Donald W. Thompson

Donald Whitney Thompson
Born(1937-08-18)August 18, 1937
Hornell, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 2019(2019-07-17) (aged 81)
Iowa, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film director, producer and screenwriter
Years active1959–1993

Donald Whitney Thompson (August 18, 1937 – July 17, 2019) was a film director, producer and screenwriter of Christian films. He was best known for the evangelical Christian film series A Thief in the Night about the Rapture and Tribulation.

Life and career

Thompson was born in Hornell, New York. He graduated from Hamburg Central High School in 1956.

Upon graduating high school, Thompson joined the Air Force where he served as a motion picture editorial specialist,[1] director and producer. He moved to Des Moines in 1967 to write a series of movies for General Motors. In 1968, he married his wife, Beverly.

In the 1972, Thompson partnered with Russell Doughten to form the Christian film company Mark IV Pictures.[2]: 577-578  Thompson wrote and directed 12 feature-length motion pictures, including the prophecy series that began with A Thief in the Night. According to Heather Hendershot, professor of film and media at MIT,

"It would be hard to overstate the influence of Thompson's films on evangelical culture. Today, many teen evangelicals have not seen A Thief in the Night, but virtually every evangelical over thirty I've talked to is familiar with it, and most have seen it."[3]: 187 

After twelve years and twelve pictures together, a disagreement over management and distribution forced Thompson out of Mark IV in 1984.[2]: 355  Doughten retained Mark IV Pictures, while Thompson signed on with American Media in Des Moines.[4]: 66 

The Christian and secular film industries alike have praised Thompson's work. Harry Bristow of the Christian Film Distributors Association calls him "the finest director in the industry."[4]: 65 

Thompson also spent time as a radio disk jockey at KRNT in Des Moines, and did a Christian radio broadcast on KWKY in Des Moines.[4]: 69 

He died in 2019 in Iowa.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Notes
1969 Candle in the Wind (TV Movie) Producer, Director
1972 A Thief in the Night Producer, Director, Writer (story)
1974 The Enemy Director
1974 Blood on the Mountain Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay/story)
1975 Survival Producer, Director, Writer (story/screenplay)
1976 A Stranger in My Forest Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay)
1977 All the King's Horses Director, Writer
1978 A Distant Thunder Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay/story)
1979 Paradise Trail Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay)
1980 Heaven's Heroes Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay)
1980 Image of the Beast Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay/story)
1981 Home Safe Director, Writer
1982 Face in the Mirror Actor
1983 The Prodigal Planet Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay/story)
1984 The Shepherd Producer, Director, Writer (original story)
1986 The Miracle Man International Silver Screen Award, New York Times Film Critics' Award[4]: 66 
1987 Life Flight: The Movie Producer, Director, Writer (screenplay/story)
1993 Alone in the Dark (Short) Producer, Director

References

  1. ^ "Donald W. Thompson". Hamburg, NY: The Sun and the Erie County Independent. May 5, 1971. p. 33. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Balmer, Randall (2002). Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-22409-1. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Hendershot, Heather (2010). Shaking the World for Jesus, Media and Conservative Evangelical Culture. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-32679-5. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Balmer, Randall (2014). Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey Into the Evangelical Subculture in America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-936046-8. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Donald W. Thompson". Des Moines, IA: The Des Moines Register. July 21, 2019. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.