Roy William Neill

Birthday:: 09/04/1887
Place of birth:: Ireland, United Kingdom:
Biography:: 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.

Credits

	A Corner in Colleens (1916) as Dan Allen

	Black Angel Director
	Black Angel Producer
	Dressed to Kill Director
	Dressed to Kill Producer
	Terror by Night Director
	Terror by Night Producer
	Pursuit to Algiers Director
	Pursuit to Algiers Producer
	The Woman in Green Producer
	The Woman in Green Director
	The House of Fear Producer
	The House of Fear Director
	Gypsy Wildcat Director
	The Pearl of Death Producer
	The Pearl of Death Director
	The Scarlet Claw Director
	The Scarlet Claw Screenplay
	The Scarlet Claw Producer
	The Spider Woman Director
	The Spider Woman Producer
	Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Director
	Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Producer
	Two Tickets to London Story
	Rhythm of the Islands Director
	Sherlock Holmes in Washington Director
	Sherlock Holmes in Washington Producer
	Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man Director
	Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Director
	Madame Spy Director
	Eyes of the Underworld Director
	Hoots Mon Director
	Hoots Mon Screenplay
	His Brother’s Keeper Director
	His Brother’s Keeper Script
	Murder Will Out Director
	Murder Will Out Writer
	Murder Will Out Producer
	A Gentleman's Gentleman Director
	The Good Old Days Director
	Everything Happens to Me Director
	Thank Evans Director
	Quiet, Please Director
	The Viper Director
	Simply Terrific Director
	Double or Quits Director
	Doctor Syn Director
	Gypsy Director
	The Lone Wolf Returns Director
	The Black Room Director
	Eight Bells Director
	Mills of the Gods Director
	Jealousy Director
	I'll Fix It Director
	Blind Date Director
	Black Moon Director
	Whirlpool Director
	The 9th Guest Director
	Above the Clouds Director
	Fury of the Jungle Director
	As the Devil Commands Director
	The Circus Queen Murder Director
	That's My Boy Director
	The Menace Director
	Fifty Fathoms Deep Director
	The Good Bad Girl Director
	The Avenger Director
	Just Like Heaven Director
	Cock o' the Walk Director
	Cock o' the Walk Cinematography
	The Melody Man Director
	Wall Street Director
	Behind Closed Doors Director
	The Viking Writer
	The Viking Director
	Lady Raffles Director
	Cleopatra Director
	The Olympic Hero Director
	The Virgin Queen Director
	San Francisco Nights Director
	The Arizona Wildcat Director
	Marriage Director
	Marriage Producer
	The City Director
	Black Paradise Director
	A Man Four-Square Director
	The Fighting Buckaroo Director
	The Cowboy and the Countess Director
	Greater Than a Crown Director
	My Lady's Lips Director
	The Kiss Barrier Director
	Percy Director
	Marriage in Transit Director
	Broken Laws Director
	Vanity's Price Director
	By Divine Right Director
	Toilers of the Sea Director
	Toilers of the Sea Producer
	The Man from M.A.R.S. Director
	What's Wrong with the Women? Director
	The Iron Trail Director
	The Conquest of Canaan Director
	The Idol of the North Director
	Dangerous Business Director
	The Inner Voice Director
	Good References Director
	Yes or No Director
	The Woman Gives Director
	The Bandbox Director
	The Career of Katherine Bush Director
	Trixie from Broadway Director
	Puppy Love Director
	Vive la France! Director
	Green Eyes Director
	The Kaiser's Shadow Director
	Tyrant Fear Director
	Love Me Director
	Love Letters Director
	The Price Mark Director
	The Mother Instinct Director
	The Girl, Glory Director