Roy William Neill
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- September 4, 1887
- Died
- December 14, 1946 (aged 59)
- Birthplace
- 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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Black Angel
Movie · Director
Terror by Night
Movie · Director
Dressed to Kill
Movie · Director
The House of Fear
Movie · Director
The Woman in Green
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Pursuit to Algiers
Movie · Director
The Scarlet Claw
Movie · Director
The Pearl of Death
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Gypsy Wildcat
Movie · Director
The Spider Woman
Movie · Director
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
Movie · Director
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Movie · Director
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
Movie · Director
Rhythm of the Islands
Movie · Director
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Movie · Director
Eyes of the Underworld
Movie · Director
Madame Spy
Movie · Director
Hoots Mon
Movie · Director
His Brother’s Keeper
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A Gentleman's Gentleman
Movie · Director
Murder Will Out
Movie · Director
The Good Old Days
Movie · Director
Thank Evans
Movie · Director
Double or Quits
Movie · Director
The Viper
Movie · Director
Simply Terrific
Movie · Director
Quiet, Please
Movie · Director
Everything Happens to Me
Movie · Director
Doctor Syn
Movie · Director
Gypsy
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The Black Room
Movie · Director
The Lone Wolf Returns
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Eight Bells
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Black Moon
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The 9th Guest
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Whirlpool
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Mills of the Gods
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Blind Date
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Jealousy
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I'll Fix It
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The Circus Queen Murder
Movie · Director
Above the Clouds
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Fury of the Jungle
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As the Devil Commands
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The Menace
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That's My Boy
Movie · Director
The Good Bad Girl
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The Avenger
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Fifty Fathoms Deep
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Just Like Heaven
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Cock o' the Walk
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The Melody Man
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Wall Street
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Behind Closed Doors
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The Virgin Queen
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San Francisco Nights
Movie · Director
The Viking
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Lady Raffles
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Cleopatra
Movie · Director
The Olympic Hero
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The Lady of Victories
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The Czarina's Secret
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The Arizona Wildcat
Movie · Director
Marriage
Movie · Director
The City
Movie · Director
The Fighting Buckaroo
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A Man Four-Square
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The Cowboy and the Countess
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Black Paradise
Movie · Director
Greater Than a Crown
Movie · Director
Percy
Movie · Director
Marriage in Transit
Movie · Director
The Kiss Barrier
Movie · Director
By Divine Right
Movie · Director
Broken Laws
Movie · Director
Vanity's Price
Movie · Director
Toilers of the Sea
Movie · Director
What's Wrong with the Women?
Movie · Director
The Man from M.A.R.S.
Movie · Director
The Iron Trail
Movie · Director
The Conquest of Canaan
Movie · Director
The Idol of the North
Movie · Director
Good References
Movie · Director
The Woman Gives
Movie · Director
Yes or No
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Dangerous Business
Movie · Director
The Inner Voice
Movie · Director
The Career of Katherine Bush
Movie · Director
Puppy Love
Movie · Director
The Bandbox
Movie · Director
Trixie from Broadway
Movie · Director
Vive la France!
Movie · Director
The Kaiser's Shadow
Movie · Director
Love Me
Movie · Director
Green Eyes
Movie · Director
Tyrant Fear
Movie · Director
Flare-Up Sal
Movie · Director
The Girl, Glory
Movie · Director
The Price Mark
Movie · Director
Love Letters
Movie · Director
The Mother Instinct
Movie · Director