Martin Scorsese AP PHOTO

After five previous losses in the direction category, he won for mob epic The Departed, which also won best picture at the Feb. 25 ceremony. Scorsese was expected to win the award which he coveted, but the director said he had not counted on anything.

"It was an overwhelming moment for me, I must say.

"Thank God we've been able to make so many films over the last 36 years without winning awards," Scorsese said.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 3, 2007
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