Born in London. The son of a photographer -- sometime-film-director -- Elwin Neame and British screen actress Ivy Close, he began his film career as an assistant cameraman on Hitchcock's BLACKMAIL (1929). As director of photography from the mid 1930s and producer and director from the mid 40s, he made a notable contribution to British films. Although his product as director has been on the whole uneven, several of his films of the 50s offered solid entertainment. Among his later films, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE (1969), is a standout. One of Britain's surer craftsmen, he listed a number of slick Hollywood productions among his credits. He occasionally worked in the US. An abbrieviated filmography: As Director of Photography -- PYGMALION (1938), MAJOR BARBARA (1939), IN WHICH WE SERVE (1942), BLITHE SPIRIT (1945). As Producer: OLIVER TWIST (1948). As Director: THE HORSE'S MOUTH (1959), THE CHALK GARDEN (1964), SCROOGE (1970), THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972), THE ODESSA FILE (1974).

Nominated for Special Effects 1942: ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT IS MISSING - Photographic  Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1946: BRIEF ENCOUNTER (w. Anthony Havelock-Allan & David Lean)  Nominated for Best Picture 1947: GREAT EXPECTATIONS - Producer at Rank-Cineguild  Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1947: GREAT EXPECTATIONS (w. Anthony Havelock-Allan & David Lean) 4 nominations