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John Ford

Directing 79 (deceased) years old Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA ★ 0.9
Born: February 1, 1894
Died: August 31, 1973

Biography

John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath (1940). His four Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952) is a record, and one of those films, How Green Was My Valley (1941), also won Best Picture.

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed more than 140 films (although nearly all of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Ford's films and personality were held in high regard by his colleagues, with Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles among those who have named him as one of the greatest directors of all time.

In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot which frames his characters against a vast, harsh and rugged natural terrain.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Wagon Train
Wagon Train Director 1957
The Alamo
The Alamo Second Unit Director 1960
Stagecoach
Stagecoach Director 1939
The Searchers
The Searchers Director 1956
How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won Director 1962

Filmography

Acting Credits (40)

Filmmakers for the Prosecution
Filmmakers for the Prosecution Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 2023
John Ford: The Man Who Invented America
John Ford: The Man Who Invented America Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 2019
Five Came Back
Five Came Back Self (archive footage) 2017
Spanish Western
Spanish Western Self (archive footage) 2015
John Ford & Monument Valley
John Ford & Monument Valley Self (archive footage) 2013
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year Self (archive footage) 2009
The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth
The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth Self (archive footage) 2009
Monument Valley: John Ford Country
Monument Valley: John Ford Country Self (voice) (archive footage) 2006
Serenity at Sea: John Ford and the Araner
Serenity at Sea: John Ford and the Araner Himself (archive footage) 2006
Shooting War
Shooting War himself 2000
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'
Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley' Self (archive footage) 2000
John Wayne-A Life on Film
John Wayne-A Life on Film Self (archive footage) 2000
National Geographic Explorer: The Battle For Midway
National Geographic Explorer: The Battle For Midway Himself - Filmmaker (archive footage) (unaccredited) 1999
Omnibus: John Ford, Part One
Omnibus: John Ford, Part One Self (archive footage) 1992
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
John Wayne's 'The Alamo' Self 1992
Fonda on Fonda
Fonda on Fonda Self (archive footage) 1992
John Ford's America
John Ford's America Himself (Archive Footage) 1989
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend Himself/Interviewer 1976
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ... Self 1973
The American West of John Ford
The American West of John Ford Self 1971
Directed by John Ford
Directed by John Ford Self (uncredited) 1971
My Name Is John Ford, I Make Westerns
My Name Is John Ford, I Make Westerns Self 1970
Sean O'Casey: The Spirit of Ireland
Sean O'Casey: The Spirit of Ireland self 1965
The Horse Soldiers
The Horse Soldiers Ned (uncredited) 1959
The Western: A Lost TV Special
The Western: A Lost TV Special Self 1958
Screen Director's Playhouse
Screen Director's Playhouse Self - Introduction 1955
Ton Diagonismon Dia Thn Anadixin Tis Star Ellas
Ton Diagonismon Dia Thn Anadixin Tis Star Ellas Himself (Grand Ball Attendee) 1952
The Screen Director
The Screen Director Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited) 1951
Show-Business at War
Show-Business at War Self 1943
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines J.P. Baldwin 1943
Big Time
Big Time John Ford (uncredited) 1929
The Scrapper
The Scrapper Buck, the scrapper 1917
The Trail of Hate
The Trail of Hate Lt. Jack Brewer 1917
The Tornado
The Tornado Jack Dayton (as Jack Ford) 1917
The Purple Mask
The Purple Mask (unconfirmed) 1916
The Bandit's Wager
The Bandit's Wager 1916
The Broken Coin
The Broken Coin Sacchio's Accomplice (as Jack Ford) 1915
The Birth of a Nation
The Birth of a Nation Klansman (uncredited) 1915
A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet John H. Watson, M.D. 1914
Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery
Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery 1914

Directing Credits (152)

Battleground
Battleground Director 2004
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend Director 1976
7 Women
7 Women Director 1965
Cheyenne Autumn
Cheyenne Autumn Director 1964
Donovan's Reef
Donovan's Reef Director 1963
How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won Director 1962
Flashing Spikes
Flashing Spikes Director 1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Director 1962
Alcoa Premiere
Alcoa Premiere Director 1961
Two Rode Together
Two Rode Together Director 1961
The Colter Craven Story
The Colter Craven Story Director 1960
The Alamo
The Alamo Second Unit Director 1960
Sergeant Rutledge
Sergeant Rutledge Director 1960
The Horse Soldiers
The Horse Soldiers Director 1959
Korea
Korea Director 1959
The Last Hurrah
The Last Hurrah Director 1958
Gideon's Day
Gideon's Day Director 1958
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Director 1957
The Rising of the Moon
The Rising of the Moon Director 1957
The Wings of Eagles
The Wings of Eagles Director 1957
The Growler Story
The Growler Story Director 1957
The Searchers
The Searchers Director 1956
Screen Director's Playhouse
Screen Director's Playhouse Director 1955
The Jane Wyman Show
The Jane Wyman Show Director 1955
Mister Roberts
Mister Roberts Director 1955
The Red, White and Blue Line
The Red, White and Blue Line Director 1955
The Long Gray Line
The Long Gray Line Director 1955
Mogambo
Mogambo Director 1953
The Sun Shines Bright
The Sun Shines Bright Director 1953
What Price Glory
What Price Glory Director 1952
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man Director 1952
This Is Korea!
This Is Korea! Director 1951
Rio Grande
Rio Grande Director 1950
Wagon Master
Wagon Master Director 1950
When Willie Comes Marching Home
When Willie Comes Marching Home Director 1950
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Director 1949
3 Godfathers
3 Godfathers Director 1948
Fort Apache
Fort Apache Director 1948
The Fugitive
The Fugitive Director 1947
My Darling Clementine
My Darling Clementine Director 1946
It's Your America
It's Your America Director 1946
They Were Expendable
They Were Expendable Director 1945
In Memoriam Manuel Quezon
In Memoriam Manuel Quezon Director 1944
At the Front in North Africa with the U.S. Army
At the Front in North Africa with the U.S. Army Director 1943
We Sail at Midnight
We Sail at Midnight Director 1943
December 7th
December 7th Director 1943
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines Director 1943
German Industrial Manpower
German Industrial Manpower Director 1943
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway Director 1942
Sex Hygiene
Sex Hygiene Director 1942
Torpedo Squadron
Torpedo Squadron Director 1942
Women in Defense
Women in Defense Director 1941
How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valley Director 1941
Tobacco Road
Tobacco Road Director 1941
The Long Voyage Home
The Long Voyage Home Director 1940
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath Director 1940
Drums Along the Mohawk
Drums Along the Mohawk Director 1939
Young Mr. Lincoln
Young Mr. Lincoln Director 1939
Stagecoach
Stagecoach Director 1939
Submarine Patrol
Submarine Patrol Director 1938
Four Men and a Prayer
Four Men and a Prayer Director 1938
The Hurricane
The Hurricane Director 1937
Wee Willie Winkie
Wee Willie Winkie Director 1937
The Plough and the Stars
The Plough and the Stars Director 1936
Mary of Scotland
Mary of Scotland Director 1936
The Prisoner of Shark Island
The Prisoner of Shark Island Director 1936
Steamboat Round the Bend
Steamboat Round the Bend Director 1935
The Informer
The Informer Director 1935
The Whole Town's Talking
The Whole Town's Talking Director 1935
Judge Priest
Judge Priest Director 1934
The World Moves On
The World Moves On Director 1934
The Lost Patrol
The Lost Patrol Director 1934
Doctor Bull
Doctor Bull Director 1933
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage Director 1933
Flesh
Flesh Director 1932
Air Mail
Air Mail Director 1932
Arrowsmith
Arrowsmith Director 1931
The Brat
The Brat Director 1931
Seas Beneath
Seas Beneath Director 1931
Up the River
Up the River Director 1930
Born Reckless
Born Reckless Director 1930
Men without Women
Men without Women Director 1930
Salute
Salute Director 1929
The Black Watch
The Black Watch Director 1929
Strong Boy
Strong Boy Director 1929
Riley the Cop
Riley the Cop Director 1928
Napoleon's Barber
Napoleon's Barber Director 1928
Hangman's House
Hangman's House Director 1928
Four Sons
Four Sons Director 1928
Mother Machree
Mother Machree Director 1927
Upstream
Upstream Director 1927
The Blue Eagle
The Blue Eagle Director 1926
3 Bad Men
3 Bad Men Director 1926
The Shamrock Handicap
The Shamrock Handicap Director 1926
The Fighting Heart
The Fighting Heart Director 1925
Thank You
Thank You Director 1925
The Iron Horse
The Iron Horse Director 1925
Kentucky Pride
Kentucky Pride Director 1925
Lightnin'
Lightnin' Director 1925
Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak Director 1924
Hoodman Blind
Hoodman Blind Director 1923
North of Hudson Bay
North of Hudson Bay Director 1923
Cameo Kirby
Cameo Kirby Director 1923
Three Jumps Ahead
Three Jumps Ahead Director 1923
The Face on the Barroom Floor
The Face on the Barroom Floor Director 1923
The Village Blacksmith
The Village Blacksmith Director 1922
Silver Wings
Silver Wings Director 1922
Little Miss Smiles
Little Miss Smiles Director 1922
Jackie
Jackie Director 1921
Sure Fire
Sure Fire Director 1921
Action
Action Director 1921
Desperate Trails
Desperate Trails Director 1921
The Wallop
The Wallop Director 1921
The Freeze-Out
The Freeze-Out Director 1921
The Big Punch
The Big Punch Director 1921
Just Pals
Just Pals Director 1920
Hitchin' Posts
Hitchin' Posts Director 1920
The Girl in Number 29
The Girl in Number 29 Director 1920
The Prince of Avenue A
The Prince of Avenue A Director 1920
Marked Men
Marked Men Director 1919
A Gun Fightin' Gentleman
A Gun Fightin' Gentleman Director 1919
Rider of the Law
Rider of the Law Director 1919
The Ace of the Saddle
The Ace of the Saddle Director 1919
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
The Outcasts of Poker Flat Director 1919
The Last Outlaw
The Last Outlaw Director 1919
Riders of Vengeance
Riders of Vengeance Director 1919
The Gun Packer
The Gun Packer Director 1919
By Indian Post
By Indian Post Director 1919
Gun Law
Gun Law Director 1919
Bare Fists
Bare Fists Director 1919
The Rustlers
The Rustlers Director 1919
A Fight For Love
A Fight For Love Director 1919
The Fighting Brothers
The Fighting Brothers Director 1919
Roped
Roped Director 1919
Three Mounted Men
Three Mounted Men Director 1918
The Craving
The Craving Director 1918
A Woman's Fool
A Woman's Fool Director 1918
Hell Bent
Hell Bent Director 1918
The Scarlet Drop
The Scarlet Drop Director 1918
Thieves' Gold
Thieves' Gold Director 1918
Wild Women
Wild Women Director 1918
The Phantom Riders
The Phantom Riders Director 1918
Bucking Broadway
Bucking Broadway Director 1917
A Marked Man
A Marked Man Director 1917
The Secret Man
The Secret Man Director 1917
Straight Shooting
Straight Shooting Director 1917
Cheyenne's Pal
Cheyenne's Pal Director 1917
The Soul Herder
The Soul Herder Director 1917
The Scrapper
The Scrapper Director 1917
The Trail of Hate
The Trail of Hate Director 1917
The Tornado
The Tornado Director 1917
The Broken Coin
The Broken Coin Assistant Director 1915

Writing Credits (20)

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