Auteur Theory

Sarris says that the auteur theory was simply a polemical weapon for a given time and place. He used this theory to tell the history of American filmmaking through the careers and work of individuals, classifying them according to their respective talents, in particular the directors. Sarris discusses the ways in which things are never really concrete- for example he even mentions that there is no solid definition for auteur theory. When looking at directors, Sarris notes that a director’s vision should be reflected in their films. A director must accomplish technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms of how the movie looks ad feels, and interior meaning. The use of mise en scene is important for the director’s vision. I believe that Sarris was stressing the point that the most successful films are the ones that have the personal imprint of the director.