**Samuel Fuller** (1912-1997) was an influential American film director, screenwriter, and producer. A former crime reporter, his work is imbued with a direct, energetic, and often brutal style, earning him the moniker "poet of chaos."

Fuller is known for making genre films (noir, war, westerns) with a raw and bold approach, tackling controversial themes such as racism, war, and madness, often featuring characters on the fringes of society. His films are characterized by frenetic plots, incisive dialogues, and a strong emotional charge.

Among his most celebrated works are the tense noir *Pickup on South Street* (1953), the hospital drama *Shock Corridor* (1963), and the epic semi-autobiographical war film *The Big Red One* (1980). Fuller is considered a cult director, appreciated for his uncompromising vision and his ability to infuse social messages into popular cinema, becoming an inspiration for many subsequent filmmakers.