**Raoul Walsh (1887-1980)** was an influential American film director, with a career that spanned the silent era into the 1960s. He was known for his vigorous approach and a predilection for genres such as westerns, film noirs, adventure films, and war films.

His distinctive style was characterized by fast-paced narratives, resolute male characters, and relentless action, often imbued with a sense of fatalism. His films are animated by a primal energy and a focus on themes of honor, revenge, and survival.

Among his most celebrated works are classics such as the gangster movie *The Roaring Twenties* (1939), the twilight noir *High Sierra* (1941) starring Humphrey Bogart, and the iconic *White Heat* (1949) with James Cagney, a cornerstone of the crime genre. Walsh left an indelible mark on genre cinema, becoming a benchmark for adventure storytelling and crime drama.