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.
Directed 85
1940s
- 1946
- 1945
The House of Fear
Director
- 1944
Gypsy Wildcat
Director
- 1943
Rhythm of the Islands
Director
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
Director
- 1942
Madame Spy
Director
Eyes of the Underworld
Director
- 1940
Hoots Mon
Director
1930s
- 1939
A Gentleman's Gentleman
Director
- 1938
Everything Happens to Me
Director
- 1937
Doctor Syn
Director
- 1935
The Lone Wolf Returns
Director
Eight Bells
Director
- 1934
Mills of the Gods
Director
Jealousy
Director
I'll Fix It
Director
Blind Date
Director
Black Moon
Director
Whirlpool
Director
The 9th Guest
Director
- 1933
Above the Clouds
Director
Fury of the Jungle
Director
As the Devil Commands
Director
The Circus Queen Murder
Director
- 1932
That's My Boy
Director
The Menace
Director
- 1931
Fifty Fathoms Deep
Director
The Good Bad Girl
Director
The Avenger
Director
- 1930
Just Like Heaven
Director
Cock o' the Walk
Director
The Melody Man
Director
1920s
- 1929
Wall Street
Director
Behind Closed Doors
Director
- 1928
The Viking
Director
Lady Raffles
Director
The Virgin Queen
Director
San Francisco Nights
Director
- 1927
The Arizona Wildcat
Director
Marriage
Director
- 1926
The City
Director
Black Paradise
Director
A Man Four-Square
Director
The Fighting Buckaroo
Director
The Cowboy and the Countess
Director
- 1925
Greater Than a Crown
Director
The Kiss Barrier
Director
Percy
Director
Marriage in Transit
Director
- 1924
Broken Laws
Director
Vanity's Price
Director
By Divine Right
Director
- 1923
Toilers of the Sea
Director
- 1922
The Man from M.A.R.S.
Director
What's Wrong with the Women?
Director
- 1921
The Iron Trail
Director
The Conquest of Canaan
Director
The Idol of the North
Director
- 1920
The Inner Voice
Director
Good References
Director
Yes or No
Director
The Woman Gives
Director
1910s
- 1919
The Bandbox
Director
The Career of Katherine Bush
Director
Trixie from Broadway
Director
Puppy Love
Director
- 1918
Vive la France!
Director
Green Eyes
Director
The Kaiser's Shadow
Director
Love Me
Director
- 1917
Love Letters
Director
The Price Mark
Director
The Girl, Glory
Director
Produced 14
1940s
- 1946
- 1945
The House of Fear
Producer
- 1944
- 1943
1920s
- 1927
Marriage
Producer
- 1923
Toilers of the Sea
Producer
Wrote 4
1940s
- 1944
- 1943
Two Tickets to London
Story
- 1940
Hoots Mon
Screenplay
1920s
- 1928
The Viking
Writer
Acted in 1
1910s
- 1916
A Corner in Colleens
Dan Allen
Other crew 1
1930s
- 1930
Cock o' the Walk
Cinematography