Roy William Neill(1887-1946)

Best-known for directing the Sherlock Holmes series of films at Universal, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Neill was something of an expert on the subject of Holmes and, consequently, was often meticulous in his attention to detail (if one takes into account the fact that the series was set, rather incongruously, in the 1940s). Visually, at least, the films proved a triumph of style over content, particularly with the interpretation of Holmes himself, and through atmospheric lighting and judicious use of shadows.