- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilliam Nuelsen Witney
- Nickname
- Bill
- Born in Oklahoma in 1915, Witney broke into the business in 1933, working at Mascot, the leading producer of low-budget serials. After Mascot and other small companies merged in 1935 to form Republic, Witney graduated to director (at 21, he was Hollywood's youngest). Witney teamed with director John English on many of the era's best serials, most of them highlighted by kinetic fight and chase scenes that helped change the face of action moviemaking. Witney also directed many features and much TV. Retired since the late 1970s, he has authored two books, "In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase" (about his serial directing career) and "Trigger Remembered" (about Roy Rogers' famed movie horse).
- IMDb mini biography by: Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com>
- SpousesBeverly J. Vosburg(October 29, 1977 - March 17, 2002) (his death)Maxine Doyle(April 4, 1938 - May 8, 1973) (her death, 1 child)
- Acted as uncredited second unit director for the fox hunt sequence in Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964).
- Began the practice of filming fight scenes in segments rather than continuously from start to finish. By changing methodology, the stunt men and actors were able to maintain a high energy level throughout the fight as opposed to the older method in which they showed obvious exhaustion by the end of the sequence.
- In the closing credits to Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Quentin Tarantino pays tribute to several movie-making people, including Witney.
- When work on Republic Pictures' The Painted Stallion (1937) fell far behind schedule because of incessant rainfall and director Ray Taylor's alcoholism, Republic fired Taylor and the youthful Witney was given his first directing job.
- Late into his career he conducted two-week summer courses for aspiring young filmmakers at the University of Portland.
- [on what it took to become a director] Good headlights on your car, because you come to work in the dark and go home in the dark, and a good bladder, because you don't have time to go potty.
- [on stuntman Fred Graham] The best screen brawler I ever used.
- Fighting with Kit Carson (1933) - $5 /day
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
