A rare documentary on the life and films of director John Ford.
I don’t know of John Ford, the iconic filmmaker considered by most as one of the most significant cinematic authors in American cinema needs an introduction but John Ford was born February 1, 1894 Cape Elizabeth, Maine, U.S. was an American film director. He is renowned both for Westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), as well as adaptations of classic 20th-century American novels such as the film The Grapes of Wrath (1940).
His four Academy Awards for Best Director (in 1935, 1940, 1941, and 1952) remain a record. One of the films for which he won the award, How Green Was My Valley, also won Best Picture. Ford left us on August 31, 1973 Palm Desert, California.
Directed by John Ford
One of the “New Hollywood” directors Peter Bogdanovich met with John Ford in 1963, and Peter conducted a series interviews with Ford. Bogdanovich published these in a book, which you can order below:
After the two of them started a friendship that prompted Bogdanovich to start working on a documentary. In the film you will find fantastic talking heads with Henry Fonda, James Stewart and John Wayne. and interviews with Maureen O’Hara, Clint Eastwood,and Harry Carey, Jr. , Walter Hill, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Directed by John Ford is a documentary film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Originally released in 1971, it covers the life and career of film director John Ford. Watch in full below:
Extra
CBS TV documentary on the career and Westerns of the legendary filmmaker. Narrated by John Wayne, James Stewart and Henry Fonda. Watch in full below:
- THE AMERICAN WEST OF JOHN FORD 1971 (51:22)
Photo credit: American Film Institute (AFI)/ California Arts Commission/ Turner Classic Movies (TCM).