Ivan Tors

Writing

Ivan Tors

Born 1916-06-12 · Budapest, Hungary

Ivan Tors was a Hungarian-born American playwright, film director, screenwriter, and producer renowned for his contributions to science fiction and animal-themed entertainment. After studying at the University of Budapest, he emigrated to the United States in 1939, where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Post-war, Tors joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a screenwriter. He co-wrote and produced Storm Over Tibet (1952) and created the "Office of Scientific Investigation" trilogy, including The Magnetic Monster (1953), Riders to the Stars (1954), and Gog (1954). Tors also developed television series like Science Fiction Theater (1955–1957), Sea Hunt (1958–1961), and Flipper (1964–1967). His Miami-based studio, now known as Greenwich Studios, was instrumental in producing underwater sequences and animal-centric stories. Tors passed away in Mato Grosso, Brazil, while scouting locations for a new television series.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Flipper poster
5.8

Sandy is distraught when, having saved Flipper by pulling out a spear, his father insists the dolphin be released. A grateful Flipper, however, returns the favor when Sandy is threatened by sharks.

Flipper

1963

The Magnetic Monster poster
5.6

The Office of Scientific Investigations tracks down the source of increased magnetism and radioactivity in Los Angeles, and discovers that a man-made isotope is consuming available energy from nearby mass every few hours, doubling its size in the process. Although microscopic, it will soon become big enough to destroy Earth; and how to stop it is yet to be determined. The film's Deltatron special effects footage is taken from the 1934 German sci-fi film GOLD.

The Magnetic Monster

1953

The Magnetic Monster poster
5.6

The Office of Scientific Investigations tracks down the source of increased magnetism and radioactivity in Los Angeles, and discovers that a man-made isotope is consuming available energy from nearby mass every few hours, doubling its size in the process. Although microscopic, it will soon become big enough to destroy Earth; and how to stop it is yet to be determined. The film's Deltatron special effects footage is taken from the 1934 German sci-fi film GOLD.

The Magnetic Monster

1953

Gog poster
5.9

A mechanical brain is programmed to sabotage the government's secret lab while working on the first space station.

Gog

1954

In the Good Old Summertime poster
6.8

Two co-workers in a music shop dislike one another during business hours but unwittingly carry on an anonymous romance through the mail.

In the Good Old Summertime

1949

Gentle Giant poster
8.5

The Story of a boy and his bear. The TV series ‘Gentle Ben’ was spun-off from this movie.

Gentle Giant

1967

Around the World Under the Sea poster
5.8

A five man submarine plants sensors around the worlds oceans to monitor for a impending earthquake.

Around the World Under the Sea

1965

That Forsyte Woman poster
6.0

Soames and Irene Forsyte have a marriage of convenience. Young Jolyon Forsyte is a black sheep who ran away with the maid after his wife's death. Teenager June Forsyte has found love with an artist, Phillip Bosinny. The interactions between the Forsytes and the people and society around them is the truss for this love story set in the rigid and strict times of the Victorian age.

That Forsyte Woman

1949

Hello Down There poster
5.9

Given the chance to live in a simulated underwater home for a month, a scientist convinces his family to take advantage of the offer. Once the family agrees to move in, underwater mayhem occurs!

Hello Down There

1969

Namu, the Killer Whale poster
5.3

Based on the amazing true story of a marine biologist (Robert Lansing) who befriends a six-ton Orcawhale, this "honest, fascinating and vigorously wholesome film" (Citizen-News) is heartwarming fun for the whole family. Like all close pals, Hank (Lansing) and Namu love spending time together. Whether sharing a morning swim or soaking up the afternoon sun, these two are virtually inseparable. Trouble is, the local fishermen mistakenly think that Namu is a threat. Racing against time, Hank must enlist the help of a young widow and her daughter to save Namu and prove that he's a gentle giant!

Namu, the Killer Whale

1966

The Glass Wall poster
5.3

Peter Kuban, a Hungarian refugee, is about to be deported after jumping ship in New York harbor. He needs to find an ex-G.I. named Tom whom he helped during the war, as Tom can prove Peter's right to legal entry into the United States. If he can't find Tom within 24 hours and prove his case, he will be branded a fugitive and will be permanently disqualified for U.S. citizenship.

The Glass Wall

1953

The Glass Wall poster
5.3

Peter Kuban, a Hungarian refugee, is about to be deported after jumping ship in New York harbor. He needs to find an ex-G.I. named Tom whom he helped during the war, as Tom can prove Peter's right to legal entry into the United States. If he can't find Tom within 24 hours and prove his case, he will be branded a fugitive and will be permanently disqualified for U.S. citizenship.

The Glass Wall

1953

Watch the Birdie poster
5.5

A photographer falls for a rich girl and gets mixed up with crooks.

Watch the Birdie

1950

Battle Taxi poster
5.6

In the Korean war, the commander of an Air Rescue helicopter team must show a hot-shot former jet pilot how important helicopter rescue work is and turn him into a team player.

Battle Taxi

1955

Flipper's New Adventure poster
6.9

While widowed Porter Ricks is away at school learning to be a park ranger, his teen-aged son, Sandy, under adult supervision from a neighbor, remains at the family home in the Florida Keys with his pet dolphin, Flipper. While Po (as Porter is called by most) is away, Sandy learns that the family home, built on state land, is being torn down to make way for a highway. In turn, Sandy would be sent to live with relatives, while Flipper would be sent to the seaquarium permanently. Not wanting to be separated from Flipper, Sandy, using his skiff, runs away with Flipper. A distraught Po returns home to look for his son. Meanwhile, the Hopewell family from Britain are vacationing in the area. Their sailboat is hijacked by three escaped convicts, who take the father, Halsey, hostage, and set the three Hopewell women - mother Julia, and teen-aged daughters Gwen and Penny - adrift, they who eventually land on the island where Sandy is hiding... Written by Huggo

Flipper's New Adventure

1964

Song of Love poster
6.8

Composer Robert Schumann struggles to compose his symphonies while his loving wife Clara offers her support. Also helping the Schumanns is their lifelong friend, composer Johannes Brahms.

Song of Love

1947

Rhino! poster
5.2

A zoologist working to save the endangered animals of africa has problems with poachers and local tribesmen who don't understand his methods. But, with the help of the local district nurse,...

Rhino!

1964

Galyon poster
6.0

An oil tycoon hires Galyon, a jungle survival expert and soldier of fortune, to rescue his daughter and her husband from South American terrorists.

Galyon

1980

Galyon poster
6.0

An oil tycoon hires Galyon, a jungle survival expert and soldier of fortune, to rescue his daughter and her husband from South American terrorists.

Galyon

1980

The Aquarians poster
6.5

A scientist and his team of underwater explorers search for the culprit who has stolen the world's supply of nerve gas and hidden it somewhere in the ocean.

The Aquarians

1970

Zebra in the Kitchen poster
4.9

A young boy lets the animals out of their cages at the Zoo, to set them free, but the animals start taking over the town.

Zebra in the Kitchen

1965

Riders to the Stars poster
5.9

Three men gamble their lives in space to change the history of the world

Riders to the Stars

1954

Island of the Lost poster
5.0

An anthropologist is shipwrecked with his family while on an expedition in search of an uncharted South Pacific island.

Island of the Lost

1967

No artwork available
NR

4 field researchers are stranded in the African Sahara.

Four Against The Desert

1977