When one goes to see Modern Times, for instance, one understands much more about socialism than listening to the man who was then head of the Socialist movement in Italy.

I've always felt that music is more expressive than dialogue. I've always said that my best dialogue and screenwriter is Ennio Morricone. Because, many times, it is more important a note or an orchestration than a line said.

There are directors, and there are authors. I think I am more of an author than a director.

There's my pessimism. Because I didn't know yet that type of film is always going to become more extinct, that there won't be anymore. Because there will always be more films that win five Oscars like Terms of Endearment.

I always fish out antique ideas, very old ideas.

If there is an auteur who influenced me - and there is only one - that is Charlie Chaplin. And he never won an Oscar.

Producing films was a distraction for me for which I payed dearly.