The Best Directors: Forgotten First-Fruits

George Lucas is one of the leading icons of pop culture. His Star Wars affected whole generations and resulted in creation of a whole universe of games, books, cons, fan movies...

But did you know Lucas directed only six movies? Out of these, only 4 were Star Wars (The Empire Strikes Back was directed by Irvin Kershner and Return of Jedi by Richard Marquand). Lucas' second movie was American Graffiti. His first one was THX 1138.

Developed from Lucas short stdent movie Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, it is a distopic story, not far from Orwell's 1984. Welcome in a monstrous labyrinth, wher everybody looks the same and lives the same Main hero THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) is one of the millions in this ant-hill; just a number. Suddenly, a love fires a new range of emotions and opens his eyes. Can he escape?

Lucas used minimal budget to create impressive visual style. Cold colors (or better to say no colours, especially in 20 minutes lasting white scene) and iconic police robots, computerized confession booth telling you to buy more - that's the world of THX 1138. Nothing like colorful universe of Star Wars.

THX 1138 on IMDB

It is almost unbelievable, that this interesting piece from Steven Spielberg was practically forgotten. One of the problem is, that it is just TV movie, however, this fact does not lower the qualities of the movie itself.

This movie is minimalistic - minimal story, minimal budget. But the thrill is maximal. Imagine you drive your car somewhere in the middle of nowhere, when suddenly a truck tries to knock you out of the road. And again and again. Cat and mouse game begins...

Created in the same year as Lucas THX 1138 (1971), movie was accepted positively and it took only 4 years and Spielberg became a legend with his Jaws.

The Duel on IMDB

Similar name as Spielberg's first movie, but a completely different topic. Historic drama set in Napoleonic wars tells the story of two opponents. Insult between two officers lasts for 15 years.

Duels are the focal point of this movie. If you are fascinated by that era, this is a movie you shouldn't miss. The story is Based on Joseph Conrad's short story and was directed in 1977.

The Duellist on IMDB

Movie haunted by bad luck, hated by most of the Alien and Aliens fans and generally considered the black sheep in Alien universe. David Fincher took this movie as a young music video director and after enduring terrible problems with production (the story was changed several times) created an exceptional movie, which (after you are able to forgive logical holes) perfectly enclosed the trilogy in 1992 (before Resurrection arrived and blasted the story).

Dismal setting of the penal colony on Fiorina 161, one of the most melancholic music scores in movie history by Elliot Goldenthal and breathtaking ending. This movie is not for an ordinary viewer. But if you know 7even or Fight Club, you already know Fincher is not an ordinary director.
Hint: watch both original and director's cut version. The plot differences are pretty interesting.

Alien3 in IMDB

Francis Coppola began as a B movie director for producer Rogera Cormana. Dementia 13 is his first one. While the name more resembles Ed Wood's movies, it is atmospheric horror about haunted castle in Ireland and psychopathic maniac. Not so bloody as modern slashers, this movie had moderate response. Today, it is more an interesting and well done commemoration of horror movies in sixties (this one is dated 1963) rather than an interesting movie itself.

Dementia 12 on IMDB

Chris Nolan is one of the most talented directors of our time. After the big surprise Memento, he followed with two Batman movies and latest blockbuster with DiCaprio - Inception. But what about his first movie, created in 1998?

Following from 1998 is neo-noir movie about guy (Jeremy Theobald called simply Young Man) has interesting hobby - he follows strangers on the streets of London. But he is not able to keep his distance and soon collides with London crime scene. But wait - who was following and who was the followed one??

Nonlinear plot is typical feature of Nolan's work, most notably in Memento, and this movie is no exception. Good choice of actors, thrilling atmosphere and intelligent story. You shouldn't miss Following, if you like Christopher Nolan!

Following on IMDB

Kubrick created several fascinating and 'different' war movies. Fear and Desire (1953) is one of them. Four soldiers survive plane crash behind enemy lines and have to cross 6 miles through enemy territory. Everything works fine, until they meet a woman.

Fear and Desire is not a simple movie, but deeply disturbing psychological drama. Kubrick hated the movie (he compared its quality to a sticker on a fridge) and tried to destroy all copies. Fortunately, few of them survived, however, they are in bad conditions. Still, you can enjoy this rare movie experience.

Fear and Desire on IMDB

Eraserhead was created in 1977. before he scored with the Elephant Man, and it is one of the most surreal of Lynch's feature movies. The story takes place on the periphery of some industrial town. Henry Spencer learns his girlfriend is pregnant, unfortunately, the kid looks like a monster, Mother leaves the baby and Henry stays at home alone with the kid, succumbing to visions and hallucinations.

The plot is very simple, full of symbols and surrealistic scenes. The movie is mainly for experienced viewers, but hey - this is the true Lynch!

Ereaserhead on IMDB

This is small exception in our list. This 1929 movie is not Hitchcock's first one - he was making movies since 1922. However, Blackmail is his first sound movie and also the first British sound movie (although the production started with silent movie conception first). It is pretty interesting to watch, how the silent era actors are able to cope with sound and voice for the first time.

The story is rather simple at the beginning. Young woman kills an attacker in self-defence and finds herself pressed between questions of detective and threats of a blackmailer. Thrilling story later graduates in surprising climax. Also in this movie, Hitchcock offers psychological study of characters - exactly in the way we like it! Master has traditional cameo as usually, one of the most funny ones.

Blackmail on IMDB