Roy William Neill
Directing
Born: September 4, 1887 · Ireland, United Kingdom
Died: December 14, 1946 (aged 59)
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
1943
Terror by Night
1946
The Woman in Green
1945
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
1942
Dressed to Kill
1946
The House of Fear
1945
The Scarlet Claw
1944
The Spider Woman
1943
The Pearl of Death
1944
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
1943
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
1943
Pursuit to Algiers
1945
Photos (3)
Movies (1)
Directing (86)
The 9th Guest
Director
Terror by Night
Director
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
Director
The Woman in Green
Director
The Pearl of Death
Director
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Director
The Spider Woman
Director
Dressed to Kill
Director
The Scarlet Claw
Director
The Black Room
Director
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
Director
The Man from M.A.R.S.
Director
Pursuit to Algiers
Director
Black Angel
Director
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Director
Marriage
Director
The Iron Trail
Director
The House of Fear
Director
Puppy Love
Director
The Good Bad Girl
Director
Blind Date
Director
The Bandbox
Director
Love Letters
Director
Black Moon
Director
That's My Boy
Director
Green Eyes
Director
Fifty Fathoms Deep
Director
My Lady's Lips
Director
The Lone Wolf Returns
Director
The Menace
Director
Just Like Heaven
Director
Madame Spy
Director
Yes or No
Director
Eight Bells
Director
Whirlpool
Director
Jealousy
Director
Lady Raffles
Director
Rhythm of the Islands
Director
Cock o' the Walk
Director
The Melody Man
Director
Behind Closed Doors
Director
Eyes of the Underworld
Director
The Viking
Director
Mills of the Gods
Director
Wall Street
Director
Above the Clouds
Director
Gypsy Wildcat
Director
Love Me
Director
Trixie from Broadway
Director
The Arizona Wildcat
Director
A Gentleman's Gentleman
Director
The Avenger
Director
Doctor Syn
Director
Everything Happens to Me
Director
Cleopatra
Director
Good References
Director
Black Paradise
Director
The Kaiser's Shadow
Director
Fury of the Jungle
Director
A Man Four-Square
Director
As the Devil Commands
Director
The Conquest of Canaan
Director
Broken Laws
Director
The City
Director
By Divine Right
Director
San Francisco Nights
Director
Greater Than a Crown
Director
Vive la France!
Director
The Inner Voice
Director
The Girl, Glory
Director
Hoots Mon
Director
I'll Fix It
Director
Percy
Director
The Career of Katherine Bush
Director
The Fighting Buckaroo
Director
The Virgin Queen
Director
Toilers of the Sea
Director
The Kiss Barrier
Director
The Idol of the North
Director
The Cowboy and the Countess
Director
The Price Mark
Director
The Circus Queen Murder
Director
What's Wrong with the Women?
Director
Marriage in Transit
Director
Vanity's Price
Director
The Woman Gives
Director
Writing (4)
Producing (13)
Terror by Night
Producer
The Woman in Green
Producer
The Pearl of Death
Producer
The Spider Woman
Producer
Dressed to Kill
Producer
The Scarlet Claw
Producer
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
Producer
Pursuit to Algiers
Producer
Black Angel
Producer
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Producer
Marriage
Producer
The House of Fear
Producer
Toilers of the Sea
Producer