Ernst Lubitsch - German American - ever heard the phrase "the Lubitsch Touch?" this phrase came about to mean a level of wit and sophistication brought about by his films that studios struggled to find out how he did it; "To Be Or Not To Be," "The Shop Ar

John Ford - American - a pioneer of on-location filming, Ford opened the possibilities for cinematographers as well and honed the Western genre it's modern tropes we recognize it for; "The Searchers," "The Grapes of Wrath"

Howard Hawks - American - perhaps no other filmmaker can lay claim to being able to explore every genre imaginable and still keep his signature style attached to everyone during a Studio-mandated Hollywood; "The Big Sleep," "Sargent York"

Billy Wilder - Austrian - Whereas most filmmakers can be credited for influencing a particular genre, Wilder's work has enough range to cover three: Film Noir, Comedy and Emotional Dramas; "Double Indemnity," "Sunset Boulevard"

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - British and Hungarian - this directorial duo brought the most beautiful movies to ever grace the silver screen by daring to create what was outside the mainstream interest; "Black Narcissus," "The Red Shoes"

Roberto Rossellini - Italian - a pioneer of the Italian Neo-Realist movement, Rossellini filmed on location and employed non-actors to give the feel of suffering for it's post-World War II audience to identify with, later influenced the French New Wave; "

Jean-Luc Godard - French - he, along with many others in the French New Wave, threw the film-making rule book in the dirt and broke film-making conventions with hand-held cameras, jump cut editing and human conflict from non-actors; "Breathless," "Contemp

Sergio Leone - Italian - taking influence from Ford and Kurosawa, Leone made a career for Clint Eastwood as well as re-invented the Western genre through his gritty interpretations that have stood the test of time; "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," "Once

Martin Scorsese - American - an affectionado of cinema and a gritty visionary, Scorsese pushed the boundaries of violence and cinematic art to become the mastermind he is today; "Taxi Driver," "Goodfellas"

Richard Linklater - American - he, more than any other director, been credited for kick-starting the independent film movement that came about in the 90's, opening doors for directors like Tarantino, Jackson and Rodriguez to make their mark on the silver