**John Sturges (1910-1992)** was an American film director, known for his skill in directing action, Western, and adventure films. His career was dotted with commercial and critical successes, often characterized by calibrated suspense and narrative mastery.

Among his most celebrated works are the epic *The Magnificent Seven* (1960) and *The Great Escape* (1963), both of which became genre cinema milestones. He also directed prominent Westerns such as *Gunfight at the O.K. Corral* (1957) and the tense thriller *Bad Day at Black Rock* (1955), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

His style was distinguished by clear storytelling, effective action, and the management of large ensemble casts, often focusing on male figures of competent heroes or professionals in crisis situations, embodying a robust and traditional cinema.