John Ford

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February 1, 1894

August 31, 1973

John Martin Feeney

Director

Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (1976)

7 Women (1966) (producer)

Young Cassidy (1965) (uncredited)

Cheyenne Autumn (1964) (producer)

Donovan's Reef (1963)( producer)

How the West Was Won (1962) (segment "The Civil War")

"Alcoa Premiere" (1 episode, 1962)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) (producer)

Two Rode Together (1961) (producer)

"Wagon Train" (1 episode, 1960)

Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Korea (1959)

The Last Hurrah (1958) (producer)

Gideon's Day (1958)

The Rising of the Moon (1957)

The Wings of Eagles (1957)

The Searchers (1956)

"Screen Directors Playhouse" (1 episode, 1955)

"Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1 episode, 1955)

Mister Roberts (1955)

The Long Gray Line (1955)

Mogambo (1953)

The Sun Shines Bright (1953) (producer)

What Price Glory (1952)

The Quiet Man (1952) (producer, writer)

This Is Korea! (1951) (as Rear Admiral John Ford USNVR Ret.)

Rio Grande (1950) (producer)

Wagon Master (1950) (executive producer, writer)

When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) (executive producer)

Pinky (1949) (uncredited)

"Fireside Theatre" (1949) TV series (unknown episodes)

3 Godfathers (1948) (producer)

Fort Apache (1948) (executive producer)

The Fugitive (1947) (producer)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

They Were Expendable (1945) (as John Ford Captain U.S.N.R.) (producer)

December 7th (1943) (producer)

We Sail at Midnight (1943) (uncredited)

The Battle of Midway (1942) (producer, writer)

Sex Hygiene (1942) (dramatic sequences)

Torpedo Squadron (1942)

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Tobacco Road (1941)

The Long Voyage Home (1940) (producer)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Stagecoach (1939) (producer)

Submarine Patrol (1938)

Four Men and a Prayer (1938)

The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) (uncredited)

The Hurricane (1937)

Wee Willie Winkie (1937)

The Plough and the Stars (1936)

Mary of Scotland (1936)

The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)

Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)

The Informer (1935) (producer)

The Whole Town's Talking (1935) (producer)

Judge Priest (1934)

The World Moves On (1934)

The Lost Patrol (1934) (producer)

Doctor Bull (1933)

Pilgrimage (1933)

Flesh (1932) (uncredited) (producer)

Air Mail (1932)

Arrowsmith (1931) (producer)

The Brat (1931)

Seas Beneath (1931) (producer)

Up the River (1930) (writer)

Born Reckless (1930)

Men Without Women (1930) (producer, writer)

Salute (1929) (uncredited) (producer)

The Black Watch (1929)

Strong Boy (1929)

Riley the Cop (1928) (uncredited) (producer)

Napoleon's Barber (1928)

Hangman's House (1928) (uncredited) (producer)

Four Sons (1928) (producer)

Mother Machree (1928) (uncredited) (producer)

Upstream (1927)

The Blue Eagle (1926) (uncredited) (producer)

3 Bad Men (1926) (producer)

The Shamrock Handicap (1926) (producer)

The Fighting Heart (1925)

Thank You (1925)

Kentucky Pride (1925)

Lightnin' (1925)

Hearts of Oak (1924)

The Iron Horse (1924) (uncredited)(producer)

Hoodman Blind (1923)

North of Hudson Bay (1923) (as Jack Ford)

Cameo Kirby (1923)

Three Jumps Ahead (1923) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

The Face on the Bar-Room Floor (1923) (as Jack Ford)

The Village Blacksmith (1922) (as Jack Ford)

Silver Wings (1922) (as Jack Ford) (prologue only)

Little Miss Smiles (1922) (as Jack Ford)

Jackie (1921) (as Jack Ford)

Sure Fire (1921) (as Jack Ford)

Action (1921) (as Jack Ford)

Desperate Trails (1921) (as Jack Ford)

The Wallop (1921) (as Jack Ford)(producer)

The Freeze-Out (1921) (as Jack Ford)

The Big Punch (1921) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

Just Pals (1920) (as Jack Ford)

Hitchin' Posts (1920) (as Jack Ford)

The Girl in Number 29 (1920) (as Jack Ford)

The Prince of Avenue A (1920) (as Jack Ford)

Marked Men (1919) (as Jack Ford)

A Gun Fightin' Gentleman (1919) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

Rider of the Law (1919) (as Jack Ford)

Ace of the Saddle (1919) (as Jack Ford)

The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919) (as Jack Ford)

The Last Outlaw (1919) (writer)

Riders of Vengeance (1919) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

By Indian Post (1919) (as Jack Ford)

The Gun Packer (1919) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

Gun Law (1919) (as Jack Ford)

Bare Fists (1919) (as Jack Ford)

Rustlers (1919) (as Jack Ford)

A Fight for Love (1919) (as Jack Ford)

The Fighting Brothers (1919) (as Jack Ford)

Roped (1919) (as Jack Ford)

Three Mounted Men (1918) (as Jack Ford)

The Craving (1918) (writer)

A Woman's Fool (1918) (as Jack Ford)

Hell Bent (1918) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

The Scarlet Drop (1918) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

Thieves' Gold (1918) (as Jack Ford)

Wild Women (1918) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

The Phantom Riders (1918) (as Jack Ford)

Bucking Broadway (1917) (as Jack Ford)

A Marked Man (1917) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

The Secret Man (1917) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

Straight Shooting (1917) (as Jack Ford)

Cheyenne's Pal (1917) (as Jack Ford) (writer)

The Soul Herder (1917) (as Jack Ford)

The Scrapper (1917) (as Jack Ford) (writer, actor)

The Trail of Hate (1917) (writer, actor)

The Fighting Gringo (1917)

The Tornado (1917) (as Jack Ford) (writer, actor)

Producer

Vietnam! Vietnam! (1971) (executive producer)

Mighty Joe Young (1949) (executive producer)

Writer

The Last Outlaw (1936) (story)

Under Sentence (1920) (story) (as Jack Ford)

The Doorway of Destruction (1915) (scenario) (as Jack Ford)

Actor

The Purple Mask (1916) (unconfirmed)

The Bandit's Wager (1916) (as Jack Ford)

The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (1916) (as Jack Ford)

Chicken-Hearted Jim (1916) (as Jack Ford)

The Strong Arm Squad (1916) (as Jack Ford)

The Campbells Are Coming (1915) (as Jack Ford)

The Broken Coin (1915) (as Jack Ford)

The Doorway of Destruction (1915) (as Jack Ford)

The Hidden City (1915) (as Jack Ford)

Three Bad Men and a Girl (1915) (as Jack Ford)

The Birth of a Nation (1915) (uncredited)

Smuggler's Island (1915) (as Jack Ford)

A Study in Scarlet (1914/II) (as Jack Ford)

The District Attorney's Brother (1914) (as Jack Ford)

The Mysterious Rose (1914) (as Jack Ford)

Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery (1914) (as Jack Ford)

Appearances

John Wayne's 'The Alamo' (1992)(photo)

Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (1976)

The American Film Institute Salute to John Ford (1973) (TV)

The American West of John Ford (1971) (TV)

Directed by John Ford (1971) (uncredited)

"Film Night" (1 episode, 1971)

"Cinéastes de notre temps" (1 episode, 1966)

"Wide Wide World" (1 episode, 1958)

The Screen Director (1951) (uncredited)

Screen Snapshots: Reno's Silver Spur Awards (1951)

At the Front (1943)

Big Time (1929)

The Academy Awards

1953 Won Best Director for: The Quiet Man (1952)

1953 Nominated Best Picture for: The Quiet Man (1952)

1942 Won Best Director for: How Green Was My Valley (1941)

1941 Won Best Director for: The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

1940 Nominated Best Director for: Stagecoach (1939)

1936 Won Best Director for: The Informer (1935

American Film Institute

1973 Life Achievement Award

Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards

1943 Won Silver Condor Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera) for: How Green Was My Valley (1941) USA

Blue Ribbon Awards

1963 Won Blue Ribbon Award Best Foreign Language Film for: The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Cannes Film Festival

1953 Nominated Grand Prize of the Festival for: The Sun Shines Bright (1953)

Directors Guild of America

1960 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: The Horse Soldiers (1959)

1957 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: The Searchers (1956)

1956 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: Mister Roberts (1955)

1956 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: The Long Gray Line (1955)

1954 Lifetime Achievement Award

1953 Won DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: The Quiet Man (1952)

Golden Boot Awards

1997 Founder's Award

Golden Globe Awards

1955 Won Special Award Special "Pioneer" award in the motion picture industry.

1953 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director for: The Quiet Man (1952)

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

1948 Won Silver Ribbon Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero) for: My Darling Clementine (1946)

Laurel Awards

1966 Nominated Golden Laurel Producer-Director 6th place

1965 Nominated Golden Laurel Producer-Director 7th place

1964 3rd place Golden Laurel Top Producer / Director

1963 3rd place Golden Laurel Top Producer / Director

Locarno International Film Festival

1950 Won Grand Prix for: When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)

1948 Won Prize Best Director for: Fort Apache (1948)

National Board of Review

1958 Won NBR Award Best Director for: The Last Hurrah (1958)

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

1941 Won NYFCC Award Best Director for: How Green Was My Valley (1941)

1940 Won NYFCC Award Best Director for: The Grapes of Wrath (1940). Also for The Long Voyage Home (1940)

1939 Won NYFCC Award Best Director for: Stagecoach (1939)

1936 Won NYFCC Award Best Director for: The Informer (1935)

Venice Film Festival

1971 Won Career Golden Lion

1952 Won International Award for: The Quiet Man (1952)

1952 Won OCIC Award for: The Quiet Man (1952)

1952 Nominated Golden Lion for: The Quiet Man (1952)

1948 Nominated Golden Lion for: The Fugitive (1947)

1936 Won Special Recommendation for: Mary of Scotland (1936)

1935 Nominated Mussolini Cup for: The Informer (1935)

1934 Won Special Recommendation for: The World Moves On (1934)

Walk of Fame (Hollywood)

Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture At 1642 Vine Street.

Western Heritage Awards

1972 Trustees Award For outstanding contribution to the motion picture industry

1965 Won Bronze Wrangler Theatrical Motion Picture for: Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

1964 Won Bronze Wrangler Theatrical Motion Picture for: How the West Was Won (1962)

1963 Won Bronze Wrangler Theatrical Motion Picture for: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

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My name is John Ford and I make Westerns.

I didn't show up at the ceremony to collect any of my first three Oscars. Once I went fishing, another time there was a war on, and on another occasion, I remember, I was suddenly taken drunk.

It is easier to get an actor to be a cowboy than to get a cowboy to be an actor.

It's no use talking to me about art, I make pictures to pay the rent.

The main thing is: photograph the people’s eyes.

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John Martin Jack Feeney was the thirteenth and youngest child of Irish immigrant parents John Augustine Feeney and Barbara "Abbey" Curra was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

He was encouraged by his brother Francis, a writer-director-actor at Universal, to enter the film business in 1913 as a set builder and prop man, occasionally acting as a stunt double for his brother, with whom he shared a remarkable resemblance.

He made his directorial debut in 1917 with the westerns “Straight Shooting” and went on to make 30 films for Universal.

Although only a third of his movies are actually westerns, John Ford will forever be associated with the genre. At the time he was born the Wild West was still a reality for many – he actually met Doc Holliday – although it was fading as a way of life, but this afforded his frontier yarns depth, sensitivity and a sense of kinship.

In 1940 he was appointed Chief of the Field Photographic Branch of the Office of Strategic Service and his remit included making propaganda documentaries. Consequently he was present at the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach. After the war Ford was promoted to rear-admiral in the US Navy Reserve.

He was a proud military man and had been annoyed by John Wayne’s refusal to enlist, so when it came to adding the credits for his wartime drama “They Were Expendable” Ford listed every actor’s military rank and branch of service, but with no such credentials to go beside Wayne’s name it was the most public of humiliations.

The collaboration between John Ford and John Wayne spanned 24 films in 36 years and is one of cinema’s great actor-director partnerships. The pair first met in 1928 when Wayne, the a bit-part actor going under the pseudonym Duke Morrison, started working for Ford in small roles. Wayne had played the hero in 80 B-grade westerns but had been unable to get out of this rut until Ford cast him as the Ringo Kid in “Stagecoach”, which became a turning point in both their careers. After seeing Wayne in Howard Hawks’s “Red River” (1948), Ford declared, “I never knew the big son of a bitch could act” and proceeded to cast Wayne in more complex roles. Still, the pair had a prickly relationship on set. Ford regularly calling Wayne a “big idiot”; actor Henry Brandon once said that Ford was the “only man who could make John Wayne cry”.

John Wayne called him by the nickname "Coach" or "Pappy".

He punched Henry Fonda during the filming of “Mister Roberts” (1955), a film that saw him replaced by Mervyn LeRoy after Ford ruptured his gall bladder.

In 1955 Ford entered the hospital for the removal of cataracts. While recuperating after the surgery, he became impatient with the bandages covering his eyes and tore them off earlier than his doctors told him to. The result of that rash action was that Ford suffered a total loss of sight in one eye, which is how he came to wear his famous eyepatch.

Rarely shot a scene with more than two takes per shot.

Had a great dislike of foul language and would often assault anyone who spoke that way in front of a woman.

His favorite actress was Maureen O'Hara and his favorite actor was John Wayne.

During the Depression, Ford - by then a very wealthy man - was accosted outside his office by a former Universal actor who was destitute and needed $200 for an operation for his wife. As the man related his misfortunes, Ford appeared to become enraged and then, to the horror of onlookers, he launched himself at the man, knocked him to the floor. However, as the shaken old man left the building, Frank Baker saw Ford's business manager Fred Totman meet him at the door, where he handed the man a cheque for $1,000 and instructed Ford's chauffeur to drive him home. There, an ambulance was waiting to take the man's wife to the hospital where a specialist, flown in from San Francisco at Ford's expense, performed the operation. Some time later, Ford purchased a house for the couple and pensioned them for life.

Fewer than a dozen of the more than sixty silent films he made between 1917 and 1928 still exist in any form and only ten have survived in their entirety. Prints of several Ford 'silents' previously thought lost have been rediscovered in foreign film archives over recent years. In 2009 a trove of 75 Hollywood silent films was rediscovered in the New Zealand Film Archive, among which was the only surviving print of Ford's 1927 silent comedy “Upstream”.

He was plagued in later life by failing health and a broken hip, dying of cancer on August 31st, 1973. His tombstone reads: “Admiral John Ford”.

John Wayne gave the eulogy at his funeral.

Salary

They Were Expendable (1945) $300,000

Two Rode Together (1961) $225,000 plus 25% of the net profits

Must-see Movies

Stagecoach (1939)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

The Searchers (1956)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance (1962)

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