This list will explore some of the best directors in the film industry of all time, looking at their best films, a brief overview of each director and my personal favourite of their films. (In no particular order.)
1. Akira Kurosawa
Possibly the greatest Japanese director of all time and with his huge influences on films such as The Magnificent Seven and Star Wars, he will always be renowned as one the greats. He spent a lot of his career focusing on samurai films, with his most famous being that of ‘Seven Samurai’ a film in which was the idea behind The Magnificent Seven, yet still in my opinion being a far better production than that of its re-invention. In his later career with the movement to colour, he created the visual masterpiece ‘Ran’. Still today, many Director’s are hugely influenced and in admiration because of the genius of his work. However, with Akira Kurosawa comes an actor who is almost constantly overlooked and forgotten which is that of his most commonly used leading actor Toshiro Mifune. Kurosawa was the winner of the very prestigious Oscar Honorary Award.
Some of Kurosawa’s greatest works:
Rashomon
The Hidden Fortress
Ikiru
Throne of Blood
Yojimbo
Seven Samurai
Ran
My personal favourite: Seven Samurai – its story is gripping, with a brilliant talent of acting. Yet the direction and production design steals the show creating an absolutely breathtaking classic.
2. Fritz Lang
A director who dominated much of German Expressionism. His idea’s revolutionised cinema and is still renowned today as the creator of one of the greatest Sci-Fi films of all time ‘Metropolis’. The film has grown in popularity over time, yet it was hugely impactful when it first hit screens, it is said to have been Adolf Hitler’s favourite film. Lang was a director who pushed boundaries and made the most of his ability as a director.
Some of Fritz Lang’s greatest works:
Fury
Metropolis
M
Dr Mabuse: The Gambler
Testament of Dr Mabuse
Destiny
My personal favourite: M – This was a very difficult decision for me as I’m a huge fan of all of his works, whilst loving Metropolis and the Dr Mabuse films, I will always be a huge fan of M. I think he took a huge chance on the film with the huge controversy it would cause, yet he created it anyway. With Peter Lorre’s acting, the beautiful cinematography, directing and the eerie and creepy sound, it is an absolute great film. A unique and unforgettable story, this is a true classic.
3. Steven Spielberg
Spielberg is now one of the best known contemporary directors. He has created some groundbreaking films, whilst being a fantastically versatile director, creating films from all different genres. He is the winner of 3 Academy Awards and vast amounts of nominations. He’s a director whom will surely go down as one of the most revolutionary and genius directors of his time. He has countless classics and with surely many more to come.
Some of Spielberg’s greatest films:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T
Schindler’s List
Lincoln
Jaws
Saving Private Ryan
My personal favourite: Schindler’s List – one of the greatest films ever made on World War 2, focused on the Jewish point of view from the holocaust. It’s heartbreaking, with incredible directing and acting. It will leave you emotional and stunned.
4. Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock was a genius of his time and is now so regularly known everywhere, with his Best Picture winning ‘Rebecca’ and his timeless classic and one of the most loved films of all time ‘Psycho’. He made thrillers his own and created tension which has never been equalled, working with some of the greatest actors of all time. He will always be one of the most appreciated directors.
Some of Hitchcock’s greatest films:
Rebecca
Psycho
North by Northwest
Notorious
The Birds
Vertigo
Rear Window
My personal favourite: Psycho – not just due to the absolutely huge appreciation by critics and all film lovers but because it was one of the greatest and tense films I’ve ever watched. It will leave you disturbed and amazed by the strange story, the eerie acting and the stunning iconic music.
5. Billy Wilder
A director who worked in the same period as that of Alfred Hitchcock, with an equal talent but sometimes overlooked due to Hitchcock’s brilliance. He was a versatile director who could create works of all different genres from his brilliant comedy ‘The Apartment’ to his great Drama ‘Sunset Boulevard’. He is one of the most decorated directors with winning an incredible 6 Oscars, if you watch his films you’ll soon realise why.
Some of Wilder’s greatest films:
The Apartment
Some Like It Hot
Sunset Boulevard
Witness For The Prosecution
Double Indemnity
Stalag 17
The Lost Weekend
My personal favourite: I could not choose one favourite, his different genres and styles left me split, yet I’m a completely huge fan of Sunset Boulevard/Witness For The Prosecution/Some Like It Hot.
6. Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman is a director who is loved by film critics but can also split people’s decisions with his very disturbing and sometime convoluted plots. He was a swedish director who was at his best through the 50’s-60’s. Whether you like him or not he’s definitely a director you should watch and decide for yourself. He was nominated for an incredible 9 Academy Awards.
Some of Bergman’s greatest films:
Persona
Seventh Seal
Fanny and Alexander
Wild Strawberries
Cries and Whispers
My personal favourite – Persona: I must say personally I am not a huge Bergman fan, yet I am able to appreciate his great skill and imagination as a director. Yet when I watched Persona, my view was changed when I was absolutely amazed and absorbed by the ingenious and beautiful film.
7. Federico Fellini
Fellini was an Italian director who was known for his films of realism and inventive ideas. He was at his peak during the 50’s-70’s and is loved by film fans and critics alike. Nominated for an unbelievable 12 Oscar’s with many of his films winning the Best Foreign Film Award he’s a director you cannot miss.
Some of Fellini’s greatest works:
White Sheik
La Dolce Vita
Nights of Cabiria
8 1/2
Amarcord
La Strada
My personal favourite – Nights of Cabiria, I’m a huge Fellini fan and although this is not considered his greatest, I was in love with the film. It was completely heart breaking and very easy to be absorbed by the leading actress.
8. Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most well-known American director’s despite not making very many films, each was beautifully directed and inventive. He was very versatile, creating films from all different genre’s from Sci-Fi to War to Crime to Horror. Despite only winning one Academy Award he was nominated for many more and is still appreciated as being one of the greatest of all time.
Some of Kubrick’s greatest films:
The Shining
Clockwork Orange
2001: A Space Odyssey
Dr Strangelove
Barry Lyndon
Lolita
Paths of Glory
Full Metal Jacket
My personal favourite: Full Metal Jacket, I love most of Kubrick’s films but this for me was just incredible. I’m a huge fan of War films and I love his film on World War 1 ‘Paths of Glory’ but it doesn’t begin to compare to Full Metal Jacket. In my opinion the greatest Vietnam War film surpassing the likes of Dear Hunter, Apocalypse Now, Platoon and many more. The film is almost in two parts, with beautiful cinematography, outstanding acting and a really great and gripping story.
9. Frank Capra
The great director of the 30’s and 40’s creating endearing and lovely stories. The winner of 3 Academy Awards, he was known for using James Stewart as his leading actor. One of the greatest and sweet actors of the 40’s. Known for the greatest Christmas film of all time ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Capra will always be one the great old Hollywood directors.
Some of Capra’s greatest films:
It’s a Wonderful life
Mr Deeds Goes To Town
Mr Smith Goes To Washington
Meet John Doe
It Happened One Night
My personal favourite: Mr Deeds Goes To Town, although I love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, Gary Cooper leads a brilliant and funny story which will leave you smiling and admiring the beauty of this classic.
10. Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola is one of the greats and is obviously best known for his unforgettable hit ‘The Godfather’ whilst also creating the classic Vietnam War film (also starring Marlon Brando) Apocalypse Now. Many forget that even without the Godfather trilogy he is still an incredible director. Loved by critics and the winner of 5 Academy Awards, he’s one of America’s best.
Some of Coppola’s greatest films:
The Godfather trilogy
Apocalypse Now
The Conversation
American Graffiti
The Rainmaker
My personal favourite: The Godfather – undoubtably one of the best films ever made and what I believe to be a flawless film.
So there is 10 of the greatest directors of all time, I will soon add another list including 10 more directors who can equal the talent of these geniuses.
The Best of Classic Movies 
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