Delmer Daves (1904-1977) was an influential American film director and screenwriter. After starting as a screenwriter, he established himself as a director with films like the war movie *Destination Tokyo* (1943) and the film noir *Dark Passage* (1947).

However, he is primarily remembered for his Westerns, characterized by psychological depth and a more mature approach. His masterpiece, *Broken Arrow* (1950), was pioneering for its empathetic portrayal of Native Americans. Other notable Westerns include the intense *3:10 to Yuma* (1957) and *The Last Wagon* (1956). Daves excelled at creating complex characters and narrating moral frontier stories. He also made successful melodramas and romantic dramas such as *A Summer Place* (1959).