Director

John Ford

Born 1 February 1894 · Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA — died 31 August 1973

John Ford (1894–1973) was an American director whose career ran more than five decades. He is best known for Westerns shot in Monument Valley and for literary adaptations. His landscape-driven visual style and record four Best Director Oscars made him one of Hollywood's most influential filmmakers.

Key films

Stagecoach (1939)On Cinespective
Revitalised the Western as serious cinema and began his lasting use of Monument Valley.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Acclaimed Steinbeck adaptation of Depression-era hardship; earned him a Best Director Oscar.
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Welsh family drama that won Best Picture and gave Ford his third Best Director Oscar.
The Searchers (1956)On Cinespective
Complex, darker Western widely ranked among the greatest American films.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Late-career Western reflecting on myth versus truth in the American frontier legend.

Key awards

1935: Academy Award for Best Director (The Informer)
1940: Academy Award for Best Director (The Grapes of Wrath)
1941: Academy Award for Best Director (How Green Was My Valley)
1952: Academy Award for Best Director (The Quiet Man)
1973: AFI Life Achievement Award (first recipient)

On Cinespective

Full filmography · 186

1914A Study in Scarlet · as John H. Watson, M.D.Actor
1914Lucille Love: The Girl of MysteryActor
1915The Birth of a Nation · as Klansman (uncredited)Actor
1915The Broken Coin · as Sacchio's Accomplice (as Jack Ford)Actor
1916The Bandit's Wager · as Nan's BrotherActor
1916The Purple Mask · as (unconfirmed)Actor
1917Bucking BroadwayDirector
1917Straight ShootingDirector
1917A Marked ManDirector
1917The Secret ManDirector
1917The Scrapper · as Buck, the scrapperActor
1917The Trail of Hate · as Lt. Jack BrewerActor
1917The Tornado · as Jack Dayton (as Jack Ford)Actor
1917The Trail of HateDirector
1917The TornadoDirector
1917Cheyenne's PalDirector
1917The Soul HerderDirector
1917The ScrapperDirector
1918Hell BentDirector
1918The Scarlet DropDirector
1918The Phantom RidersDirector
1918Thieves' GoldDirector
1918Wild WomenDirector
1918Three Mounted MenDirector
1918A Woman's FoolDirector
1918The CravingDirector
1919By Indian PostDirector
1919The Last OutlawDirector
1919A Gun Fightin' GentlemanDirector
1919Marked MenDirector
1919RopedDirector
1919The Fighting BrothersDirector
1919Gun LawDirector
1919A Fight For LoveDirector
1919The RustlersDirector
1919The Gun PackerDirector
1919Rider of the LawDirector
1919Riders of VengeanceDirector
1919The Outcasts of Poker FlatDirector
1919The Ace of the SaddleDirector
1919Bare FistsDirector
1920Just PalsDirector
1920Hitchin' PostsDirector
1920The Prince of Avenue ADirector
1920The Girl in Number 29Director
1921ActionDirector
1921The WallopDirector
1921The Big PunchDirector
1921Desperate TrailsDirector
1921The Freeze-OutDirector
1921Sure FireDirector
1921JackieDirector
1922The Village BlacksmithDirector
1922Silver WingsDirector
1922Little Miss SmilesDirector
1923Cameo KirbyDirector
1923North of Hudson BayDirector
1923The Face on the Barroom FloorDirector
1923Hoodman BlindDirector
1923Three Jumps AheadDirector
1924Hearts of OakDirector
1925The Iron HorseDirector
1925Kentucky PrideDirector
1925Lightnin'Director
1925Thank YouDirector
1925The Fighting HeartDirector
19263 Bad MenDirector
1926The Blue EagleDirector
1926The Shamrock HandicapDirector
1927Mother MachreeDirector
1927UpstreamDirector
1928Four SonsDirector
1928Hangman's HouseDirector
1928Riley the CopDirector
1928Napoleon's BarberDirector
1929The Black WatchDirector
1929SaluteDirector
1929Strong BoyDirector
1929Big Time · as John Ford (uncredited)Actor
1930Up the RiverDirector
1930Born RecklessDirector
1930Men Without WomenDirector
1931ArrowsmithDirector
1931The BratDirector
1931Seas BeneathDirector
1932FleshDirector
1932Air MailDirector
1933PilgrimageDirector
1933Doctor BullDirector
1934The Lost PatrolDirector
1934Judge PriestDirector
1934The World Moves OnDirector
1935The InformerDirector
1935The Whole Town's TalkingDirector
1935Steamboat Round the BendDirector
1936The Prisoner of Shark IslandDirector
1936Mary of ScotlandDirector
1936The Plough and the StarsDirector
1937The HurricaneDirector
1937Wee Willie WinkieDirector
1938Four Men and a PrayerDirector
1938Submarine PatrolDirector
1939StagecoachDirector
1939Young Mr. LincolnDirector
1939Drums Along the MohawkDirector
1940The Grapes of WrathDirector
1940The Long Voyage HomeDirector
1941How Green Was My ValleyDirector
1941Tobacco RoadDirector
1941Women in DefenseDirector
1942The Battle of MidwayDirector
1942Sex HygieneDirector
1942Torpedo Squadron 8Director
1943December 7thDirector
1943Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy LinesDirector
1943Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines · as J.P. BaldwinActor
1943Show-Business at War · as SelfActor
1943At the Front in North Africa with the U.S. ArmyDirector
1943We Sail at MidnightDirector
1943German Industrial ManpowerDirector
1944In Memoriam Manuel QuezonDirector
1945They Were ExpendableDirector
1946My Darling ClementineDirector
1946It's Your AmericaDirector
1947The FugitiveDirector
1948Fort ApacheDirector
19483 GodfathersDirector
1949She Wore a Yellow RibbonDirector
1950Rio GrandeDirector
1950Wagon MasterDirector
1950When Willie Comes Marching HomeDirector
1951This Is Korea!Director
1951The Screen Director · as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)Actor
1952The Quiet ManDirector
1952What Price GloryDirector
1952Ton Diagonismon Dia Thn Anadixin Tis Star Ellas · as Himself (Grand Ball Attendee)Actor
1953MogamboDirector
1953The Sun Shines BrightDirector
1955Mister RobertsDirector
1955The Long Gray LineDirector
1955The Red, White and Blue LineDirector
1955Rookie of the YearDirector
1956The SearchersDirector
1957The Wings of EaglesDirector
1957The Rising of the MoonDirector
1957The Growler StoryDirector
1957John Ford at the NFTActor
1958The Last HurrahDirector
1958Gideon's DayDirector
1958The Western: A Lost TV Special · as SelfActor
1959The Horse SoldiersDirector
1959The Horse Soldiers · as Ned (uncredited)Actor
1959KoreaDirector
1960Sergeant RutledgeDirector
1960The Colter Craven StoryDirector
1961Two Rode TogetherDirector
1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceDirector
1962How the West Was WonDirector
1962Flashing SpikesDirector
1963Donovan's ReefDirector
1964Cheyenne AutumnDirector
19657 WomenDirector
1965Sean O'Casey: The Spirit of Ireland · as selfActor
1970My Name Is John Ford, I Make Westerns · as SelfActor
1971Directed by John Ford · as Self (uncredited)Actor
1971The American West of John Ford · as SelfActor
1976Chesty: A Tribute to a LegendDirector
1976Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend · as Himself/InterviewerActor
1989John Ford's America · as Himself (Archive Footage)Actor
1992John Wayne's 'The Alamo' · as SelfActor
1992Fonda on Fonda · as Self (archive footage)Actor
1992Omnibus: John Ford, Part One · as Self (archive footage)Actor
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
1999National Geographic Explorer: The Battle For Midway · as Himself - Filmmaker (archive footage) (unaccredited)Actor
2000Shooting War · as himselfActor
2000Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2000John Wayne-A Life on Film · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2006Serenity at Sea: John Ford and the Araner · as Himself (archive footage)Actor
2006Monument Valley: John Ford Country · as Self (voice) (archive footage)Actor
20091939: Hollywood's Greatest Year · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2009The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2013John Ford & Monument Valley · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2015Spanish Western · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2017Five Came Back · as Self (archive footage)Actor
2019John Ford: The Man Who Invented America · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
2023Filmmakers for the Prosecution · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.