Roy William Neill
Directing
Roy William Neill (4 September 1887 – 14 December 1946) was a film director best known today for directing several of the Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, made between 1943 and 1946 and released by Universal Studios. With his father as the captain, Neill was born on a ship off the coast of Ireland named Roland de Gostrie. He began directing silent movies in 1917 and went on to helm 107 films, 40 of them silent. Although most of Neill's films were for the most part low-budget B-movies, he was known for directing films with meticulously lit scenes with carefully layered shadows that would become the style of film noir in the late 1940s. In fact, his last film, Black Angel (1946), is considered a film noir. He was also credited in some works as R. William Neill, Roy W. Neill, and Roy Neill. Neill lived in the United States for most of his career and was a U.S. citizen. He did go to London from 1935 until 1940 where better opportunities existed for American directors. During this period, British film producer Edward Black hired Neill to direct The Lady Vanishes. However, due to delays in production, Black hired Alfred Hitchcock to direct instead. Neill died in London, England from a heart attack.
Known for
Directing99
movieBlack Angel
1946
Director
movieDressed to Kill
1946
Director
movieTerror by Night
1946
Director
moviePursuit to Algiers
1945
Director
movieThe Woman in Green
1945
Director
movieThe House of Fear
1945
Director
movieGypsy Wildcat
1944
Director
movieThe Pearl of Death
1944
Director
movieThe Scarlet Claw
1944
Director
movieThe Spider Woman
1943
Director
movieRhythm of the Islands
1943
Director
movieMadame Spy
1942
Director
movieEyes of the Underworld
1942
Director
movieHoots Mon
1940
Director
movieA Gentleman's Gentleman
1939
Director
Thank Evans
1938
Director
The Viper
1938
Director
movieDoctor Syn
1937
Director
Gypsy
1936
Director
movieThe Lone Wolf Returns
1935
Director
movieThe Black Room
1935
Director
movieEight Bells
1935
Director
movieMills of the Gods
1934
Director
movieJealousy
1934
Director
movieI'll Fix It
1934
Director
movieBlind Date
1934
Director
movieBlack Moon
1934
Director
movieWhirlpool
1934
Director
movieThe 9th Guest
1934
Director
movieAbove the Clouds
1933
Director
movieFury of the Jungle
1933
Director
movieAs the Devil Commands
1933
Director
movieThe Circus Queen Murder
1933
Director
movieThat's My Boy
1932
Director
movieThe Menace
1932
Director
movieFifty Fathoms Deep
1931
Director
movieThe Good Bad Girl
1931
Director
movieThe Avenger
1931
Director
movieJust Like Heaven
1930
Director
movieCock o' the Walk
1930
Director
movieThe Melody Man
1930
Director
movieWall Street
1929
Director
movieBehind Closed Doors
1929
Director
movieThe Viking
1928
Director
movieLady Raffles
1928
Director
movieCleopatra
1928
Director
movieThe Virgin Queen
1928
Director
movieSan Francisco Nights
1928
Director
movieThe Arizona Wildcat
1927
Director
movieMarriage
1927
Director
movieThe City
1926
Director
movieBlack Paradise
1926
Director
movieA Man Four-Square
1926
Director
movieThe Fighting Buckaroo
1926
Director
movieGreater Than a Crown
1925
Director
movieMy Lady's Lips
1925
Director
movieThe Kiss Barrier
1925
Director
moviePercy
1925
Director
movieMarriage in Transit
1925
Director
movieBroken Laws
1924
Director
movieVanity's Price
1924
Director
movieBy Divine Right
1924
Director
movieToilers of the Sea
1923
Director
movieThe Man from M.A.R.S.
1922
Director
movieThe Iron Trail
1921
Director
movieThe Conquest of Canaan
1921
Director
movieThe Idol of the North
1921
Director
movieThe Inner Voice
1920
Director
movieGood References
1920
Director
movieYes or No
1920
Director
movieThe Woman Gives
1920
Director
movieThe Bandbox
1919
Director
movieTrixie from Broadway
1919
Director
moviePuppy Love
1919
Director
movieVive la France!
1918
Director
movieGreen Eyes
1918
Director
movieThe Kaiser's Shadow
1918
Director
Tyrant Fear
1918
Director
movieLove Me
1918
Director
movieLove Letters
1917
Director
movieThe Price Mark
1917
Director
movieThe Girl, Glory
1917
Director
Production14
movieBlack Angel
1946
Producer
movieDressed to Kill
1946
Producer
movieTerror by Night
1946
Producer
moviePursuit to Algiers
1945
Producer
movieThe Woman in Green
1945
Producer
movieThe House of Fear
1945
Producer
movieThe Pearl of Death
1944
Producer
movieThe Scarlet Claw
1944
Producer
movieThe Spider Woman
1943
Producer
movieMarriage
1927
Producer
movieToilers of the Sea
1923
Producer
Writing5
Crew2
movieCock o' the Walk
1930
Cinematography
Acting1
movieA Corner in Colleens
1916
Dan Allen