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Boris Sagal

Boris Sagal

Director · Died May 22, 1981, aged 57 · Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Boris Sagal (October 18, 1923 - May 22, 1981) was a Russian-born American television and film director. Description above from the Wikipedia article Boris Sagal, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.  

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 18, 1923
Died
May 22, 1981 (aged 57)
From
Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Works as
Director
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 86 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 22% in 30 days

What are Boris Sagal's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
44%
Bonds
21%
Survival
20%
Ideas
7%
Self
5%
Power
3%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Joyful
3
Melancholic
3
Dread
3
Romantic
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Boris Sagal's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Boris Sagal's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

86 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • World War III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Dial 'M' for Murder(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Masada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • When the Circus Came to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • The Diary of Anne Frank(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Ike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Ike: The War Years(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Awakening Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Angela(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Sherlock Holmes in New York(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rich Man, Poor Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · Director

  • Three for the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Man on the Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • The Runaway Barge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • The Dream Makers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Producer

  • The Greatest Gift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • A Case of Rape(1974)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Indict and Convict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • The Snoop Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Griff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Deliver Us from Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Hitched (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Madigan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Scarecrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • The Failing of Raymond(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Harness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Omega Man(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hauser's Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • San Francisco International Airport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Movie Murderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • D.A.: Murder One(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Night Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Destiny of a Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Mosquito Squadron(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Thousand Plane Raid(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Operation Heartbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 76 episodes · Director · Producer

  • The Helicopter Spies(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dundee and the Culhane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • T.H.E. Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Preview Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Made in Paris(1966)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Girl Happy(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Guns of Diablo(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Twilight of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Mr. Novak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Dime with a Halo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • The Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Sam Benedict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Theatre 62: Rebecca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • The Spiral Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Way Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Crimebusters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • The Shape of the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Mr. Lucky(1959)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Adventures in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Johnny Staccato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Behind Closed Doors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Peter Gunn(1958)

    Show 22 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Saturday Spectacular: Manhattan Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • State Trooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 16 episodes · Director

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Director

Career shape

A full career of 86 titles from 1953 to 1982.

Highest rated

The Omega Man (1971)

Midcredits 58th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing86 of 86: 83 only directing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stProducing2 of 86: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 86: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

86 titles, 3 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1950s16 · crew1960s35 · crew1970s30 · crew1980s5 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Boris Sagal's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · director

Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence (1976)

81st percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Twilight Zone (1959)

Midcredits 97th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 58/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Boris Sagal work with?

People who share at least 2 of Boris Sagal's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; J.D. Cannon shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers