This collective biography in the long-running History Makers series focuses on the struggles, successes, and setbacks of five film directors: Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Lee, and Peter Jackson. The subjects are well chosen, as all five men directed classic films with some YA appeal. Consistent in each director's story is a conflict between artistic expression and financial limitations. Each biography peaks with the triumph of a great cinematic work that resulted in the director becoming wealthy and free to work independently--at least until his next box-office bomb. Despite some inaccurate information (Kubrick did not win a best director Academy Award), these biographies inform about cinema history and have the potential to inspire readers interested in pursuing a career in film. Other recent History Makers titles include Figures in the Salem Witch Trials and Extreme Athletes.