Biographie

When he met Akira Kurosawa, Kurosawa told him that he loved Les sept mercenaires (1960), which was a remake of Kurosawa' Les sept samouraïs (1954). Sturges always maintained that this was the single proudest moment of his life.

Served with the US Army Signals Corps during World War II, but later transferred to the Air Force. Eventually edited/directed 37 training films and five documentaries. He served in Africa, Italy, Corsica and Britain.

He was not related to director Preston Sturges.

He specialized in robust action pictures, particularly westerns. He excelled at bringing to life tautly written stories about tough characters facing difficult circumstances. Conversely, just as often, he failed to redeem poorly written material, turning out an equally inadequate picture. Throughout his career he regularly alternated hits (such as Le dernier train de Gun Hill (1959), Les sept mercenaires (1960), La grande évasion (1963), L'aigle s'est envolé (1976)) with misses (such as Le vieil homme et la mer (1958), Par l'amour possédé (1961), Citoyen de nulle part (1962), Sur la piste de la grande caravane (1965)). He has also been criticized for his lack of stylistic trademarks, though his best films remain exciting to watch.

Les sept mercenaires (1960) was a major inspiration for Stephen King when writing his fifth Dark Tower novel, "Wolves of the Calla. In reference to the film's director, King named the beleaguered farming village Calla Bryn Sturgis.