Which of the following directors is considered one of the major foreign directors of early cinema?

F.W. Murnau is recognized as one of the major foreign directors of early cinema due to his pioneering contributions to filmmaking, particularly during the silent film era. Murnau was a German director whose work is characterized by innovative techniques and an expressive visual style, most notably seen in his film "Nosferatu" (1922), which is a seminal work in the horror genre. His use of lighting, camera movement, and narrative structure helped to elevate the medium of film as a legitimate form of artistic expression.

Murnau’s influence goes beyond his individual films; he played a significant role in the development of cinematic language, using techniques that conveyed emotion and atmosphere in ways that had not been seen before. His work paved the way for future filmmakers, and he remains a key figure in film history, particularly for those studying early cinematic innovations.

Other directors mentioned, while influential in their own right, focused on different periods or styles. For instance, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese are celebrated for their contributions to American cinema, and Alfred Hitchcock, known as the "Master of Suspense," primarily worked within the context of Hollywood narrative filmmaking. Murnau's distinct place in early cinema, particularly as an innovator in the silent film era