--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most directors have one masterpiece by…" description: "\"Most directors have one masterpiece by which they are known. Kurosawa has at least eight or nine.\" — Francis Ford Coppola" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/francis-ford-coppola-2337_directors_most-directors-have-one-masterpiece-by-w_731365.jpg" --- # Most directors have one masterpiece by which they are… ![“Most directors have one masterpiece by which they are known. Kurosawa has at least eight or nine.” quote by Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/francis-ford-coppola-2337_directors_most-directors-have-one-masterpiece-by-w_731365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/francis-ford-coppola-2337_directors_most-directors-have-one-masterpiece-by-w_731365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/francis-ford-coppola-2337_directors_most-directors-have-one-masterpiece-by-w_731365.jpg) > “Most directors have one masterpiece by which they are known. Kurosawa has at least eight or nine.” [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directors are often remembered for a single standout film, though many have multiple great works. **In simple terms:** Directors often have more than one great film. Key Takeaway Recognize all of a creator’s achievements. Themes recognition legacy film career talent Mood reflective proud Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film festivals - career retrospectives - portfolio reviews - media interviews Key Concepts cinema artistic range career longevity Questions to Reflect On - Which of your own works deserve more recognition? - How do you balance celebrating one success with promoting others? A Different Perspective A single masterpiece can dominate public perception, overlooking other works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-masterpiece-5728283/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-kurosawa-5728282/) [Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kurosawa/) [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) [Masterpiece Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece-known-5728284/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of the young people make beautiful films or big films or are able to finance them, but they can't get anyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/a-lot-of-the-young-people-make-beautiful-films-or-big-films-or-are/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [There's this guy: his name, Sedik Ali. He's like the African Kurosawa. You know how Kurosawa does stuff from feudal Japan? This guy does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/there-s-this-guy-his-name-sedik-ali-he-s-like-the-african-kurosawa/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [“For the casual viewer, Kurosawa’s films can be an exercise in endurance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-white/for-the-casual-viewer-kurosawa-s-films-can-be-an-exercise-in-endurance/) [Jerry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-white/) > [In the neighborhood around Waseda, there were all these movie theaters, so every morning I left the house and watched movies instead of going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-koreeda/in-the-neighborhood-around-waseda-there-were-all-these-movie-theaters/) [Hirokazu Koreeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-koreeda/) > [The great Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa said that to be an artist means never to avert your eyes. And that's the hardest thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-olen-butler/the-great-japanese-film-director-akira-kurosawa-said-that-to-be-an/) [Robert Olen Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-olen-butler/) > [When I met Akira Kurosawa in Japan, one question he asked me was, "How did you actually make the children act the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/when-i-met-akira-kurosawa-in-japan-one-question-he-asked-me-was-how/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I'm a huge fan of Akira Kurosawa, a big Hitchcock fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynch/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-akira-kurosawa-a-big-hitchcock-fan/) [Jennifer Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynch/) > [Being a kid growing up with Kurosawa films and watching Sergio Leone movies just made me love what it could do to you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/being-a-kid-growing-up-with-kurosawa-films-and-watching-sergio-leone/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [The expected vertical line of Ikiru's narrative breaks when Kurosawa does a flash-forward in the middle of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/the-expected-vertical-line-of-ikiru-s-narrative-breaks-when-kurosawa/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [The term 'giant' is used too often to describe artists. But in the case of Akira Kurosawa, we have one of the rare instances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-term-giant-is-used-too-often-to-describe-artists-but-in-the-case/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [ \[Akiro\] Kurosawa, no doubt, was a big influence. Movies sometimes more than directors have influenced me: The Grapes of Wrath, by John Ford, was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-gavras/akiro-kurosawa-no-doubt-was-a-big-influence-movies-sometimes-more/) [Costa-Gavras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-gavras/) > [ I've wanted to work with \[Kairo aka Pulse director\] Kiyoshi Kurosawa, but he has not been making horror movies recently. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lee/i-ve-wanted-to-work-with-kairo-aka-pulse-director-kiyoshi-kurosawa/) [Roy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lee/) > [Kurosawa is my hero, and I've taught courses on his films, and I love what he does, and 'Rashomon' is, I think, his second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/kurosawa-is-my-hero-and-i-ve-taught-courses-on-his-films-and-i-love/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [I was in Japan, and my assistant director had worked with Kurosawa. I used quite of number of Kurosawa's crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boorman/i-was-in-japan-and-my-assistant-director-had-worked-with-kurosawa-i/) [John Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boorman/) > [I admire Akira Kurosawa. I have a deep admiration for him and I would love to make films like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/i-admire-akira-kurosawa-i-have-a-deep-admiration-for-him-and-i-would/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) ## More by Francis Ford Coppola > [I wrote the script of Patton. I had this very bizarre opening where he stands up in front of an American flag and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-wrote-the-script-of-patton-i-had-this-very-bizarre-opening-where-he/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [The only TV I would be interested in exploring would be live television. There's no substitute for a team of artists performing at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/the-only-tv-i-would-be-interested-in-exploring-would-be-live/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [I have more of a vivid imagination than I have talent. I cook up ideas. It's just a characteristic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-have-more-of-a-vivid-imagination-than-i-have-talent-i-cook-up-ideas/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [I associate my motion picture career more with being unhappy and scared, or being under the gun, than with anything pleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-associate-my-motion-picture-career-more-with-being-unhappy-and/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Collaboration is like the sex of creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/collaboration-is-like-the-sex-of-creativity/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Frank Capra was a prop man, I think. John Ford was a prop man. It was a little bit of a father and son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/frank-capra-was-a-prop-man-i-think-john-ford-was-a-prop-man-it-was-a/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Death is what makes life an event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/death-is-what-makes-life-an-event/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [I have much to learn from my daughter Sofia. Her minimalism exposes my limitations: I'm too instinctive and operatic, I put too much heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-have-much-to-learn-from-my-daughter-sofia-her-minimalism-exposes-my/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [It's ironic that at age 32, at probably the greatest moment of my career, with The Godfather having such an enormous success, I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/it-s-ironic-that-at-age-32-at-probably-the-greatest-moment-of-my/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Without a doubt, I was born to want to make cinema, but the kind of cinema I want to make is not like commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/without-a-doubt-i-was-born-to-want-to-make-cinema-but-the-kind-of/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [I had been a kid that moved so much, I didn’t have a lot of friends. Theater really represented that kind of camaraderie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-had-been-a-kid-that-moved-so-much-i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Wine is so much more than a beverage. It's a romance, a story, a drama-all of those things that are basically putting on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/wine-is-so-much-more-than-a-beverage-it-s-a-romance-a-story-a-drama/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [When I do a novel, I don't really use the script, I use the book; when I did Apocalypse Now, I used Heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/when-i-do-a-novel-i-don-t-really-use-the-script-i-use-the-book-when-i/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Listen, if there's one sure-fire rule that I have learned in this business, it's that I don't know anything about human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/listen-if-there-s-one-sure-fire-rule-that-i-have-learned-in-this/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [There can't be art without risk. It's like saying No Sex, and then expecting there to be children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/there-can-t-be-art-without-risk-it-s-like-saying-no-sex-and-then/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) [Explore all 171 Francis Ford Coppola quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) ## More Directors quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [A successful director is someone who has the combination of skills that you can learn, but there's also an intuitive sensibility that they bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-heinrichs/a-successful-director-is-someone-who-has-the-combination-of-skills/) [Rick Heinrichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-heinrichs/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [I was in good shape from Divergent. Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash told me, ‘Stop Working Out! Don’t go outside!’ He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-was-in-good-shape-from-divergent-damien-chazelle-the-director-of/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [I'm seen as a little risky to the industry, I think. All my favorite directors are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-m-seen-as-a-little-risky-to-the-industry-i-think-all-my-favorite/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. All I care is that he directs. For the actor, the same thing. All you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-the-director-s-a-communist-whatever-he-s-a-communist-all-i-care-is/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) [Browse all 4,068 Directors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most directors have one masterpiece by which they are known. 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