So I decided to move that scene in the doctor's office to two-thirds into the movie, after the viewers had come to know Ryan and Ali and share in their happiness.

His goal was to have the camera reflect the chaos and confusion taking place in the hospital. Writer Eric Marcus recalls how Hiller tried to make the film realistic:

Also in 1982 he directed Author! Author! starring Al Pacino. The film was nominated for one Academy Award and showed Hiller capable of handling action films as well as comedy.

He began his career directing television in Canada and later in the U. By the late 1950s he began directing films most often comedies. He was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2002.