after "the caine mutiny", kramer left columbia and resumed his independent productions, this time in the role of the director. over the next two decades, kramer reestablished his reputation within the film industry by directing a continual series of often successful films dealing with social and controversial issues, such as racism, nuclear war, greed and the causes and effects of fascism. critic charles champlin would later describe kramer as "a guy who fought some hard battles. he took on social issues when it was not popular to do so in hollywood."