Russell Doughten facts for kids

Russell S. Doughten Jr. (born February 16, 1927 – died August 19, 2013) was an American filmmaker. He made many short and full-length movies. You might see his name written in different ways, like "Russ Doughten" or "Russell Doughten Jr."

Doughten made both regular movies and Christian films. One of his early works was the 1958 science fiction movie The Blob. He is most famous for his four-part series called A Thief in the Night. Most of his Christian movies were filmed in his home state of Iowa.

Many people called him "the godfather of independent film in Iowa." He was the top filmmaker in Iowa and helped many new filmmakers get started.

Russell Doughten's Early Life

Russell Doughten Jr. was born on February 16, 1927, in Iowa. His dad was a mail carrier. Russell went to church as a kid. He graduated from Chester High School.

When he was old enough, Doughten joined the Navy. He was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes for a time. He left the Navy in 1946.

Doughten was very active in his church. He worked with young people and helped at boys' camps. He was a recreation director and swimming teacher.

After the Navy, Doughten went to Drake University. He had a scholarship for sports, but he became more interested in drama. He earned a degree in fine arts in 1949. Then, in 1950, he started teaching English and drama in Williamsburg, Iowa.

Doughten married Gertrude Spraugue on June 2, 1950. He met Gertrude at Drake. He later left teaching to study drama at Yale University.

His Filmmaking Career

After studying at Yale, Doughten started working for Good News Productions in Pennsylvania. He was a producer, director, editor, and writer. He made movies, a children's show, and a film for the Salvation Army.

Good News Productions worked with Jack H. Harris to make the 1958 sci-fi movie, The Blob. Doughten was an Associate Producer for this film.

In 1958, Doughten went back to teaching. He taught English and drama at South Pasadena High School in California. His students said he pushed them to do their best. They were proud of the plays he directed.

Starting Heartland Productions

In 1964, Doughten stopped teaching in California. He wasn't happy with Hollywood. He moved back to Des Moines, Iowa. He planned to make a movie about an Iowa farm family called Heartland. In 1965, he started his first company, Heartland Productions.

He wanted Heartland to make good, low-budget movies. He believed in telling great stories instead of using famous actors.

His first movie with Heartland was The Hostage (1966). It was the first full-length movie made entirely in Iowa. Doughten hired about 100 people from Iowa to help make the film. The movie first showed in Des Moines on October 26, 1966. Crown International Pictures distributed it.

Doughten then made Fever Heat in 1968. He directed and produced this movie through Heartland. It was a story about stock car racing. The film was shot in Dexter, Iowa, at the Stuart Speedway. Paramount Pictures distributed the film.

The A Thief in the Night Series

In 1972, Doughten started Mark IV Productions with Donald W. Thompson. Over 12 years, they made 12 Christian movies. This included the Thief In The Night series, which Doughten is most known for.

This series tells the story of the Rapture and the Great Tribulation. It shows a small group of believers trying to survive against a powerful worldwide government led by the Antichrist. The series included four movies:

• A Thief in the Night (1972)
• A Distant Thunder (1978)
• Image of the Beast (1980)
• The Prodigal Planet (1983)

Doughten himself appeared in all four films. He played Reverend Matthew Turner, a character who studies End Times events. He didn't fully believe in the Bible until after the Rapture. He had long, gray hair and a ponytail, which made him look different from what people expected of a Christian leader. This helped him gain fans outside of religious groups. He also used interesting camera angles and sound effects.

Before Thief, there were other Christian movies. But a big project like Thief, with three sequels telling one long story over a decade, was new. Doughten's films showed the Antichrist as a global peacemaker, which matched many Bible interpretations.

Even though the movies had a low budget and the 1970s styles look funny today, the series was very important to Christian fundamentalists. A Thief in the Night is said to be one of the most watched Christian films in the world. It has led many people to become Christians. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins said Doughten's films were the main inspiration for their popular Left Behind book series. Doughten's movies have often been shown in churches and on Christian television stations.

Later Years and Legacy

Doughten kept making films through Heartland Productions even while the Thief series was being made. Some of his later movies included Sammy (1977), Nite Song (1978), Whitcomb's War (1980), and Face in the Mirror (1988).

Because of all the movies Doughten made through Heartland Productions, Mark IV Productions, and Russell Doughten Productions, he is known as the most important filmmaker in Iowa's history.

In 2001, Doughten received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the WYSIWYG Film Festival. The National Religious Broadcasters Association also gave him the Milestone Award for 50 years of sharing the gospel through film.

Casting agent Kimberly Busbee called Doughten "the godfather of independent film in Iowa." He often went to Iowa's Wild Rose Independent Film Festival. He helped many new independent filmmakers in Iowa.

Russell Doughten died on August 19, 2013, from a heart-related illness.

Russell Doughten's Movies