John Ford filmography

John Ford (1894–1973) was an American film director whose career spanned from 1913 to 1971.^[1] During this time he directed more than 140 films; however, nearly all of his silent films are lost. Born in Maine, Ford entered the filmmaking industry shortly after graduating from high school with the help of his older brother, Francis Ford, who had established himself as a leading man and director for Universal Studios.^[2] After working as an actor, assistant director, stuntman, and prop man – often for his brother – Universal gave Ford the opportunity to direct in 1917.^[3] Initially working in short films, he quickly moved into features, largely with Harry Carey as his star.^[4]

In 1920 Ford left Universal and began working for the Fox Film Corporation.^[5] During the next ten years he directed more than 30 films, including the westerns The Iron Horse (1924) and 3 Bad Men (1926), both starring George O'Brien,^[6] the war drama Four Sons and the Irish romantic drama Hangman's House (both 1928 and both starring Victor McLaglen).^[7] In the same year of these last two films, Ford directed his first all-talking film, the short Napoleon's Barber.^[8] The following year he directed his first all-talking feature, The Black Watch.^[9]

In 1931, Ford began working for other studios, starting with Arrowsmith for Samuel Goldwyn.^[10] In 1934, he began a lengthy association with producer Merian C. Cooper at RKO Radio Pictures.^[11] The following year he directed The Informer, which brought him his first Academy Award for Best Director and the Best Actor Award for its star, Victor McLaglen.^[12] In 1939, Ford directed Stagecoach, which made John Wayne a major star and brought an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor to Thomas Mitchell.^[3][13][14] It was also the first time Ford filmed in Monument Valley.^[15] That same year Ford made Young Mr. Lincoln and Drums Along the Mohawk, both with Henry Fonda.^[16] The latter was Ford's first film shot in Technicolor.^[17]

In 1940 Ford made The Grapes of Wrath with Fonda and The Long Voyage Home with Wayne and Mitchell.^[18] For the former film Ford received his second Academy Award for Best Director and the Best Supporting Actress for Jane Darwell.^[19] He followed these films in 1941 with How Green Was My Valley, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, brought Ford his third Academy Award for Best Director and the Best Supporting Actor Award to Donald Crisp.^[20]

With the coming of World War II, Ford was appointed to the Office of Strategic Services as a field photographer in the United States Navy.^[3] During the war he made several documentaries. Two of these, The Battle of Midway and December 7th, won Academy Awards for, respectively, Best Documentary and Documentary Short Subject.^[21][22] After being released from active duty he returned to Hollywood to make They Were Expendable (1945) a war drama of PT boats in the South Pacific.^[23] He followed this with My Darling Clementine (1946), starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp.^[24]

In 1949, Ford also made his only foray into live theatre by directing a charity production of What Price Glory?^[25] Ford freelanced for the remainder of his career, directing occasionally for television and making several films including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and the Civil War sequence of the Cinerama epic How the West Was Won (both 1962). Ford's final film as a director was Chesty (1970), a documentary short about Marine Corps lieutenant general Lewis "Chesty" Puller.^[26]

Ford is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential film-makers in history.^[27] Ingmar Bergman called him the greatest movie director of all time and Orson Welles regarded him highly.^[28] With four Academy Awards, he is the most honored director in film history.^[29] On February 8, 1960, Ford was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[30] On March 31, 1973, Ford was honored with the Medal of Freedom Award and became the first person honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award.^[31] As of 2024, eleven films directed or co-directed by Ford have been added to the National Film Registry, tying with Howard Hawks for the most.^[32] In 2012, The Searchers was ranked at number seven in Sight & Sound's listing of the 50 greatest films of all time.^[33]