Ronald Neame CBE, BSC (23 April 1911 – 16 June 2010) was an English film producer, director, cinematographer, and screenwriter. Beginning his career as a cinematographer, for his work on the British war film '' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (1943) he received an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nomination for Best Special Effects. During a partnership with director

David Lean Sir David Lean (25 March 190816 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Widely considered one of the most important figures in British cinema, Lean directed the large-scale epics ''The Bridge on the River ...

, he produced ''

Brief Encounter ''Brief Encounter'' is a 1945 British romantic drama film directed by David Lean from a screenplay by Noël Coward, based on his 1936 one-act play ''Still Life''. Starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, and Joyce Carey, ...

'' (1945), ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' (1946), and ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' (1948), receiving two Academy Award nominations for writing. Neame then moved into directing, and some notable films included, '' The Man Who Never Was'' (1956), which chronicled Operation Mincemeat, a British WWII deception operation, '' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'' (1969), which won

Maggie Smith Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. With an extensive career on screen and stage beginning in the mid-1950s, Smith has appeared in more than sixty films and seventy plays. She is one of the few performer ...

her first Oscar, and the action-adventure disaster film '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972). He also directed '' I Could Go On Singing'' (1963),

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

's last film, and '' Scrooge'' (1970), starring

Albert Finney Albert Finney (9 May 1936 – 7 February 2019) was an English actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in the theatre before attaining prominence on screen in the early 1960s, debuting with '' The Entertainer'' (1960 ...

. For his contributions to the film industry, in 1996 Neame was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) and received the

BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award The BAFTA Fellowship, or the Academy Fellowship, is a lifetime achievement award presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in recognition of "outstanding achievement in the art forms of the moving image". The award is t ...

, the highest award the

British Film Academy British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

can give a filmmaker.

Early career

Born in Hendon, London, Neame was the son of photographer Elwin Neame and actress

Ivy Close Ivy Lilian Close (15 June 1890 – 4 December 1968) was a British actress. She acted in 44 films between 1912 and 1929.

. He studied at

University College School ("Slowly but surely") , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day school , religion = , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Mark Beard , r_head_label = , r_he ...

and Hurstpierpoint College. His father died in 1923, and Neame took a job with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company as an office boy. Later, through his mother's contacts in the British film industry, Neame started at

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

as a messenger boy. He was fortunate enough to be hired as an assistant cameraman on ''

Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...

'' (1929), the first British talkie, directed by a young

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

. Neame's own career as a cinematographer began with the musical comedy ''Happy'' (1933), and he continued to develop his skills in various "

quota quickies Quota may refer to: Economics * Import quota, a trade restriction on the quantity of goods imported into a country * Market Sharing Quota, an economic system used in Canadian agriculture * Milk quota, a quota on milk production in Europe * Indi ...

" films for several years. His credits as cinematographer include ''

Major Barbara ''Major Barbara'' is a three-act English play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in 1907. The story concerns an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as a Major in ...

'' (1941), ''

In Which We Serve ''In Which We Serve'' is a 1942 British patriotic war film directed by Noël Coward and David Lean. It was made during the Second World War with the assistance of the Ministry of Information (United Kingdom), Ministry of Information. The scree ...

'' (1942), '' This Happy Breed'' (1944), and ''

Blithe Spirit Blithe Spirit may refer to: * ''Blithe Spirit'' (play), a 1941 comic play written by Noël Coward * ''Blithe Spirit'' (1945 film), a British comedy film based on the play * ''Blithe Spirit'' (2020 film), a British-American comedy film based on th ...

'' (1945). His camera work on '' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' got him an Oscar nomination for Best Special Effects in 1943.

As producer and screenwriter

Neame formed a production company, Cineguild, with

and

Anthony Havelock-Allan Sir Anthony James Allan Havelock-Allan, 4th Baronet (28 February 1904 – 11 January 2003) was a British film producer and screenwriter whose credits included ''This Happy Breed (film), This Happy Breed'', ''Blithe Spirit (1945 film), Blithe Sp ...

. During this partnership, he produced ''

'' (1945), ''

'' (1946), and ''

'' (1948). He shared Academy Award nominations for Best Screenplay for ''Brief Encounter'', in 1947, and ''Great Expectations'', in 1948, with co-writers Lean and Havelock-Allan. Neame produced ''

The Magic Box ''The Magic Box'' is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier. ...

'' (1951), a screen biography directed by John Boulting about the life of British camera inventor William Friese-Greene, which was the film project for the

Festival of Britain The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition and fair that reached millions of visitors throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951. Historian Kenneth O. Morgan says the Festival was a "triumphant success" during which people: ...

As director

Neame made his directorial debut under the Cineguild banner, with ''

Take My Life ''Take My Life'' is a 1947 British crime film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt and Marius Goring. It was adapted from Winston Graham's 1947 novel of the same name. It was shot at Pinewood Studios and on loca ...

'' (1947), which was released by British producer J. Arthur Rank's General Film Distributors in the United Kingdom in 1947 and by Rank's Eagle-Lion Films in the United States in 1949. Neame began a transition to the American film industry at the suggestion of Rank, who asked him to study the Hollywood production system. He worked again with

Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. After an early career on the stage, Guinness was featured in several of the Ealing comedies, including '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1 ...

(whom he had worked with on ''Great Expectations'' and ''Oliver Twist''), this time as director, in three films: ''

The Card ''The Card'' is a comic novel written by Arnold Bennett in 1911 (entitled ''Denry the Audacious'' in the American edition). It was later made into a 1952 movie, starring Alec Guinness and Petula Clark. Like much of Bennett's best work, it i ...

'' (1952), ''

The Horse's Mouth ''The Horse's Mouth'' is a 1944 novel by Anglo-Irish writer Joyce Cary, the third in his ''First Trilogy'', whose first two books are ''Herself Surprised'' (1941) and ''To Be A Pilgrim'' (1942). ''The Horse's Mouth'' follows the adventures of ...

'' (1958), and ''

Tunes of Glory ''Tunes of Glory'' is a 1960 British drama film directed by Ronald Neame, based on the 1956 novel and screenplay by James Kennaway. The film is a "dark psychological drama" focusing on events in a wintry Scottish Highland regimental barracks i ...

'' (1960). Neame described ''Tunes of Glory'' as "the film I am proudest of". He received two

BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTA Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The cer ...

nominations for ''Tunes of Glory''. Neame and Guinness worked again on the musical '' Scrooge'' (1970) with Guinness playing the ghost of Jacob Marley to

's Ebenezer Scrooge. Neame also directed '' I Could Go On Singing'' (1963),

's last film, co-starring

Dirk Bogarde Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as '' Doctor in the House'' (1954) for the Rank Org ...

; and '' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'' (1969), which won

her first Oscar. Neame was recruited to direct '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) after the contracted director left the production. He later characterised ''The Poseidon Adventure'' as "my favourite film" because it earned him enough to retire comfortably. He enjoyed a long friendship with

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), '' King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...

, whom he directed in two later films, ''

Hopscotch Hopscotch is a popular playground game in which players toss a small object, called a lagger, into numbered triangles or a pattern of rectangles outlined on the ground and then hop or jump through the spaces and retrieve the object. It is a ch ...

'' (1980) and '' First Monday in October'' (1981). Neame's final feature-length film, ''

Foreign Body A foreign body (FB) is any object originating outside the body of an organism. In machinery, it can mean any unwanted intruding object. Most references to foreign bodies involve propulsion through natural orifices into hollow organs. Foreign b ...

'', a comedy starring Victor Banerjee, was filmed in England and released in 1986.

Personal life

Neame married Beryl Heanly in 1933. They legally separated in 1971 and divorced in 1992. The couple had one son,

Christopher Christopher is the English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or '' Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Christ" or " Anointed", and φέρε� ...

, a writer/producer who died one year after his father's death. Ronald's only grandson,

Gareth Neame Gareth Elwin Neame (born 8 March 1967) is a British television producer and executive. As an executive at the BBC, Neame presided over the development of the dramas '' Spooks'', '' State of Play'', '' Bodies'', '' Hustle'', ''New Tricks'' and ' ...

, is a successful television producer, who represents the fourth generation of Neames in the film industry. Ronnie Neame's second marriage took place in Santa Barbara on 12 September 1993. His wife, Donna Bernice Friedberg, is also in the business – a film researcher and television producer, who worked on his 1979 movie ''Meteor.'' He referred to their meeting as a ''"coup de foudre".'' In 1996 Neame was appointed a

(CBE) and awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for his contributions to the film industry. He had homes in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara, California. In 2003 Neame published an autobiography, ''Straight from the Horse's Mouth.'' ()

Death

Neame died on 16 June 2010 after suffering complications from a broken leg.Director Ronald Neame dies aged 99
/ref> The break required two surgical procedures from which Neame never recovered. In an interview in 2006, he jokingly stated, "When people ask me about the secret to my longevity, I say the honest answer is two large vodkas at lunchtime and three large scotches in the evening. All my doctors have said to me, 'Ronnie, if you would drink less, you'd live a lot longer.' But, they're all dead, and I'm still here at 95."
/ref>

Selected filmography

Early films

;Cinematographer (writer or producer where stated) * '' Give Her a Ring'' (1934) * ''

Girls Will Be Boys ''Girls Will Be Boys'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Dolly Haas, Cyril Maude and Esmond Knight. It is based on ''The Last Lord'', a play by Kurt Siodmak. The film was shot at Elstree Studios with sets des ...

'' (1934) * '' Invitation to the Waltz'' (1935) * '' Music Hath Charms'' (1935) * ''

Drake of England ''Drake of England'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler and Jane Baxter. It depicts the life of Francis Drake and the events leading up to the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Pr ...

'' (1935) * '' A Star Fell from Heaven'' (1936) * ''

The Improper Duchess ''The Improper Duchess'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Yvonne Arnaud, Hugh Wakefield and Wilfrid Caithness. The film is based on the 1931 play of the same name by J. B. Fagan in which Arnaud had starred. ...

'' (1936) * '' King of the Castle'' (1936) cinematographer * ''

The Crimes of Stephen Hawke ''The Crimes of Stephen Hawke'' is a 1936 British historical melodrama film directed by George King and starring Tod Slaughter as the nefarious Stephen Hawke - who masquerades as the 'Spine-Breaker'. It also features Marjorie Taylor, D. J. Wi ...

'' (1936) * ''

Variety Hour ''Variety Hour'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Charles Clapham and Bill Dwyer. It is a revue show featuring a number of performers from radio and music hall. It was made at Wembley Studios as a quota ...

'' (1937) * ''

Cafe Colette ''Cafe Colette'' is a 1937 British thriller film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Paul Cavanagh, Greta Nissen in her final film role and Sally Gray. It was also released under the alternative title ''Danger in Paris''. The film was made at ...

'' (1937) * '' Feather Your Nest'' (1937) * ''

Keep Fit ''Keep Fit'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Kay Walsh and Guy Middleton. Formby was at his British top box-office peak when this comedy was made. Synopsis George Formby again plays his work ...

'' (1937) * '' It's in the Air'' (1938) * '' I See Ice'' (1938) * '' Who Goes Next?'' (1938) * '' The Gaunt Stranger'' (1938) * ''

Penny Paradise ''Penny Paradise'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Carol Reed and starring Edmund Gwenn, Betty Driver and Jimmy O'Dea. It was an early directorial assignment for Reed, and along with many other British productions of the era such as ...

'' (1938) * '' The Ware Case'' (1938) * '' Second Thoughts'' (1938) * '' Young Man's Fancy'' (1939) * '' Let's Be Famous'' (1939) * '' Come on George!'' (1939) * '' Trouble Brewing'' (1939) * '' The Four Just Men'' (1939) * ''

Cheer Boys Cheer ''Cheer Boys Cheer'' is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Nova Pilbeam, Edmund Gwenn, Jimmy O'Dea, Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott and Peter Coke. Plot Edward Ironside (Edmund Gwenn), the head of Ironside Brewery ...

'' (1939) *'' Return to Yesterday'' (1940) *'' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (1942) * '' This Happy Breed'' (1944; also co-writer of the adaptation) *''

'' (1945; also co-writer of the adaptation) * ''

'' (1945; producer) *''

'' (1946; also co-writer of the adaptation & producer) * ''

'' (1947; director) * ''

'' (1948; producer) * '' The Passionate Friends'' (1949; producer)

Director

* '' Golden Salamander'' (1950) * ''

'' (1951) * ''

'' (1952) * ''

The Million Pound Note ''The Million Pound Note'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck, Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Jane Griffiths. It is based on the 1893 Mark Twain short story '' The Million Pound Bank Note'' ...

'' (1953; director & producer) * '' The Man Who Never Was'' (1956) * ''

The Seventh Sin ''The Seventh Sin'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Eleanor Parker, Bill Travers and George Sanders. It is based on the 1925 novel '' The Painted Veil'' by W. Somerset Maugham. Plot In post-World War II Hong ...

'' (1957) * '' Windom's Way'' (1957) * ''

'' (1958; director & producer) * ''

'' (1960) * '' Escape from Zahrain'' (1962; director & producer) * '' I Could Go On Singing'' (1963) * ''

The Chalk Garden ''The Chalk Garden'' is a play by Enid Bagnold that premiered in the US in 1955 and was produced in Britain the following year. It tells the story of the imperious Mrs St Maugham and her granddaughter Laurel, a disturbed child under the care of ...

'' (1964) * ''

Mister Moses ''Mister Moses'' is a 1965 American adventure film about a con man blackmailed into persuading an entire African village into relocating for their own safety. It was directed by Ronald Neame and stars Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker. The film was ...

'' (1965) * ''

A Man Could Get Killed ''A Man Could Get Killed'' is a 1966 American adventure comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and Cliff Owen, shot on various locations in Portugal and starring James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Sandra Dee, Anthony Franciosa, and Robert Coote. Fil ...

'' (1966) * ''

Gambit A gambit (from Italian , the act of tripping someone with the leg to make them fall) is a chess opening in which a player sacrifices with the aim of achieving a subsequent advantage. The word '' gambit'' is also sometimes used to describe sim ...

'' (1966) * '' Prudence and the Pill'' (1968) * '' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'' (1969) * '' Scrooge'' (1970) * '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) * ''

The Odessa File ''The Odessa File'' is a thriller by English writer Frederick Forsyth, first published in 1972, about the adventures of a young German reporter attempting to discover the location of a former SS concentration-camp commander. The name ODESSA ...

'' (1974) * ''

Meteor A meteoroid () is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. Meteoroids are defined as objects significantly smaller than asteroids, ranging in size from grains to objects up to a meter wide. Objects smaller than this are classified as mi ...

'' (1979) * ''

'' (1980) * '' First Monday in October'' (1981) * ''

'' (1986) * ''The Magic Balloon'' (1990)

Actor

* ''

'' (1979; as British Representative)

References

External links

* *
Ronald Neame: Director, writer, producer and cinematographer celebrated for bringing the best out of his actors, Tom Vallance, The Independent, 22 June 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neame, Ronald 1911 births 2010 deaths BAFTA fellows Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English cinematographers English film directors English film producers English screenwriters English male screenwriters People educated at University College School People educated at Hurstpierpoint College Writers from London

Ronald Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse '' Rögnvaldr'', Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English '' Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised form o ...

20th-century English businesspeople