Lambert Hillyer, a former journalist from a show-business family, with a mother who was an actress, entered the film industry in 1917. As a director, he quickly partnered with cowboy actor William S. Hart to produce a series of westerns, catapulting Hart to stardom, for which Hart, an old-fashioned gentleman who never forgot a slight or a favor, always gave Hillyer credit. Although Hillyer's directing style may not have been considered refined, he often infused his work with a certain je ne sais quoi and panache that bigger-budgeted films lacked.
The opening scene of Beau Bandit (1930) is a prime example of this, featuring an eerily atmospheric shot of a posse emerging from a dark, foggy river crossing, a touch reminiscent of German Expressionism in an otherwise unremarkable film. As an incredibly prolific director, Hillyer's output was not limited to westerns, although they comprised the majority of his work. He also directed the stylish Dracula's Daughter (1936) and the creepy and chilling The Invisible Ray (1935) for Universal, as well as contributing to several serials at Columbia, including the notable Batman (1943).
Hillyer, like many B directors before him, concluded his career in television.
