Born in 1921, he was a British film director renowned for his meticulous craftsmanship and atmospheric storytelling. Rising to prominence with "Room at the Top" (1959), which helped usher in the British New Wave, he later directed acclaimed films such as "The Innocents" (1961), a masterful psychological horror. Known for his ability to extract nuanced performances, he worked across genres, consistently maintaining a focus on character-driven narratives. His career spanned several decades until his death in 1995.