Most artists think they're frauds anyway.

Yeah, there's absolutely. I mean, remember when The Searchers came out, it was a relatively big hit for a Western, and I think it made 5 million bucks - I don't even think it made that.

I mean, the old film critics just excoriated me.

A lot of critics had it out for me.

Yeah, I knew I had a great deal of skill as a writer, and the writing was sort of the trail I blazed, in a way.

Writing requires a great deal of skill, just like painting does. People don't want to learn those skills.

Matter of fact, the style that people use today, I invented in a way.

I've always been able to survive by writing, though.

The filmmakers always have a great level of control.