It’s always best to respect people for their work, and when necessary steer clear of politics.
I had a very pleasant series of exchanges with Leni Riefenstahl, which whom I did not see eye to eye politically.
Andrew V. McLaglen was a big man (6'7"), who filled another big man's shoes - those of his father, Victor (6'3"). In terms of height, he was one of the few directors that could look Mr. Wayne in the eye.
Beginning his film career in the mid-'40s as an assistant director on many John Wayne...