Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American screenwriter, novelist and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes. He was born Samuel Michael Fuller in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin Rabinovitch, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and Rebecca Baum, a Jewish immigrant from Poland. After immigrating to America, the family's surname was changed from Rabinovitch to "Fuller" possibly by inspiration of a Doctor who arrived in America on the Mayflower. At the age of 12, he began working in journalism as a newspaper copyboy. He became a crime reporter in New York City at age 17, working for the New York Evening Graphic. He broke the story of Jeanne Eagels' death. He wrote pulp novels and screenplays from the mid-1930s onwards. Fuller also became a screenplay ghostwriter but would never tell interviewers which screenplays that he ghost-wrote explaining "that's what a ghost writer is for". During World War II, Fuller joined the United States Army infantry. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and saw heavy fighting. He was involved in landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy and also saw action in Belgium and Czechoslovakia. In 1945 he was present at the liberation of the German concentration camp at Falkenau and shot 16 mm footage which was used later in the documentary Falkenau: The Impossible. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. Fuller used his wartime experiences as material in his films, especially in The Big Red One (1980), a nickname of the 1st Infantry Division. After his controversial film "White Dog" was shelved by Paramount pictures, Fuller moved to France, and never directed another American film. Fuller eventually returned to America. He died of natural causes in his California home. In November 1997, the Directors Guild held a three hour memorial in his honor, hosted by Curtis Hanson, his long time friend and co-writer on White Dog. He was survived by his wife Christa and daughter Samantha.
Directed 33
2000s
- 2005
The Big Red One: The Reconstruction
Director
1990s
- 1990
The Madonna and the Dragon
Director
The Day of Reckoning
Director
1980s
- 1989
Street of No Return
Director
- 1984
Thieves After Dark
Director
- 1982
- 1980
1970s
- 1978
The Meanest Men in the West
Director
- 1972
Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street
Director
- 1970
1960s
- 1969
Shark
Director
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
Underworld U.S.A.
Director
1950s
- 1959
The Crimson Kimono
Director
Verboten!
Director
Dogface
Director
- 1957
Run of the Arrow
Director
China Gate
Director
- 1955
- 1954
Hell and High Water
Director
- 1953
- 1952
Park Row
Director
- 1951
The Steel Helmet
Director
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
- 1945
V-E +1
Director
Wrote 54
2010s
- 2013
A Fuller Life
Book
2000s
- 2005
The Big Red One: The Reconstruction
Writer
1990s
- 1994
Girls in Prison
Writer
- 1990
The Madonna and the Dragon
Screenplay
The Day of Reckoning
Screenplay
1980s
- 1989
Street of No Return
Screenplay, Dialogue
- 1986
Let's Get Harry
Story
- 1984
Thieves After Dark
Writer
- 1982
- 1980
1970s
- 1978
The Meanest Men in the West
Screenplay
- 1974
- 1973
The Deadly Trackers
Story
- 1972
Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street
Writer
- 1970
1960s
- 1969
Shark
Screenplay
- 1968
Targets
Screenplay
- 1967
The Cape Town Affair
Writer
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
Underworld U.S.A.
Writer
1950s
- 1959
The Crimson Kimono
Writer
Verboten!
Writer
Dogface
Writer
- 1957
Run of the Arrow
Writer
China Gate
Screenplay
- 1954
The Command
Writer
Hell and High Water
Screenplay
- 1953
- 1952
Park Row
Writer
Scandal Sheet
Novel
- 1951
The Tanks Are Coming
Story
The Steel Helmet
Writer
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
Shockproof
Writer
- 1945
Gangs of the Waterfront
Story
- 1943
Margin for Error
Screenplay
Power of the Press
Story
- 1941
Confirm or Deny
Story
- 1940
Bowery Boy
Original Story
Gangs of Chicago
Screenplay
1930s
- 1939
She Married a Cop
Writer
- 1938
Federal Man-Hunt
Story
Adventure in Sahara
Story
Gangs of New York
Story, Screenplay
- 1937
It Happened in Hollywood
Screenplay
- 1936
Hats Off
Screenplay, Story
Acted in 34
2020s
- 2026
The Road to Jericho
Movie
- 2025
Films to Die For
(archive footage) (uncredited)
2010s
- 2011
Nuits transparentes
Movie
2000s
- 2009
- 2005
The Big Red One: The Reconstruction
War Correspondent (uncredited)
- 2003
Necro not(to b)e
Sé stesso
1990s
- 1997
- 1994
Somebody to Love
Sam Silverman
- 1993
- 1992
Golem, the Spirit of Exile
Elimelek
La Vie de Bohème
Gassot
- 1990
The Madonna and the Dragon
Chef de bureau Newsweek
Sons
Father
1980s
- 1989
Street of No Return
Police Commissioner
David Lansky
TV
- 1988
Falkenau, the Impossible
Samuel Fuller
Mer de Chine: Le pays pour mémoire
Le capitaine américain
- 1987
Helsinki Napoli All Night Long
Boss
A Return to Salem's Lot
Van Meer
The Bleeding Star
The Man in the Bar
- 1984
Thieves After Dark
Zoltan
- 1982
The State of Things
Joe
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
Cinématon
N°602
- 1977
Scott Joplin
Impresario
- 1973
The Young Nurses
Doc Haskell
- 1971
The Last Movie
Sam
1960s
- 1965
Produced 10
1960s
- 1964
- 1963
- 1961
Underworld U.S.A.
Producer
1950s
- 1959
The Crimson Kimono
Producer
Dogface
Producer
- 1957
Run of the Arrow
Producer
China Gate
Producer
- 1952
Park Row
Producer
- 1951
The Steel Helmet
Producer
Other crew 1
1950s
- 1955
Appearances16
2010s
- 2013
A Fuller Life
Self
- 2012
Scene Missing
Self
- 2010
Sodankylä Forever
Self · 4 episodes
2000s
- 2006
- 2005
The Real Glory: Reconstructing 'The Big Red One'
Himself (archive footage)
- 2002
The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller
Self
1990s
- 1996
The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera
Self
- 1994
Tigrero: A Film That Was Never Made
Self
- 1993
Anything for John
Self
- 1992
Where Is Musette?
Self
Shock Corridor
himself
- 1990
Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders
Self
1980s
- 1984
Sam Fuller & the Big Red One
Self
- 1981
Sam Fuller: Writings with a Camera
Himself
1960s
- 1966
Brigitte and Brigitte
Self
Thanked in the credits1
1960s
- 1967
Made in U.S.A
Thanks