William Nuelsen Witney (15 May 1915 – 17 March 2002) was an American film director. He is most famous for the movie serials he co-directed with John English for Republic Pictures such as Daredevils of the Red Circle, Zorro's Fighting Legion and Drums of Fu Manchu.
He directed a large number of Western films over his career, and is credited with devising the modern system of filming movie fight sequences in a series of carefully choreographed shots, which he patterned after the musical sequences of American director Busby Berkeley. Prolific and pugnacious, Witney began directing while still in his 20s, and continued up until the late 1960s.
Quentin Tarantino singles him out as one of his favorite directors, particularly for The Golden Stallion (1949), a Roy Rogers vehicle. Witney also directed Master of the World (1961) starring Vincent Price and Charles Bronson.
Further reading
"In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase: Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door" by William Witney (McFarland & Company). ISBN 0786422580.
"Trigger Remembered" by William Witney (Earl Blair Enterprises). ASIN B0006EYMSG.
References
^ source: The New York Times interview with Tarantino
External links
William Witney at the Internet Movie Database
v • d • e
Mascot serials
Serials
Silent Serials
(1926-1929)
The Silent Flyer • Heroes of the Wild • Isle of Sunken Gold • The Golden Stallion • The Vanishing West • Vultures of the Sea • The Fatal Warning
Part-Sound Serials
(1929)
The King of the Kongo
All-Sound Serials
(1930-1935)
The Lone Defender • The Phantom of the West • King of the Wild • The Vanishing Legion • The Galloping Ghost • The Lightning Warrior • The Shadow of the Eagle • The Last of the Mohicans • The Hurricane Express • The Devil Horse • The Whispering Shadow • The Three Musketeers • Fighting with Kit Carson • The Wolf Dog • The Mystery Squadron • The Lost Jungle • Burn 'Em Up Barnes • The Law of the Wild • Mystery Mountain • The Phantom Empire • The Miracle Rider • The Adventures of Rex and Rinty • The Fighting Marines
People
Actors and Actresses
Gene Autry • Edwina Booth • Harry Carey • Frankie Darro • Jack Mulhall • Rin Tin Tin • John Wayne
Stunt Performers
Yakima Canutt • Kermit Maynard
Production Crew
B. Reeves Eason • Nat Levine • Richard Thorpe • William Witney
See also
Film serials
List of film serials • List of film serials by studio
v • d • e
Republic serials
Serials
Pre-war Serials
(1936-1942)
Darkest Africa • Undersea Kingdom • The Vigilantes Are Coming • Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island • Dick Tracy • The Painted Stallion • S.O.S. Coast Guard • Zorro Rides Again • The Lone Ranger • The Fighting Devil Dogs • Dick Tracy Returns • Hawk of the Wilderness • The Lone Ranger Rides Again • Daredevils of the Red Circle • Dick Tracy's G-Men • Zorro's Fighting Legion • Drums of Fu Manchu • Adventures of Red Ryder • King of the Royal Mounted • Mysterious Doctor Satan • Adventures of Captain Marvel • Jungle Girl • King of the Texas Rangers • Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. • Spy Smasher • Perils of Nyoka • King of the Mounties
War-time Serials
(1942-1945)
G-Men vs the Black Dragon • Daredevils of the West • Secret Service in Darkest Africa • The Masked Marvel • Captain America • The Tiger Woman • Haunted Harbor • Zorro's Black Whip • Manhunt of Mystery Island • Federal Operator 99 • The Purple Monster Strikes
Post-war Serials
(1945-1955)
The Phantom Rider • King of the Forest Rangers • Daughter of Don Q • The Crimson Ghost • Son of Zorro • Jesse James Rides Again • The Black Widow • G-Men Never Forget • Dangers of the Canadian Mounted • Adventures of Frank and Jesse James • Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc • Ghost of Zorro • King of the Rocket Men • The James Brothers of Missouri • Radar Patrol vs Spy King • The Invisible Monster • Desperadoes of the West • Flying Disc Man from Mars • Don Daredevil Rides Again • Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion • Radar Men from the Moon • Zombies of the Stratosphere • Jungle Drums of Africa • Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe • Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders • Trader Tom of the China Seas • Man with the Steel Whip • Panther Girl of the Kongo • King of the Carnival
People
Actors and Actresses
Kay Aldridge • Kirk Alyn • Roy Barcroft • Adrian Booth • Ralph Byrd • Rod Cameron • Phyllis Coates • Ray "Crash" Corrigan • Judd Holdren • Clayton Moore • Duncan Renaldo • C. Montague Shaw • Peggy Stewart • Linda Stirling • Aline Towne • Tom Tyler
Stunt Performers
Yakima Canutt • Pierce Lyden • Eddie Parker • Dave Sharpe • Tom Steele • Dale Van Sickel
Production Crew
Franklin Adreon • Spencer Gordon Bennet • Fred C. Brannon • Ronald Davidson • Basil Dickey • B. Reeves Eason • John English • Lydecker brothers • Joseph F. Poland • Sol C. Siegel • William Witney
See also
Film serials
List of film serials • List of film serials by studio
Commando Cody
Persondata
NAME
Witney, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Witney, William Nuelsen (birthname)
SHORT DESCRIPTION
American director
DATE OF BIRTH
15 May 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH
Lawton, Oklahoma, United States
DATE OF DEATH
17 March 2002
PLACE OF DEATH
Jackson, California, United States
This article about a United States film director is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Witney"
Categories: 1915 births | 2002 deaths | People from Lawton, Oklahoma | American film directors | Film serial crew | Golden Boot Award winners | United States film director stubs
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This page was last modified on 26 September 2008, at 05:33.
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