Book Review: The Essential Directors: The Art and Impact of Cinema's Most Influential Filmmakers

There have been a number of interesting film books released in the last few months which I've been anxious to share more about here. Work and travel conspired to keeping me reading and reviewing books at a slower pace than normal, and it's time to catch up!

I'm hoping that my reviews will catch the eyes of readers who missed hearing about the books on first release, or perhaps they will serve as reminders for those who've been meaning to order one!

First up for review is THE ESSENTIAL DIRECTORS: THE ART AND IMPACT OF CINEMA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FILMMAKERS by Sloan De Forest. It was published in late November by Turner Classic Movies and Running Press.

Film historian De Forest has written two previous books for TCM and Running Press, MUST-SEE SCI-FI: 50 MOVIES THAT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD (2018) and DYNAMIC DAMES: 50 LEADING LADIES WHO MADE HISTORY (2019). Although I haven't yet read DYNAMIC DAMES, I enjoyed the sci-fi book, especially as I came to watching science fiction fairly late in my moviegoing life.

THE ESSENTIAL DIRECTORS covers 56 cinema greats in five-page chapters, which are in turn divided into half a dozen themed sections. In a recent Zoom chat the author shared some of the understandable difficulty and hard work which went into arriving at her final list.

Though there wasn't room for further entries in order to publish a book of a manageable size, additional directors are discussed in brief essays at the end of each section. The "also ran" names would be easily be worthy of a second volume!

As with other books published by TCM and Running Press, THE ESSENTIAL DIRECTORS is a quality book which will appeal to both new and veteran classic film fans. For those who are relatively new to classic films, the book is a valuable survey of many of the greats and a useful "jumping off point" of recommended viewing.

For longtime film viewers, part of the interest in any book of this style is always reading who was chosen for inclusion and why. Each director's chapter provides a brief career sketch, often focusing on a limited number of titles to illustrate the director's style or key works in his or her career, along with assessing the director's long-term influence or importance.

By way of example, the chapter on Vincente Minnelli focuses heavily on MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951), THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952), and THE BAND WAGON (1953), while also pointing out his long-term influence on later directors such as Jacques Demy and Damien Chazelle. Minnelli is seen here with Judy Garland on the set of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.

I also especially enjoyed author insights which particularly "clicked" with me, such as noting that Robert Wise may have been "the most under-appreciated filmmaker from studio-era Hollywood." I have often thought myself that Wise's excellence working in so many genres, while lacking a distinctive personal "style," worked against him, though he has a marvelous filmography.

Howard Hawks is another director noted by De Forest for his amazing versatility in a variety of genres. He was at home with gangster films, Westerns, musicals, and more; he's seen below with Carole Lombard on the set of the screwball comedy TWENTIETH CENTURY (1934).

I particularly enjoyed sidebars suggesting a handful of each director's "Must-See Movies" along with a "Key Scene to Watch"; inwardly debating the choices singled out to be highlighted are part of what makes the book fun for longtime fans.

The beautifully reproduced photos, some of which were new to me, will also serve to lure newer viewers to watch various films, while reminding longtime film fans of favorites to revisit. Each chapter typically features one photograph of the director at work, along with scenes from the films; photographs appear in both black and white and in color.

At 326 pages, including the index and bibliography, this is a lengthy read, yet at the same time it's easy to dip in and out of the book, reading a few chapters at a time or skipping around to various directors to correspond with current viewing. The book makes a good companion for home retrospectives of various directors' work!

THE ESSENTIAL DIRECTORS: THE ART AND IMPACT OF CINEMA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FILMMAKERS is a heavy softcover with glossy paper which weighs in at around 2.4 pounds. Physically it's a similar style to Jeremy Arnold's THE ESSENTIALS, VOL. 2, which I reviewed in 2020.

The book includes forewords by Jacqueline Stewart of TCM and the late director-historian Peter Bogdanovich, who is also featured in one of the chapters.

I have a few more book reviews in the works! Up next is a review of another new book from TCM and Running Press, HOLLYWOOD VICTORY: THE MOVIES, STARS, AND STORIES OF WORLD WAR II by Christian Blauvelt. (Update: Here is a link for the HOLLYWOOD VICTORY review!)

Thanks to TCM and Running Press for providing a review copy of this book.

Seen above and not mentioned in the review: Frank Capra and James Stewart on the set of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946).

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