Three-time Best Director of the 1930s (5)
I believe the answer is:
capra
'three-time best director of the 1930s' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for capra that I've seen before include "Frank --, US film director" , "One of the 22 who directed" , "Italian-American film director of It's a Wonderful Life, d.1991" .)