Delbert Mann, 87: Film Director and TV Pioneer

"I missed the excitement and concentration that live TV gave us in the old days," he told the Associated Press in 1968. He spoke of the "artistic freedom I can't get in films."

Film scholar David Thomson was less ecstatic about Mr. Mann's television work, which included what he called "bland TV versions of great novels" such as Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1979), which reunited the director with Borgnine.

Yet it was for the notorious "Heidi game" in pro football that Mr. Mann's television work had an enduring place in popular culture.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, 1968, NBC was airing what appeared to be a New York Jets win over the Oakland Raiders when the network was contractually obliged to cut away in the last minute of play to start broadcasting Mr. Mann's family film about the adorable Swiss orphan.

The Raiders, however, managed two stunning touchdowns and won the game, 43-32.

NBC's blunder pleased no one, from bitter football fans to Mr. Mann. The director said the network, as a compromise, superimposed the game score on the screen at an emotional peak in the movie -- when Heidi's disabled friend Klara tries to walk.

The only consolation, Mr. Mann noted, was the positive reviews of his television special. He told the trade publication Variety his favorite went like this: "I didn't get to see the show, but I heard it was really good."

He said the comment was attributed to Jets quarterback Joe Namath.

Mr. Mann's wife, the former Ann Gillespie, died in 2001. Survivors include three sons and seven grandchildren. A daughter died in an automobile accident in 1976.