Probably encouraged by the interest im the film rights of some of his novels (The Adromeda Strain (1971), The Carey Treatment (1972) and Dealing... (1972)), Michael Crichton had a go at directing in the 70s and 80s, beginning with Pursuit (1972), adaptation of his own novel Binary (written as John Lange, and credited as such).
Then he directed his own screenplays for Westworld (1973), the adaptation of Robin Cook's novel Coma (1978), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), Looker (1981) and Runaway (1984).
He stopped directing after Physical Evidence (1989) did not harness much success, and concentrated in his successful fiction writing career.
Trivia: Pursuit (1972) and Physical Evidence (1989), the first and last movies he directed, were also the only ones not based on his own screenplays.
Then he directed his own screenplays for Westworld (1973), the adaptation of Robin Cook's novel Coma (1978), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), Looker (1981) and Runaway (1984).
He stopped directing after Physical Evidence (1989) did not harness much success, and concentrated in his successful fiction writing career.
Trivia: Pursuit (1972) and Physical Evidence (1989), the first and last movies he directed, were also the only ones not based on his own screenplays.