American film critic Andrew Sarris coined the term “auteur theory” in his famous 1962 essay “Notes on the Auteur Theory,” and thus “auteur,” which means “author” in French, was popularized in American English. As a result of this and other Sarris writings, more public attention turned to the overall craft of filmmaking instead of being focused solely on the actors. In the original “auteur” essay, Sarris cited such directing greats as Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Alfred Hitchcock. Nowadays, we might recognize filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Greta Gerwig, and Christopher Nolan for joining their ranks with unique visions and styles.