Film Directors: A sort-of A-Z: E

~ beetleypete

There are surprisingly few to choose from in the letter ‘E’. Because of that, I will only feature two film-makers in today’s post, hopefully leaving out enough for you to add your choices.

Sir Richard Eyre is a man of many talents. This English director is known for his work in stage productions, Opera, and television, as well as films. Highly regarded, he has won many awards, and received both a C. B. E. and a Knighthood for his achievements. Although he has not made many films, they have all been powerful dramas, and well-worth watching. The superb ‘The Ploughman’s Lunch’ (1983) looks at the machinations of the British media, during the heyday of Margaret Thatcher. ‘Iris’ (2001) told the true story of the life of the writer Iris Murdoch, and her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, with a memorable performance by Judi Dench in the title role. Eyre worked with her again, in the 2006 psychological thriller ‘Notes On A Scandal’, where she starred alongside Cate Blanchett. He gets in close to his actors, and really manages to work with them to achieve standout performances.
Worth investigating, if you have never seen his films.

Back to my youth, and my early days of going to the National Film Theatre in London, where I developed my love of foreign films. The films of Russian director Sergei Eisenstein have become part of the very fabric of cinema. With their innovative techniques, and huge scope, they have generated endless imitators, and inspired film-makers all over the world too. You may not know his name, but you might have heard of his films. Following the turmoil of the Russian Revolution, he documented events in an often startling fashion, at a time when most films were still silent. ‘Strike’ (1925), ‘Battleship Potemkin’ (1925), and the wonderful ‘October: Ten Days That Shook The World’ (1927). He later went on to make the famous historical epics ‘Alexander Nevsky’ (1938) and ‘Ivan The Terrible’ (1944).
Here is a taste of his style, with the famous ‘Odessa Steps’ scene.

58 thoughts on “Film Directors: A sort-of A-Z: E”

  1. I was hoping to find Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” here, Pit. 🙂 Since you mentioned Fritz Lang and “Metropolis”, I made a bet with Siri and Selma that Eisenstein would come up. Ice cream for all! 🙂 No, Selma wants popcorn for the next film. I’ll see if I can find “Ploughman’s Lunch”, sounds interesting.

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  3. I wasn’t familiar with the directors’ names but have seen Eyre’s ‘Iris’ and ‘Notes on a Scandal’ and have heard of Eisenstein’s films though haven’t seen them.
    Even I’ve heard of Clint Eastwood directing films and loved ‘Play Misty for Me’.

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  4. Well, Roland Emmerich certainly won’t get any love here! (And not from me either!)

    I guess I’ll have to go with Clint Eastwood. I remember seeing “Play Misty for Me” at the movie theater. AT the time, the radio frequently played Robert Flack’s slow version of the song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which was featured in the film. I’ve seen many of the films Eastwood has directed, but the only one I have on DVD is “The Outlaw Josey Wales.”

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  7. What a heartbreaking scene Pete. I don’t think I’m going to get that part where the little boy is shot and then trampled while his mother looks on helplessly, out of my head.

    The only other name I can think of that no one else(I don’t think) is Richard Elfman. He’s Danny Elfman’s brother and is most well known for the 1982 cult musical “Forbidden Zone”. Oh! And Chester Erskine. He directed Spencer Tracy on Broadway in “The Last Mile” as well as movies including “A Girl in Every Port”, “The Wonderful Country”, and “Take One False Step.”

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  10. One to add: Nora Ephron – while known for her writing: “Silkwood”, “When Harry Met Sally”, she wrote AND directed the charming romcom from my hometown, “Sleepless In Seattle.”

    I saw your comment about Eastwood – he has many films to his credit, but I enjoyed his first one, “Play Misty For Me” because he learned his craft from one of the master, Don Siegel, who has a small role in the film and directed him in two others the same year: “The Beguiled” and “Dirty Harry!” Of course you know I posted about it, but if anyone else is interested:

    Clint Eastwood’s 1971 Triple Play Of Classic Films! “Dirty Harry!” “Play Misty For Me!” “The Beguiled!”

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    1. Thanks, FR. I had a few chuckles at some of the Pink Panther films, but I have never been able to bear ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’. Seems I am in a very small club with that though.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. Not sure what you mean by ‘Tragic’, Robbie. The lack of names in ‘E’, ‘Iris’, or the scene from the film?
      Sorry, just back from a long dog-walk in freezing sleet, and probably not ‘firing on all cylinders’.
      Best wishes, Pete. 🙂

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        1. Thanks for clearing that up, Robbie. That incident didn’t actually happen in 1905 during the uprising, but it nonetheless left us with one of the most famous scenes in cinema history.
          Best wishes, Pete.

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  20. I have seen “the Untouchables” and of course, I totally forgot about that. Now that you mention it, I saw this referenced in a making off featurette on the dvd. Excellent film as well by the way (The Untouchables that is😊)
    Haha…I kind of almost suspected you left him out on purpose 😊😊

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  21. Can’t really say much about these directors as I have not seen any films from them. But have made a note for future reference. For me the director I love the most for the letter E is Clint Eastwood. Million Dollar Baby was just breathtaking, and there are countless more films from him that are just as amazing. Truly a skilled director (but of course, he was also a great actor) 😊😊

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    1. Of course I left Eastwood out deliberately, as no doubt many will make that choice, Michel.
      If you have seen ‘The Untouchables’, then you may realise that they referenced the Odessa Steps scene during the shootout at the train station, even including the baby’s pram.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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