John Ford

 

Maureen O'Hara in How green was my valleyWard Bond in The searchersFrank Darien + Frank Sully + Russell Simpson + Henry Fonda in The grapes of wrath

Biography

John Ford

John Ford
It is easier to get an actor to be a cowboy than to get a cowboy to be an actor

Remarkable:

John Wayne called Ford by the nickname Coach or Pappy

Born:

February 1, 1895

Born as:

John Martin Feeney (He claimed his real Gaelic name was Sean Aloysius O'Feeney / Ó Fidhne, but research has shown his given name)

Died:

August 31, 1973

John's brother Francis took Ford as a stage name and entered pictures in 1907. In 1914 Feeney went to Hollywood, where he worked as stunt man, actor, and assistant director at the Universal Studios.

He changed his name and was assigned to work on shorts and westerns.

Ford shot to the top rank with The Iron Horse (1924), the story of the first transcontinental railroad, filmed on location.

The 1930s found Johns further developing a distinctive style cumulating in the high-budget movie The Informer (1935) which established Ford's critical reputation.

1939 was a great year for Ford. In a twelve month period, he achieved the astonishing task of directing Stagecoach , Young Mr. Lincoln, Drums along the Mohawk and The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

In the late 1940s Ford directed the Cavalry trilogy: Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), and Rio Grande (1950).

Selected Movies

Books:

Andrew Sinclair -> John Ford (1979/1984); and
J.A. Place -> The Western Films of John Ford (1973).
S. Eyman -> (1999)
J. McBride -> (2001)

 

John Wayne + James Stewart in The man who shot Liberty Valance

Trivia

Ford’s 60-year filmography includes at least 113 features and 24 short films. And though he worked in many genres, he introduced himself in 1950 in a theatrical way by saying to a group of directors: “My name is John Ford. I’m a director of Westerns” Source / More (Book)

Director Peter Bogdanovich asked Ford if he agreed with the quote from the film The man who shot Liberty Valance “When the legend becomes a fact, print the legend.”. Yes, Ford said, because I think it’s good for the country. We’ve had a lot of people who were supposed to be great heroes, and you know damn well they weren’t. But it’s good for the country to have heroes to look up to. Like Custer--a great hero. Source / More (Book)

TThe Ford Stock Company (a group of actors that turned up regularly in Ford’s films) included:
John Wayne
Harry Carey
John Carradine
Henry Fonda
Ward Bond
Ken Curtis
Jane Darwell
Francis Ford
Ben Johnson
Victor McLaglen
Mae Marsh
Mildred Natwick
John Qualen
Woody Strode
Tom Tyler
Patrick Wayne.

John Wayne called Ford by the nickname Coach or Pappy. The first time he was called Pappy was while filming Iron horse (1924). Source / More (Book)

Ford used the Navaho tribe in his films. After some time they adopted Ford and called him Natani Nez which meant Tall soldier. Source / More (Book)

Ford used his favorite hymn Shall We Gather at the River many times in his films. Source / More (Book)

Bibliography