Greatest Film Directors of All-Time: These honored selections are designed as a tribute to some of the greatest directors of predominantly English-language films, with suggested or recommended Best Films or 'Must-See' Films from their filmographies. Unfortunately, some of these directors have been pushed aside to make way for more recent works, but it should be noted that many of these film-makers were highly innovative mavericks and renegades who challenged the established 'system' that existed during their time.

A Few of the Greatest Film Directors of All Time
D.W. Griffith	William Wyler	Frank Capra	Cecil B. DeMille	Alfred Hitchcock
Woody Allen	George Cukor	John Ford	Howard Hawks	Stanley Kubrick

These choices are meant to encourage discussion and comparison, and to educate filmgoers about some of film history's most legendary and influential forces in film-making.

The premise of honoring these film directors is based upon the debatable auteur theory -- the idea that the director is the primary 'author' or voice of a movie, and through a director's film, we see one person's way of viewing the world -- one that has the potential to change the way we see the world. This theory also holds that the how of a film (mise en scene, literally meaning 'putting in the scene') is something under the director's control. Elements or features of mise en scene include the action, composition, sets, props, lighting, costumes, make-up, cinematographic style and technique, and visual properties - and the theory postulates that these things are more important than the what or subject of the film.

In any regard, the director is probably the most important person responsible for creating 'movie magic' and mixing together all the ingredients of the film-making process.

What were some of the criteria used to select these Greatest Directors?

• each one has made a significant, indelible and influential contribution to the development of film and the film industry
  
  
• each one has directed a consistent body of work with a number of great movies (of predominantly English-language films) - usually three unquestionably great films mark a top film-maker
  
  
• each one has a compelling vision and groundbreaking style that has helped to define cinema as we know it today
  
  
• each one has a personal stamp that cuts across films, genres, and decades
  

See also this site's extensive write-up of information about the Best Director Academy Awards. (See the complete list of all Best Director winners here). And for fun, browse this site's information about Afred Hitchcock's Cameos, the Most Famous Film Director Cameos, and Notable Appearances of Directors in Films of Other Directors. A Ranking of the 100 Most Influential People in the History of the Movies from the Film 100 site is also worth a look.

See also this site's multi-part compilation of other deserved film directors (alphabetical) - More Great Film Directors.