Stars and Their Directors

I've always found it interesting how some directors like to depend on their favorite actors in their most important movies. Sometimes it tells a lot about a director by the actor they choose. In some cases, the actor becomes so associated with one director, it's hard not to think about one without thinking about the other. So here are a few of my favorite director/star teamings.

1. John Ford/John Wayne: Ford always had his stock company (Which included Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, and Victor McGlaglen) but Wayne was the man who steered the way. I don't think Wayne would've become the star...no the icon he is now had it not been for Ford who took him under his wing. Together they formed an American myth that is still unequaled by others

Essential Ford/Wayne Films: "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "The Quiet Man", "The Searchers

2. Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart: I think it was Capra that turned James Stewart into Jimmy Stewart. Although they only made three films together, both Capra and Stewart go hand in hand with wholesome American ideals, but the films they made together although sweet and inspirational on the outside, usually had something deeper brewing underneath. They not only showed the harrowing human spirit but also the sacrifices and risks you have to take to accomplish it.

Essential Capra/Stewart Films: "You Can't Take it With You", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "It's a Wonderful Life"

3. Akira Kurosawa/Toshiro Mifune: You could argue that these two did for the east what Ford and Wayne did for the west. Mifune would work with Kurosawa on his most important works. Their films were usually morality plays, and Mifune had the kind of flamboyant performing that matched well with Kurosawa's Shakespearean fables. To this day there has never been a better Macbeth put on screen than Mifune

Essential Kurosawa/Mifune Films: "The Seven Samurai", "Throne of Blood", "Yojimbo"

4. Martin Scorcese/Robert De Niro: Just a great match from "Means Streets" to "Casino". This pair came from the same place, it's like one knows what the other is thinking, there is much give and take in the relationship and a great deal of trust. Take their greatest creation together Jake LaMotta. It was De Niro's character, and Scorcese's world, it was a nice cruel world only the two of them could understand so well.

Essential Scorcese/De Niro Films: "Mean Streets", "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull"

5. Howard Hawks/Cary Grant: Sure you could say Hawks had a nice relationship going with John Wayne and Grant had a good thing going with Hitchcock, but when these two were together it was a firecracker. It seemed they shared a similar sense of humour that you could see in their comedies, but in the one drama they did together "Only Angels Have Wings" comes a clear understanding of the themes of male bonding and quiet dignity, it's done with style and class, two things this director and star had in common.

Essential Hawks/Grant Films: "Bringing Up Baby", "Only Angels Have Wings", "His Girl Friday"

6. John Huston/Humphrey Bogart: They were both rebels and both mavericks and both have the other to thank for their stardom. When young director Huston was casting his first film "The Maltese Falcon" and got Bogart as the lead, it was a match made in film noir heaven. The two carried on with three more films together which are all classics. Bogart had a lot of great roles but Huston knew how to get the best out of him all the time. The two are the best examples of men working on their terms and coming out on top.

Essential Huston/Bogart Films: "The Maltese Falcon", "Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "The African Queen"

7. Steven Sodebergh/George Clooney: I have high hopes for these two to be a classic duo in years to come. Lately they have become inseparable as both director and star and producing partners. Sure some films seem to be just for the fun of it (Ocean's 12) but they come out swinging and seem to enjoy doing what they do. If it's not always a home run with these two, it's always interesting.

Essential Sodebergh/Clooney Films: "Out of Sight", "Ocean's 11", "The Good German"

8. Tim Burton/Johnny Depp: Forget those Pirate movies for a sec and remember for a moment all those great roles Depp did for Burton all of them you could argue could have been nominated for oscars way before Captain Jack. Burton's done some good work when not with Depp and Vice Versa, but the two seem to be gelling when they're together, it's a weird wonderful vibe.

Essential Burton/Depp Films: "Edward Scissorhands", "Ed Wood", "Sleepy Hollow"

9. Billy Wilder/Jack Lemmon: Sure you could say Wilder had a good run with William Holden, but it wasn't till Lemmon showed up in drag in "Some Like it Hot" that the director found a kindred spirit. So strong was the link with Lemmon that Wilder wrote him "The Apartment" so he could star in it. The two carried on with many films together and even teaming Lemmon with his other kindred spirit Walter Matthau for the first time ever.

Essential Wilder/Lemmon Films: "Some Like it Hot", "The Apartment", "Avanti!"

10. Yazujiro Ozu/Chishu Ryu: He was in a number of Ozu films sometimes playing the lead like in Tokyo Story, sometimes in a small role like the farmer in "The End of Summer", but an Ozu film just doesn't seem like an Ozu film without Ryu there somewhere. Ryu always seemed to be a soothing voice and sometimes one of great wisdom but sometimes of disillusionment. But it's a comfort to see.

Essential Ozu/Ryu: "Late Spring", "Tokyo Story", "Tokyo Twilight"

Our Special Jury Prize Goes to

Buster Keaton/Buster Keaton: These two were inseparable, never had I seen so much punishment that one star suffered for his director (He even broke his neck and kept going with the scene). It is the only time I can think of where the star appeared in every one of the director's films. There was nothing one wouldn't do for the other, they grew up in similar backgrounds, and once the director went on to lose creative control, and the star had to settle for whatever came, but he never complained. Still when these two were in sync the world was better for it.

Essential Keaton/Keaton Films: "Our Hospitality", "Sherlock Jr.", "The General"

So did I miss anyone? Tell me some of your favorite director/star team ups. I'd love to hear them.