John Ford
Directing
- Born
- February 1, 1894 · Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
- Died
- August 31, 1973 (age 79)
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.
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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.
Known for
The Searchers
May 16, 1956
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
April 13, 1962
Stagecoach
March 2, 1939
The Grapes of Wrath
March 15, 1940
The Quiet Man
July 21, 1952
How the West Was Won
November 2, 1962
My Darling Clementine
October 17, 1946
How Green Was My Valley
October 28, 1941
Fort Apache
May 21, 1948
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
October 22, 1949
The Alamo
October 23, 1960
Rio Grande
November 15, 1950
Behind the camera153
- 1976Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend Director
- 1971Vietnam! Vietnam! Executive Producer
- 19657 Women Director, Producer
- 1964Cheyenne Autumn Director, Producer
- 1963Donovan's Reef Director, Producer
- 1962How the West Was Won Director
- 1962Flashing Spikes Director
- 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Director, Producer
- 1961Two Rode Together Director, Producer
- 1960The Colter Craven Story