Roy Rowland, a talented individual with a remarkable career in the film industry, began his journey by studying law at the University of Southern California. However, his true calling was in the world of cinema, and he soon joined MGM as a script clerk. This fortunate turn of events was further enhanced by his marriage to the niece of Louis B. Mayer, the chief of MGM, providing him with a unique advantage in the midst of the Great Depression.
As he honed his skills, Roy directed a series of shorts for MGM, starting in the 1930s, before transitioning to feature films in 1943. He spent a significant amount of time at the studio, working from 1943 to 1951 and again from 1954 to 1958. Although he may not have been one of the top-ranked directors at MGM, he consistently delivered high-quality "B" pictures and an occasional "A" production, showcasing his versatility in various genres, including musicals, dramas, and even film noir.
One of his most notable works is the 1954 film "Rogue Cop," a fast-paced and gritty crime thriller that stands out as one of the few MGM films to be classified as "film noir." His ability to adapt to different genres is evident in his direction of "Meet Me in Las Vegas" (1956),a lighthearted musical, and "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes" (1945),a poignant drama.
After leaving MGM, Roy directed an action-packed film based on a Mickey Spillane novel, starring Spillane himself, titled "The Girl Hunters" (1963). He then traveled to Europe, where he worked on a string of Italian-made westerns and costume dramas. His final directorial effort was a somewhat campy pirate film, "Il grande colpo di Surcouf" (1966),for which he was uncredited.
Roy's legacy continued to grow as he became an associate producer on Nathan Juran's "Land Raiders" (1969),an Italian-shot western. He eventually retired and left behind a talented son, actor Steve Rowland. Roy Rowland passed away in 1995 at the age of 84 in Orange, California, leaving behind a remarkable body of work and a lasting impact on the world of cinema.
