George Cukor

The truth is, a director wins an Oscar for a writer's script and actors' performances.

You can always land on your feet if you know where the ground is.

I don't think you can teach people how to be funny. You can make suggestions about how to speak a line or get a laugh, but it has to be in them.

I've always tried to stay behind the scenes, and I intend to keep it that way.

I am a big one for subtlety and empathy. My dad was softly spoken and didn't carry his honours and accomplishments for everyone to see.

Shaft was a pop culture figure along t he lines of, I guess, Dirty Harry - except that he wasn't as much of a racist. So yeah, I was always a fan.