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Back in the golden times of Hollywood, directors’ seats were never secure. A director’s career could end in a split second due to the whims of producers and actors.

Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales | Credits: Warner Bros.

For instance, one of such occurrences that shocked Tinseltown’s very foundation was Philip Kaufman being dismissed from The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) set. The reason behind this was that Kaufman paid too much attention to details, which was unessential according to Clint Eastwood – the leading star in this movie.

Clint Eastwood’s power play: Actor who changed the course of a film

Philip Kaufman was known for his dedication to accurate adaptations of source material, and he had been given the task of bringing to life Forrest Carter’s novel, Gone to Texas. However, Clint Eastwood was not the only star in The Outlaw Josey Wales, but also produced it...

Year of the Dragon receives high praise for its realism from ex-Hong Kong mafia member Jimmy Tsui, who rates the gambling-house scene a near-perfect 9/10. Director Michael Cimino spent a year and a half researching and constructing a detailed replica of New York City's Chinatown for the film. Despite its realistic elements, Year of the Dragon faced criticism for perpetuating Asian-American stereotypes and its impact on New York City's Chinatown community.

Year of the Dragon receives a near-perfect score for realism from a mafia expert. Directed by Michael Cimino, with a script he co-wrote with Oliver Stone (based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Daley), the 1985 neo-noir crime thriller follows a police captain in conflict with a ruthless Triad boss in New York City's Chinatown. Mickey Rourke leads the cast as Captain Stanley White alongside John Lone as Joey Tai, the head of the Triads.

In an Insider video,...

April 9th will mark the four year anniversary of director Sidney Lumet's passing, at age 86. Lumet was the first director I interviewed whose one-sheet posters hung on my wall as a kid. He was an idol, an icon, and an inspiration. I wasn't yet 30 in April 1997, when I met him at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for our interview at the press junket for "Night Falls On Manhattan," one of his solid, authentic urban dramas that blended crime, politics and personal revelations that became his signature.

Lumet immediately put any butterflies I had at ease. Diminutive, but with the infectious energy of a teenager, his was a disarming presence. He paid me a compliment on my sportcoat, saying that I looked a bit like the young Mickey Rourke (which I still don't see, but what the hell), then went on to regale me for an hour with...

With the movie out on Blu-ray today, Glen takes a look back at the classic Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen…

"A lot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it... it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting." - Michael Delaney

There have been few stars in the history of cinema that have achieved the iconic status of Steve McQueen. Known as the king of cool, his rough around the edges style saw him play prominent roles in some of the very best films in cinema history. However, having supported himself whilst studying acting by competing in races, and always favouring doing his own driving in films where possible, his one true love was motor sports and it was inevitable that some day he would make his own race movie. In 1971, Le Mans ended up being that movie.

Only days ago "The Deadly Affair" arrived at my doorstep, yet another of Sidney Lumet's films I had never seen before since having been born two-thirds of the way into the director's legendary career, it's always been a game of catch-up. Then again, it was that way for most in his field, even if they were contemporaries.

After passing away far too soon at the age of 86, Lumet leaves behind a half-century-long career that will no doubt be scrutinized for being inconsistent, a richly ironic assessment given that in person and on film, he was known as a straight shooter, and perhaps one of the only filmmakers who could say their final film ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") was as vital and strong as their first ("12 Angry Men"). However, that certainly isn't the only reason why Lumet was a rarity.

In a world full of auteurs, Lumet was a collaborator,...