Biography
His features have often been overshadowed by similarly-themed movies, but his "Somewhere in Time" (1980) has developed a cult following.
After earning a master's degree in political science, Szwarc, a lifelong cinema buff, decided to pursue a career in features in lieu of obtaining a doctorate from Harvard. Settling in Paris, he landed work at a production company that specialized in documentaries and commercials. Working his way up the ranks …
Career Milestones
1980 | Directed "Somewhere in Time" | |
1978 | Helmed sequel "Jaws 2" | |
1973 | First feature film, "Extreme Close-up/Sex Through a Window"; script by Michael Crichton | |
1972 | First TV-movie "Night of Terror" (ABC) | |
1971 | Directed about 20 episodes of "Night Gallery" | |
| Worked as TV director on series like "The Men From Shiloh", "The Virginian", "Marcus Welby, M.D." and others | ||
| TV directing debut, episode of "Ironside" | ||
1967 | Named as associate producer on NBC's "Ironside", starring Raymond Burr | |
| Served as associate producer on "Chrysler Theatre" | ||
| Pitched script to NBC; network bought idea and put Szwarc under contract | ||
1967 | Hired by Universal as temporary worker; wrote 70 page speculative script | |
| Moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s | ||
| Worked in Paris first as production assistant, later as a second unit director | ||
| Decided to pursue career in film instead of attending a doctoral program at Harvard | ||
| Founded cinema club in college | ||
| Formed theater group while in college | ||