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William Witney

October 26, 2023

William Nuelsen Witney (May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002) was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the action films he made for Republic Pictures, particularly serials: Dick Tracy Returns, G-Men vs. the Black Dragon, Daredevils of the Red Circle, Zorro's Fighting Legion, and Drums of Fu Manchu.[1] Prolific and pugnacious, Witney began directing while still in his 20s, and continued working until 1982.

William Witney
Born
William Nuelsen Witney

(1915-05-15)May 15, 1915
Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedMarch 17, 2002(2002-03-17) (aged 86)
Jackson, California, U.S.
Other namesWilliam Whitney
Years active1939–1982
Spouse(s)Maxine Doyle (m.1938–1973; her death)
Beverly (m.1977–2002; his death)
Websitewww.williamwitney.com

Biography edit

Witney was born in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was four years old when his father died, and he lived with his uncle, who was an Army captain at Fort Sam Houston. Colbert Clark, Witney's brother-in-law, introduced him to films by letting him ride in some chase scenes for the serial Fighting with Kit Carson (1933). Witney stayed around the Mascot Pictures headquarters while preparing for the entrance exam to the U.S. Naval Academy. After he failed that exam, he continued at the studio.

In 1936 Mascot was absorbed by Republic, and Witney was now working for studio president Herbert Yates. He was an assistant on the serial The Painted Stallion when director Ray Taylor's drinking problem had gotten out of hand and Taylor had to leave the location. Witney replaced Taylor, and became a director permanently.[2]

Witney teamed with director John English for several of Republic's most successful and best-remembered serials. Witney is credited with devising the modern system of filming movie fight sequences. Instead of filming a crowd of people wildly throwing punches at each other, as in a barroom brawl, Witney broke the action down into separate, carefully choreographed shots, which he patterned after the dance sequences in Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musicals.[3]

During World War II he served in the US Marine Corps combat cameraman unit.[4]

Following the war, Witney returned to public directing many of Roy Rogers' and Rex Allen's Westerns. He directed the 2nd unit battle scenes of The Last Command (1955) and three juvenile delinquent movies The Cool and the Crazy (1958), Juvenile Jungle (1958) and Young and Wild (1958).

When Republic closed in 1957, he directed films for American International Pictures and Associated Producers Incorporated.

Witney found freelance work in television. He directed the Jim Davis syndicated adventure television series, Rescue 8, which aired from 1958 to 1960 as well as several episodes of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer 1958-1960 TV series. He became one of the staff directors of the CBS network series The Wild Wild West. Witney's serial experience was ideal for this series, which ended each quarter-hour with a suspenseful cliffhanger.

He made feature films in the 1960s, such as Master of the World (1961) starring Vincent Price and Charles Bronson, several Westerns for Audie Murphy; Apache Rifles (1964), Arizona Raiders (1965) and 40 Guns to Apache Pass (1966) as well as The Girls on the Beach (1965).

In the 1970s he directed I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) starring Jim Brown and Darktown Strutters a 1975 blaxploitation musical comedy.

Personal life edit

Witney was married to former actress Maxine Doyle until her death in 1973. In his later years he was a popular speaker at film and nostalgia conventions. He died of a stroke in 2002.[5][6]

Appraisal edit

Quentin Tarantino has called him "one of the greatest action directors in the history of the business."[7] Tarantino considers four films as Witney's best work: The Golden Stallion (1949), a Roy Rogers vehicle, Stranger at My Door (1956), The Bonnie Parker Story (1958), and Paratroop Command (1959).[8]

He was also admired by Bertrand Tavernier.[9]

Selected filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ "William Witney, 86, Director of Westerns". The New York Times. March 30, 2002.
  2. ^ William Witney, In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase: Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door, McFarland, 1996.
  3. ^ William Witney, ibid.
  4. ^ "Obituary: William Witney". 21 March 2002.
  5. ^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2002: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. 2003-04-09. ISBN 9780786414642.
  6. ^ Los Angeles Times
  7. ^ Tarantino, Quentin (6 April 2020). . The New Beverly Cinema. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  8. ^ Lyman, Rick (September 15, 2000). "Whoa, Trigger! Auteur Alert!". The New York Times. Interview with Quentin Tarantino; Lyman and Tarantino watched The Golden Stallion together.
  9. ^ https://cpanel.filmtrap.com/my-masters-i-discovered-them-myself-bertrand-tavernier-in-conversation-with-quentin-tarantino/

Further reading edit

  • Witney, William (2005-03-24). In a Door, into a Fight, Out a Door, into a Chase: Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-2258-0.
  • Witney, William. Trigger Remembered. Earl Blair Enterprises. ASIN B0006EYMSG.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Witney.
  • William Witney's Bio
  • William Witney's web site
  • William Witney at IMDb


October 26, 2023
william, witney, william, nuelsen, witney, 1915, march, 2002, american, film, television, director, best, remembered, action, films, made, republic, pictures, particularly, serials, dick, tracy, returns, black, dragon, daredevils, circle, zorro, fighting, legi. William Nuelsen Witney May 15 1915 March 17 2002 was an American film and television director He is best remembered for the action films he made for Republic Pictures particularly serials Dick Tracy Returns G Men vs the Black Dragon Daredevils of the Red Circle Zorro s Fighting Legion and Drums of Fu Manchu 1 Prolific and pugnacious Witney began directing while still in his 20s and continued working until 1982 William WitneyBornWilliam Nuelsen Witney 1915 05 15 May 15 1915Lawton Oklahoma U S DiedMarch 17 2002 2002 03 17 aged 86 Jackson California U S Other namesWilliam WhitneyYears active1939 1982Spouse s Maxine Doyle m 1938 1973 her death Beverly m 1977 2002 his death Websitewww williamwitney com Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Appraisal 4 Selected filmography 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBiography editWitney was born in Lawton Oklahoma He was four years old when his father died and he lived with his uncle who was an Army captain at Fort Sam Houston Colbert Clark Witney s brother in law introduced him to films by letting him ride in some chase scenes for the serial Fighting with Kit Carson 1933 Witney stayed around the Mascot Pictures headquarters while preparing for the entrance exam to the U S Naval Academy After he failed that exam he continued at the studio In 1936 Mascot was absorbed by Republic and Witney was now working for studio president Herbert Yates He was an assistant on the serial The Painted Stallion when director Ray Taylor s drinking problem had gotten out of hand and Taylor had to leave the location Witney replaced Taylor and became a director permanently 2 Witney teamed with director John English for several of Republic s most successful and best remembered serials Witney is credited with devising the modern system of filming movie fight sequences Instead of filming a crowd of people wildly throwing punches at each other as in a barroom brawl Witney broke the action down into separate carefully choreographed shots which he patterned after the dance sequences in Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers musicals 3 During World War II he served in the US Marine Corps combat cameraman unit 4 Following the war Witney returned to public directing many of Roy Rogers and Rex Allen s Westerns He directed the 2nd unit battle scenes of The Last Command 1955 and three juvenile delinquent movies The Cool and the Crazy 1958 Juvenile Jungle 1958 and Young and Wild 1958 When Republic closed in 1957 he directed films for American International Pictures and Associated Producers Incorporated Witney found freelance work in television He directed the Jim Davis syndicated adventure television series Rescue 8 which aired from 1958 to 1960 as well as several episodes of Mickey Spillane s Mike Hammer 1958 1960 TV series He became one of the staff directors of the CBS network series The Wild Wild West Witney s serial experience was ideal for this series which ended each quarter hour with a suspenseful cliffhanger He made feature films in the 1960s such as Master of the World 1961 starring Vincent Price and Charles Bronson several Westerns for Audie Murphy Apache Rifles 1964 Arizona Raiders 1965 and 40 Guns to Apache Pass 1966 as well as The Girls on the Beach 1965 In the 1970s he directed I Escaped from Devil s Island 1973 starring Jim Brown and Darktown Strutters a 1975 blaxploitation musical comedy Personal life editWitney was married to former actress Maxine Doyle until her death in 1973 In his later years he was a popular speaker at film and nostalgia conventions He died of a stroke in 2002 5 6 Appraisal editQuentin Tarantino has called him one of the greatest action directors in the history of the business 7 Tarantino considers four films as Witney s best work The Golden Stallion 1949 a Roy Rogers vehicle Stranger at My Door 1956 The Bonnie Parker Story 1958 and Paratroop Command 1959 8 He was also admired by Bertrand Tavernier 9 Selected filmography editThe Law of the Wild 1934 serial assistant director The Phantom Empire 1935 serial assistant director The Miracle Rider 1935 serial editor The Vigilantes Are Coming 1936 serial assistant director script supervisor Darkest Africa 1936 serial script supervisor Red River Valley 1936 script supervisor Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island 1936 serial editor Dick Tracy 1937 serial editor 2nd unit director The Painted Stallion 1937 serial director S O S Coast Guard 1937 serial director The Trigger Trio 1937 director Zorro Rides Again 1937 serial director The Lone Ranger 1938 serial director edited into the feature Hi Yo Silver 1940 The Fighting Devil Dogs 1938 serial director Dick Tracy Returns 1938 serial director Hawk of the Wilderness 1938 serial director The Lone Ranger Rides Again 1939 serial director Zorro s Fighting Legion 1939 serial director Daredevils of the Red Circle 1939 serial director Dick Tracy s G Men 1939 serial director Heroes of the Saddle 1940 director Drums of Fu Manchu 1940 serial director Adventures of Red Ryder 1940 serial director King of the Royal Mounted 1940 serial director Mysterious Doctor Satan 1940 serial director Adventures of Captain Marvel 1941 serial director Jungle Girl 1941 serial director King of the Texas Rangers 1941 serial director Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc 1941 serial director Spy Smasher 1942 serial director The Girl from Alaska 1942 director uncredited Perils of Nyoka 1942 serial director King of the Mounties 1942 serial director Outlaws of Pine Ridge 1942 director G Men vs the Black Dragon 1943 serial director Roll on Texas Moon 1946 director Home in Oklahoma 1946 director The Crimson Ghost 1946 serial director Heldorado 1946 director Apache Rose 1947 director Bells of San Angelo 1947 director Springtime in the Sierras 1947 director On the Old Spanish Trail 1947 director The Gay Ranchero 1948 director Under California Skies 1948 director Eyes of Texas 1948 director Night Time in Nevada 1948 director Grand Canyon Trail 1948 director The Far Frontier 1948 director Susanna Pass 1949 director Down Dakota Way 1949 director Land of Opportunity The American Rodeo 1949 documentary director The Golden Stallion 1949 director Land of Opportunity The Sponge Driver 1949 documentary director Bells of Coronado 1950 director Land of Opportunity Tillers of the Soil 1950 documentary director Land of Opportunity Mardi Gras 1950 documentary director Twilight in the Sierras 1950 director Trigger Jr 1950 director Sunset in the West 1950 director North of the Great Divide 1950 director Trail of Robin Hood 1950 director Spoilers of the Plains 1951 director The Wild Blue Yonder 1951 actor Heart of the Rockies 1951 director In Old Amarillo 1951 director South of Caliente 1951 director Pals of the Golden West 1951 director Colorado Sundown 1952 director The Last Musketeer 1952 director Border Saddlemates 1952 director Old Oklahoma Plains 1952 director The WAC from Walla Walla 1952 director South Pacific Trail 1952 director Old Overland Trail 1953 director Iron Mountain Trail 1953 director Down Laredo Way 1953 director Shadows of Tombstone 1953 director The Outcast 1954 director Stories of the Century 1954 55 TV series director Santa Fe Passage 1955 director The Last Command 1955 2nd unit director City of Shadows 1955 director Headline Hunters 1955 director The Fighting Chance 1955 director The Last Command 1955 battle scenes Stranger at My Door 1956 director A Strange Adventure 1956 director Panama Sal 1957 director Zorro 1958 60 TV series director The Cool and the Crazy 1958 director Juvenile Jungle 1958 director Young and Wild 1958 director The Bonnie Parker Story 1958 director Mike Hammer 1959 TV series director Special Agent 7 1959 TV series director Lassie 1959 TV series director Paratroop Command 1959 director Sky King 1959 TV series director Rescue 8 1959 TV series director State Trooper 1959 TV series director Frontier Doctor 1956 59 TV series director Riverboat 1959 60 TV series director Wagon Train 1959 65 TV series director Valley of the Redwoods 1960 director Overland Trail 1960 TV series director The Secret of the Purple Reef 1960 director M Squad 1960 TV series director The Tall Man 1961 TV series editor director Coronado 9 1960 61 TV series director The Long Rope 1961 director The Cat Burglar 1961 director Master of the World 1961 director Frontier Circus 1961 62 TV series director Tales of Wells Fargo 1961 62 TV series director Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation 1962 2nd unit director The Virginian 1962 69 TV series director Wide Country 1963 TV series director Laramie 1963 TV series director The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1964 TV series director Marnie 1964 2nd unit director Destry 1964 TV series director Apache Rifles 1964 director The Girls on the Beach 1965 director Arizona Raiders 1965 director The Wild Wild West 1965 TV series director Branded 1966 TV series director Laredo 1966 67 TV series director Daniel Boone 1966 67 TV series director Bonanza 1966 TV series director 40 Guns to Apache Pass 1967 director Hondo 1967 TV series director Tarzan 1967 68 TV series director The High Chaparral 1967 68 TV series director I Escaped from Devil s Island 1973 director The Cowboys 1974 TV series director Kodiak TV series director Darktown Strutters 1974 director Quell and Co 1982 aka Showdown at Eagle Gap director actorReferences edit William Witney 86 Director of Westerns The New York Times March 30 2002 William Witney In a Door Into a Fight Out a Door Into a Chase Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door McFarland 1996 William Witney ibid Obituary William Witney 21 March 2002 Obituaries in the Performing Arts 2002 Film Television Radio Theatre Dance Music Cartoons and Pop Culture 2003 04 09 ISBN 9780786414642 Los Angeles Times Tarantino Quentin 6 April 2020 I Escaped from Devil s Island The New Beverly Cinema Archived from the original on 19 August 2020 Retrieved 7 April 2020 Lyman Rick September 15 2000 Whoa Trigger Auteur Alert The New York Times Interview with Quentin Tarantino Lyman and Tarantino watched The Golden Stallion together https cpanel filmtrap com my masters i discovered them myself bertrand tavernier in conversation with quentin tarantino Further reading editWitney William 2005 03 24 In a Door into a Fight Out a Door into a Chase Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door McFarland amp Company ISBN 0 7864 2258 0 Witney William Trigger Remembered Earl Blair Enterprises ASIN B0006EYMSG External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Witney William Witney s Bio William Witney s web site William Witney at IMDb nbsp Biography portal nbsp Oklahoma portal nbsp California portal nbsp Film portal nbsp Television portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Witney amp oldid 1180867002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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