(in order)
Vittorio De Sica
Luchino Visconti
Robert Bresson
Frank Capra
Ingmar Bergman
John Huston
Ken Loach
Mike Leigh
John Cassavetes
Akira Kurosawa
Robert Altman
Aki Kaurismaki
Also
Scorsese
Hitchcock
Spielberg
Copola
John Huston
...to name a few.
Vittorio De Sica (Umberto D, Shoeshine, Bicycle Thieves, The Roof)
Luchino Visconti (La Tera Trema, Bellissima, Rocco and his Brothers)
Robert Bresson (Pickpocket, A Man Escaped)
Frank Capra (Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, You Can't Take It With You!)
Ingmar Bergman (Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Persona)
John Huston (Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Fat City)
Ken Loach (Riff-Raff, My Name is Joe)
Mike Leigh (Naked, Nuts in May)
John Cassavetes (A Woman Under the Influence, A Child Is Waiting)
Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Rashomon)
Robert Altman (Nashville, McCabe and Mrs. Miller)
Aki Kaurismaki (Shadows in Paradise, Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana, Ariel)
It's mostly European classical realist tradition, heavily focused in acting work and character study. The only director that feels out of place (in my opinion), like an exotic fruit in the basket, it's Frank Capra.
On the other side, I would have expected to see Eric Rohmer in the list.
You are very perceptive. I love realist, acting, character, and especially a great script. As Richard Brooks (shit, I left him out!), said, "it all starts with the word"..
I like Rohmer, and my favorite of his was his first one, "Sign of the Leo" ... 9/10.. I have seen about a handful, but I should check out more, thanks for the reminder.
Not that perceptive. I'd say it was clear as day.
By the way, don't miss Ingmar Bergman as a writer. It's not widely known (and he only has a few ones). I just was lucky enough to stumble upon his books in the library, and he's an amazing writer. I remember to have read Sunday's Children in one sit.
Most aren't as perceptive. I have a lot of respect for those who not only direct, but write their own movies. It's easy say for Coppola and The Godfather when you have the #1 best-selling book, greatest actor ever (Marlon Brando), and a great cast in general. Some other studios might not have allowed certain things, whether its content (the last mafia movie bombed, with Kirk Douglas, but it did suck), the dark cinematography, as well as the studio heads wanting Brando to do a test (kinda disrespectful), to do it for free, to put up a bond.. They wanted to fire Pacino, and Coppola faked seizures.
John Cassavetes wrote his best movie, "A Woman Under the Influence"
Haven't seen anything from Cassavetes. He and Visconti are the two directors from your list I have heard of, but never watched. I made my guess based in the other names. Probably I'm gonna check that movie you mentioned.
Coppola... well. I have a theory about that. In my opinion, some of the great directors from the 70s/80s got more credit that they deserved. It's not that they weren't good. They were very good. But Hollywood had back then some amazing professional staff. While Coppola, Spielberg, Ridley Scott were without doubt great directors, but a significant part of the credit should be given to the teams they had back then, from writers to film editors and to other minor staff. It seems that these directors have lost their edge, that they are not able to make such masterpieces anymore... but I don't think they lack the edge. I think they lack their old teams.
With regard to Bergman, I was talking about his side as a novelist. Sunday's Children is a novel, and the Best Intentions includes the script of the miniseries (longer than the movie) but it's heavily extended with novelized elements. Both are highly recommended.
Sorry I misunderstood - I never read any of Bergman's novels.
About some directors, I think also after making a lot of money, you are able to hire the best people. Chicken and egg question.