Best Film Directors of All
Time
By Wendy Adams, Screen
Junkies
Hollywood
has produced the best film directors of all time who made American films famous
throughout the world. Each director’s genius is found in the titles of their
most memorable films that have delighted and engrossed audiences for decades.
- John Ford The
tenth child of Irish immigrants, Ford followed his brother Frank to Hollywood where he
began his career as an actor before breaking into directing. Ford directed
some of the most famous westerns like “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” Ford won
four Best Director Oscars for “The Quiet Man,” “How Green Was My Valley,”
The Grapes of Wrath” and “Stagecoach.”
- William Wyler
His directing career lasted 45 years and began with silent films. Wyler
had a reputation for being a difficult task master, but worked with some
of Hollywood’s
finest actors. He was nominated 12 times for an Academy Award and won the
Oscar for Best Director for "Mrs. Miniver," "The Best Years
of Our Lives" and “Ben Hur.” Among his best films are “Funny Girl,”
“Friendly Persuasion” and “Roman Holiday.”
- Frank Capra
An immigrant from Sicily, Capra settled
in California
with his family. He began his film career as an extra in movies and later
worked as a gag writer for several years before being promoted to director
for short films. His first serious directing job came from Harry Cohn,
president of Columbia Pictures. Capra won three Best Directors Oscars for
“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,” “You Can’t Take It with You” and “Mr. Smith Goes
to Washington.”
- John Huston In
addition to directing, Huston was also a screenwriter and a character
actor like his father, Walter Huston. His film career became serious when
he began collaborating on scripts and directing for Warner Brothers. His
most memorable films are “The African Queen,” “Chinatown”
and “The Treasure of Sierra Madre.”
- Alfred Hitchcock The
Master of Suspense began his film career as a title designer at a studio
in London.
He got his first chance at directing when he replaced a director who
became ill. He worked as an assistant director at Gainsborough Pictures.
His directing career was launched when he directed “The Pleasure Garden”
in 1925. A few of his best known films are “Vertigo,” “Psycho” and “The
Birds.”
- Howard Hawks
In college he studied engineering but was enticed by Hollywood. Hawks began his film career
as a production assistant for Cecil B. DeMille and other major Hollywood film directors as he worked his way up to
director. A few of his most memorable films are “His Girl Friday,” “Bringing
Up Baby” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
- George Cukor
Cukor starting his directing career on Broadway in New
York City before moving to Hollywood to direct films. He was hired
to direct “Gone With The Wind” but constant battles with producer David
O’Selznick got him fired. In “The Women” he amazed audiences by filming
the fashion show scenes in brilliant color during the black and white film
era. A few films he directed are “The Philadelphia Story Story,” “Adam’s
Rib” and “The Corn is Green.”
- Orson Welles
A jack of all trades in the world of entertainment, Welles was a
successful radio personality, actor, screenwriter and director who started
a panic with his broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” when listeners
believed the attack of aliens was real. Among his best films are “Citizen
Kane” and “The Magnificent Ambersons.”
- Billy Wilder Wilder
began his professional career as a lawyer, a foreign correspondent and
finally entered Hollywood
as a screenwriter with greats like “The Apartment” and “Sabrina.” His best
direction included “The Lost Weekend,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Some Like
It Hot.”
- Stephen Spielberg He
is of the most prominent writers, producers and directors in Hollywood. What
makes him stand out is the number of powerful films he has directed. His
resume includes “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “E.T.,” “Schindler’s List” and
“Saving Private Ryan.”
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