Biography for
Ronald Neame More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

23 April 1911, London, England, UK

Date of Death

16 June 2010, Los Angeles, California, USA (complications from a fall)

Nickname

Ronnie

Mini Biography

A British filmmaker who, over the years, worked as assistant director, cinematographer, producer, writer and ultimately director, Ronald Neame was born on April 23, 1911. His father, Elwin Neame, was a film director and his mother, Ivy Close, was a film star. During the 1920s, he started working at famous Elstree Studios. One of his first jobs was assistant cameraman for Alfred Hitchcock on Blackmail (1929), the first talking picture made in England.

Neame became a cinematographer during the 1930s. In 1942, he and sound designer C.C. Stevens received a special effect Oscar nomination for One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), a film by the Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger team. In 1944, after working together on In Which We Serve (1942), Neame, David Lean and producer Anthony Havelock-Allan formed a production company, Cineguild. The screenplays for its films Brief Encounter (1945) and Great Expectations (1946) received best writing Oscar nominations.

After a fall-out with Lean and the demise of Cineguild in 1947, Neame turned to directing with Take My Life (1947). As a director, he would be quite versatile, touching genres like comedy (The Promoter (1952), Hopscotch (1980)), psychological studies (The Chalk Garden (1964)), musical (Scrooge (1970)), thriller (The Odessa File (1974)) and even disaster movies (The Poseidon Adventure (1972), the one that started the trend, produced by Irwin Allen). Under Neame's guidance, Alec Guinness won the best actor trophee at the 1958 Venice festival for The Horse's Mouth (1958), a comedy based on a book adapted by Guinness himself. Two years later, John Mills received the same award for Tunes of Glory (1960), also directed by Neame. In 1969, Maggie Smith got her first Oscar for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) under Neame's direction, and in 1970, Albert Finney got his first Golden Globe for his role in Neame's "Scrooge".

In 1996, Neane was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition for his contributions to the film industry. In 2003, he published his autobiography, "Straight from the Horse's Mouth". Keeping up the family tradition, his son Christopher Neame is a movie producer and his grandson, Gareth Neame, works for the BBC. Ronald Neame died at age 99 of complications from a fall on June 16, 2010.

IMDb Mini Biography By: François Leclair

Spouse

Donna Bernice Friedberg	(12 September 1993 - 16 June 2010) (his death)
Beryl Yolanda Heanly	(15 October 1932 - 1992) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Educated at the University College School and Hurstpierpoint College.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the film industry.

He represented the second of four generations in the genre of cinema and television. He was the elder son of the photographer Elwin Neame and the actress Ivy Close. His brother Derek Neame scripted several films. He led a distinguished career as a cinematographer, screenwriter, producer and director. His son Christopher Neame and grandson Gareth Neame have carved successful careers as producers.

Financial difficulties arose for the family after the death of his father, Elwin Neame, in 1923. As a result, he was forced to leave public school to look for a job. He found one at the newly opened Elstree Studios. This started him on his way to being a film director.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1962

Former father-in-law of Caroline Langley.

Father-in-law of Sally-ann Neame.

He is survived by his grandson, Gareth Neame, of London, England; son Christopher Neame of Avignon, France; and his wife, Donna Friedberg.

In 2003, the British Film Institute called him "a living embodiment" of cinema, and "a sort of one-man world heritage site.".

Directed Gordon Jackson three times.

Directed 3 actresses to Oscar nominations: Edith Evans (Best Supporting Actress, The Chalk Garden (1964)), Maggie Smith (Best Actress, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)), and Shelley Winters (Best Supporting Actress, The Poseidon Adventure (1972)). Smith won an Oscar for her performance.

Personal Quotes

[on David Lean] "If he heard his best friend was dying while he was on the set, I doubt if he'd take it in. Once he's started a film, there's really nothing else in his life."

[on working with Judy Garland in "I Could Go on Singing" in 1963] Suddenly, Judy had become the real Judy. It was no longer acting and it was absolutely wonderful.

Where Are They Now

(2003) Release of his autobiography, "Straight from the Horse's Mouth".