Who do you think the greatest director of all time is and why?

Emre Safak · June 13th, 2006, 12:26 AM

If I remember correctly, the German soldier said something along the lines of "Don't resist, it'll be easier that way."

Jeremiah Hall · June 16th, 2006, 05:34 PM

I would have to say Howard Hawkes. He directed a large number of the classics: westerns (Red River, Rio Lobo), horror (The Thing), comedy (His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby), crime (Scarface, The Big Sleep), war (Sgt. York), drama (To Have and Have Not), and that's just scratching the surface.

Dick Mays · June 18th, 2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

If I remember correctly, the German soldier said something along the lines of "Don't resist, it'll be easier that way."

See. Exactly the kind of nice, caring, line, I'd like to hear before someone stabbed me in the heart...

Jeremiah Hall · June 18th, 2006, 11:22 PM

Quote: "See. Exactly the kind of nice, caring, line, I'd like to hear before someone stabbed me in the heart..."

I had an ex-girlfriend like that once. . . . .

Hugh DiMauro · June 19th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Obviously, this is solely a matter of personal taste, of course, because any director strikes a chord within each of us. We all know that we like movies because of the emotional charge and personal message we get from particular movies.

Mr Foreman: I met Kevin Smith. You are correct in saying he is one of us, but man, does he curse up a storm. He uses the "F" work every fourth word! He loves to curse and talk about sex. And I mean he utters all of the slanguage he can possibly use to describe every kind of sexual encounter! The college kids love him. He gave a lecture at our local state colege two months back.

However, in my personal opinion, Sam Peckinpah is one helluva director. He walked the walk and talked the talk. As a testimony to his talent, no matter how deeply people hated him (and believe me, some people wanted to kill him, including Charlton Heston during the making of Major Dundee) they knew that after working with him on a production, they were going to come away with the experience of a lifetime in having seen a master at work. His common theme was "Man out of synchronization with the times." His characters were mostly the underdog, the loser, but loyalty and friendship meant something, always came first. His motion pictures move me.

Emre: I think the German soldier said to the American, in German: "Go to sleep. Just go to sleep." My Jewish friend's father told me that.

Frank Howard · June 23rd, 2006, 03:31 PM

Hmmmm... No one has mentioned Luis Bunel yet. Definitely one of the greats.

Emre Safak · June 23rd, 2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Howard

Hmmmm... No one has mentioned Luis Bunel yet. Definitely one of the greats.

I tried to like his work, but he makes it so hard. The ending of Diary of a Chambermaid was unforgivably bad. If anyone did that today, he would be committing commercial suicide. His works are supposed to be scathing satires, but I think it they lack bite by today's standards.

Tim Goldman · June 23rd, 2006, 03:48 PM

Peter Greenaway perhapse? Billie wilder?

Frank Howard · June 23rd, 2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

I tried to like his work, but he makes it so hard. The ending of Diary of a Chambermaid was unforgivably bad. If anyone did that today, he would be committing commercial suicide. His works are supposed to be scathing satires, but I think it they lack bite by today's standards.

Erm... Diary of a Chambermaid was Renoir not Bunuel. And I would definitely say Bunuel's work has plenty of bite by today's standards.

Emre Safak · June 23rd, 2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Howard

Erm... [I]Diary of a Chambermaid[I] was Renoir not Bunuel. And I would definitely say Bunuel's work has plenty of bite by today's standards.

Bite this :)

Frank Howard · June 23rd, 2006, 04:16 PM

Wow. I thought you were talking about Renoir's version (which was abominable), and I didn't even know Bunuel had done a version of it (why would be another question).
I looked it up and people were indeed calling it his weakest moment by far. Including the commissioned movies he had to make just to put bread on the table...

Try Un Chien Andalou and see if that has bite. Tee hee...

But seriously Emre, he did some truly great movies.

Emre Safak · June 23rd, 2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Howard

Try Un Chien Andalou and see if that has bite. Tee hee...

What a groaner! I shouldn't have set up that joke.

Frank Howard · June 24th, 2006, 05:56 PM

Sorry Emre!

No, but seriously, Buñuel made some of the wildest movies around. For example, his L'Age D'Or was banned in France for 50 years (until 1979) and caused riots when it was first shown. But most of his stuff doesn't seem to have ever had great commercial potential, as it is pretty surreal (not surprising as he was one of the original Surrealists). And he never lost his personal edge.
While my views may run counter to many, I would personally nominate him as one of the greatest directors of all time.

Owen Dawe · June 25th, 2006, 10:12 PM

David Lean for 'Lawrence of Arabia'. A four hour twenty masterpiece.

Sure it's over 40yrs old. Every shot perfectly framed. An epic of all proportions made in the days when film makers made films the hard way battling against natures elements. In this case the desert with it's dust storms, heat and chilling nights.

No computer effects to get you out of a hole, and, if you needed a cast of thousands you hired a cast of thousands.

As a footnote: In the extra features on the dvd Steven Spielberg says it's the film that inspired him the most as a boy. He likes to replay it before making a film.

Joe Winchester · July 14th, 2006, 10:23 PM

John Cassavetes, hands down the best director in my book. A woman Under the Influence, Faces, Opening Night, Husbands, The Killing of A Chinese Bookie, Shadows, etc. etc.... the man was special.

Francois Truffaut is great. The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim, Shoot the Piano Player, etc.

John Ford is wonderful. The Searchers is by far one of the most emotional movies I've ever seen. That last shot of Ethan and the others standing in the doorway brings chills.

Orson Welles, of course! Not only for Citizen Kane, but just look at Touch of Evil, The Lady from Shanghai or F for Fake....

Woody Allen too. I don't care if some of his recent movies aren't 'Great'... he gave us Annie Hall, Manhattan, Sleeper, Bananas.... he earned his respect!

June 19th, 2006, 02:23 PM	#50
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	Best Director? Obviously, this is solely a matter of personal taste, of course, because any director strikes a chord within each of us. We all know that we like movies because of the emotional charge and personal message we get from particular movies. Mr Foreman: I met Kevin Smith. You are correct in saying he is one of us, but man, does he curse up a storm. He uses the "F" work every fourth word! He loves to curse and talk about sex. And I mean he utters all of the slanguage he can possibly use to describe every kind of sexual encounter! The college kids love him. He gave a lecture at our local state colege two months back. However, in my personal opinion, Sam Peckinpah is one helluva director. He walked the walk and talked the talk. As a testimony to his talent, no matter how deeply people hated him (and believe me, some people wanted to kill him, including Charlton Heston during the making of Major Dundee) they knew that after working with him on a production, they were going to come away with the experience of a lifetime in having seen a master at work. His common theme was "Man out of synchronization with the times." His characters were mostly the underdog, the loser, but loyalty and friendship meant something, always came first. His motion pictures move me. Emre: I think the German soldier said to the American, in German: "Go to sleep. Just go to sleep." My Jewish friend's father told me that. __________________ Interesting, if true. And interesting anyway.

June 23rd, 2006, 03:48 PM	#53
Tim Goldman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 135	Peter Greenaway perhapse? Billie wilder? __________________ Wish I had something witty to say

June 25th, 2006, 10:12 PM	#59
Owen Dawe Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lake Tarawera, Rotorua, New Zealand Posts: 244	David Lean for 'Lawrence of Arabia'. A four hour twenty masterpiece. Sure it's over 40yrs old. Every shot perfectly framed. An epic of all proportions made in the days when film makers made films the hard way battling against natures elements. In this case the desert with it's dust storms, heat and chilling nights. No computer effects to get you out of a hole, and, if you needed a cast of thousands you hired a cast of thousands. As a footnote: In the extra features on the dvd Steven Spielberg says it's the film that inspired him the most as a boy. He likes to replay it before making a film. __________________ Owen

June 13th, 2006, 12:26 AM	#46
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	If I remember correctly, the German soldier said something along the lines of "Don't resist, it'll be easier that way."

June 16th, 2006, 05:34 PM	#47
Jeremiah Hall Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 69	I would have to say Howard Hawkes. He directed a large number of the classics: westerns (Red River, Rio Lobo), horror (The Thing), comedy (His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby), crime (Scarface, The Big Sleep), war (Sgt. York), drama (To Have and Have Not), and that's just scratching the surface.

June 18th, 2006, 11:22 PM	#49
Jeremiah Hall Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 69	Quote: "See. Exactly the kind of nice, caring, line, I'd like to hear before someone stabbed me in the heart..." I had an ex-girlfriend like that once. . . . .

June 23rd, 2006, 03:31 PM	#51
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	Hmmmm... No one has mentioned Luis Bunel yet. Definitely one of the greats.

June 23rd, 2006, 04:16 PM	#56
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	Wow. I thought you were talking about Renoir's version (which was abominable), and I didn't even know Bunuel had done a version of it (why would be another question). I looked it up and people were indeed calling it his weakest moment by far. Including the commissioned movies he had to make just to put bread on the table... Try Un Chien Andalou and see if that has bite. Tee hee... But seriously Emre, he did some truly great movies.

June 24th, 2006, 05:56 PM	#58
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	Sorry Emre! No, but seriously, Buñuel made some of the wildest movies around. For example, his L'Age D'Or was banned in France for 50 years (until 1979) and caused riots when it was first shown. But most of his stuff doesn't seem to have ever had great commercial potential, as it is pretty surreal (not surprising as he was one of the original Surrealists). And he never lost his personal edge. While my views may run counter to many, I would personally nominate him as one of the greatest directors of all time.

July 14th, 2006, 10:23 PM	#60
Joe Winchester Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 125	John Cassavetes, hands down the best director in my book. A woman Under the Influence, Faces, Opening Night, Husbands, The Killing of A Chinese Bookie, Shadows, etc. etc.... the man was special. Francois Truffaut is great. The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim, Shoot the Piano Player, etc. John Ford is wonderful. The Searchers is by far one of the most emotional movies I've ever seen. That last shot of Ethan and the others standing in the doorway brings chills. Orson Welles, of course! Not only for Citizen Kane, but just look at Touch of Evil, The Lady from Shanghai or F for Fake.... Woody Allen too. I don't care if some of his recent movies aren't 'Great'... he gave us Annie Hall, Manhattan, Sleeper, Bananas.... he earned his respect!