Joseph H. Lewis (1907-2000) was an American film director, known primarily for his B-movies, particularly in the film noir genre. After beginning his career as a film editor, Lewis distinguished himself for his ability to create stylistically bold and innovative works while working with limited budgets for studios such as Columbia and Monogram. Among his most celebrated works are *My Name Is Julia Ross* (1945), *Gun Crazy* (1950), considered his masterpiece for its taut narrative and innovative camerawork, and *The Big Combo* (1955), another film noir classic praised for its expressionistic cinematography by John Alton. Although he did not receive major awards during his active career, his work was re-evaluated decades later, establishing him as a master of the genre and an influential "auteur" director, admired for his ability to transcend the limitations of low-budget production with a powerful and personal directorial vision.