From The National Enquirer:The director of the POSEIDON ADVENTURE, SCROOGE and other classics, RONALD NEAME, gone at 99.
The BBC reported Neame, a vet of the Brit screen industry who created artistry as cinematographer, writer and director died at his home in Los Angeles.
The screen legend never recovered after suffering from a fall.Neame began his career when he worked as a cameraman for ALFRED HITCHCOCK on the first British talkie, 1929's BLACKMAIL.Neame's directing credits include 1958's THE HORSE's MOUTH with ALEC GUINESS as a rebellious artist malcontent and 1969's THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, which garnered MAGGIE SMITH a Best Actress Oscar.
As a director of photography, Neame lensed BLITHE SPIRIT, IN WHICH WE SERVE and MAJOR BARBARA among others.Neame had also worked with DAVID LEAN writing GREAT EXPECTATIONS and contributed to the writing of the classic doomed love classic BRIEF ENCOUNTER.
His musical of SCROOGE is a Yuletide must see each and every year.Of today's filmmakers, Neame once said, "They try to make up for their lack of good characterization and storytelling by quick cutting and frenetic use of the camera ."
As a huge film buff, Neame is absolutely right. Quick cuts in a movie is a dead give away for horrible writing and shallow characters. As far as I’m concerned Hollywood stopped making quality films in 2005.
I used to go to the movies every weekend with my wife, but ever since that year its been harder and sometimes practically impossible to find a quality flick.
And I don’t spend good hard earned money on remakes of remakes.
The Last Tradition
