This British filmmaker emigrated to Hollywood after his critically praised directorial debut, "Scandal" (1989), which dealt with the famed Profumo spy scandal. Caton-Jones attended the National Film School in London where his talents caught the eye of the BBC, who purchased his second feature "The Riveter". After two years of training, he was assigned to direct the three-part BBC thriller "Brond". Upon his arrival in Hollywood, Caton-Jones helmed the ensemble drama "Memphis Belle" (1990), inspired by William Wyler's WWII documentary about the B-17's final bombing raid over Germany. While the beginning of the film indulges in numerous, almost de rigeur, war film cliches, the final segments were intense and exciting, but the overall effect was a throwback to films of the 1940s more than the 90s and audiences stayed away.
Shifting gears to light comedy, Caton-Jones directed the Michael J Fox vehicle "Doc Hollywood" (1991), in which he also played a small role. A lightweight fish-out-of-water comedy, the film was genial and pleasant, but again no blockbuster. Caton-Jones' next directorial effort was the film version of Tobias Wolff's autobiographical novel "This Boy's Life" (1993). His sensitive and inventive capturing of the pain of the lead teen character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, did not find box-office success, but it did win critical raves. This intense character study also featured fine performances from Ellen Barkin and Robert De Niro as the boy's mother and stepfather respectively and was a moderate success when it was released on home video.
Again demonstrating a flair for period work, Caton-Jones helmed "Rob Roy" (1995), based on the life of Scottish hero Robert Roy MacGregor. Somewhat overshadowed by Mel Gibson's epic "Braveheart" (also 1995), "Rob Roy" was considered by some critics as the superior effort. Caton-Jones demonstrated a sure hand with the story that unfolded at a deliberate pace and was filled with stunning scenery and several excitingly staged sword fights. It was also well acted by Liam Neeson (in the title role) and Tim Roth who delivered a scene-stealing, Oscar-nominated turn as the principal villain. Caton-Jones engendered a mild bit of controversy with his 1997 effort, "The Jackal", which was loosely inspired by Frederick Forsyth's novel "The Day of the Jackal". Director Fred Zinnemann, who helmed the 1972 version, objected to Caton-Jones' version using the same title as the story had been substantially changed. After many acrimonious press reports, Universal Pictures agreed to re-title the 1997 version. Bruce Willis, in his first all-out villainous role, was cast as the title character, an international terrorist.