts to get the money back leads to bigger problems including a murder plot.

Release Date:1947-10-15

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:7

The Crimson Key

Larry Morgan, a private detective, is hired by a woman who wants Larry to trail her husband. The husband is murdered and, shortly afterwards, the wife is also killed. Larry shuffles through a long list of suspects before revealing the killer...

Release Date:1947-07-02

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:3

Backlash

In a series of flashbacks, shows that attorney John Morland has given a lift to a hitchhiker who turns out to be a murderer. As a result, Morland himself is implicated in a killing. A pair of detectives discover that Morland has been having business problems and no end of difficulties with his wife Catherine. The trail of clues leads to a surprising revelation.

Release Date:1947-03-01

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:18

Dangerous Millions

Eight strangers meet in Shanghai to stake claims to the fortune of a late shipping magnate, then must evade a murderer in their midst.

Release Date:1946-11-27

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:4

Strange Journey

Reformed racketeer "Lucky" Leeds flees from the police when he thinks they are about to arrest him for a murder he didn't commit. He and his wife Patti fly to his privately-owned remote island and have to crash land. Also on the island is a group of shipwrecked people, including a German professor, his daughter, an English journalist, a wealthy widow, a sailor and a Nazi Agent.

Release Date:1946-10-03

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:1

Deadline for Murder

A favor for an old friend leads a Los Angeles gambler (Kent Taylor) into a dangerous search for a missing document.

Release Date:1946-06-28

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

The Corsican Brothers

Cultured Mario and outlaw Lucien, twins separated at birth, join forces to avenge their parents' death at the hands of evil Colonna. Because each feels all the same sensations experienced by the other, swordplay is difficult for them. Worse yet, raised very differently, they struggle to find common ground between their conflicting personalities. But to defeat their enemy, the two will have to overcome the obstacles and work as a team.

Release Date:1941-11-28

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:6

International Lady

Tim Hanley, an American agent, posing as a lawyer with the United States Embassy in London, and Reggie Oliver, a Scotland Yard detective, posing as a music critic are both keeping their eye on Carla Nillson, a famous singer, whom they suspect of espionage. They all meet in London, then in Lisbon, and eventually in New York City, where Carla sings on the radio.

Release Date:1941-10-16

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:7

Kit Carson

Frontiersman Kit Carson fights off Indian attacks on the trail to California.

Release Date:1940-08-30

Department:Editing

Job:Editor

Vote Count:11