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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Gabrielle Fitzpatrick to Christopher Fulford
John Ford Biography (1895-1973)
Real name, Sean Aloysius O'Feeney (or John Augustine Feeney); born February 1, 1895, in Cape Elizabeth, ME; died August 31, 1973, in Palm Desert, CA; sonof Sean and Barbara (maiden name, Curran) O'Feeney; married Mary McBryde Smith, 1920; children: one son, one daughter. Religion: Roman Catholic. Career: Director, actor, stuntman, and special effects man. Universal, actor, stuntman, and special effects man, 1914-17, then contract director, 1917-21; Fox Film Corp, signee, 1921; Military service: Assembled film crew that became Field Photographic Branch of the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, 1940; U.S. Marine Corps, 1942-45, Lieutenant Commander; was given the rank of Rear Admiral by President Nixon, Naval Reserve; Legion of Merit and Purple Heart. Awards, Honors: Venice Film Festival Special Recommendation Award, 1934, for The World Moves On; Academy Award, best director, and New York Film Critics Award, best direction, both 1935, for The Informer; Venice Film Festival Special Recommendation Award, 1936, for Mary of Scotland; New York Film Critics Award, best direction, 1939, for Stagecoach; Academy Award, best director, 1940, for Grapes of Wrath;Academy Award, best director, and New York Film Critics Award, best direction, both 1941, for How Green Was My Valley; Academy Award nomination, best picture, 1941, for The Long Voyage Home; Academy Award, best documentary, 1942, for Battle of Midway; Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Award for Feature Films, 1952, Academy Award, best director, 1953, and Academy Award nomination, best picture, 1953, all for The Quiet Man; D.W. Griffith Award, 1954; Golden Globe Pioneer Award, 1955; Venice Festival Grand Lion Award, 1971; American Film Institute LifetimeAchievement Award, 1973; Brandeis University Creative Arts Award, 1973; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1973.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Director, actor
- Birth Details
- February 1, 1895
- Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States
- Death Details
- August 31, 1973
- Palm Desert, California, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Work
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Director, Except Where Indicated
- Stuntman, prop master, and production assistant, Lucille-Love-The Girlof Mystery, 1914
- Assistant director, The Doorway of Destruction, 1915
- Assistant director, The Broken Coin, Universal, 1915
- (As Jack Ford) and screenwriter, The Tornado, 1917
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The Trail of Hate, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) and screenwriter, The Scrapper, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) The Soul Herder (also known as The Sky Pilot), 1917
- (As Jack Ford) and story writer, Cheyenne's Pal (also known as Cactus My Pal and A Dumb Friend), 1917
- (As Jack Ford) Straight Shooting (also known as The Cattle War and Joan of the Cattle Country), 1917
- (As Jack Ford) The Secret Man (also known as The Round Up and Up Against It), 1917
- (As Jack Ford) and story writer, A Marked Man, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) Bucking Broadway, 1917
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Red Saunders Plays Cupid, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) The Phantom Riders (also known as The Range War), 1918
- (As Jack Ford) Wild Women, 1918
- (As Jack Ford) Thieves' Gold, 1918
- (As Jack Ford) and story writer, The Scarlet Drop (also known as Hill Billy), 1918
- (As Jack Ford) Hell Bent, 1918
- (As Jack Ford) A Woman's Fool, 1918
- (As Jack Ford) Three Mounted Men, 1918
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Delirium, 1918
- (As Jack Ford) Roped, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Fighting Brothers (also known as His Buddy), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) A Fight for Love (also known as Hell's Neck), 1919
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By Indian Post, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Rustlers (also known as Even Money), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) Bare Fists (also known as The Man Who Wouldn't Shoot), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) Gun Law (also known as The Posse's Prey), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) and story writer, The Gun Packer (also known as The Gun Pusher and Out Wyoming Way), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) and screenwriter, Riders of Vengeance, 1919
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The Last Outlaw, 1919
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The Outcasts of Poker Flat, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Ace of the Saddle (also known as The Last Outlaw and A Man of Peace), Universal, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Rider of Law (also known as Jim of the Rangers), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) and co-story writer, A Gun Fightin' Gentleman, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) Marked Men (also known as Trail of Shadows),Universal, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Outcasts of Poker Flat, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) By Indian Post (also known as The Love Letter), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) The Prince of Avenue A, 1920
- (As Jack Ford) The Girl in Number 29, 1920
- (As Jack Ford) Hitchin' Posts, 1920
- (As Jack Ford) Just Pals, Fox Film Corporation, 1920
- (As Jack Ford) The Big Punch, 1920
- Screenwriter (as Jack Ford), Under Sentence, 1920
- (As Jack Ford) The Freeze Out, 1921
- (As Jack Ford) Desperate Trails, 1921
- (As Jack Ford) Action (also known as Let's Go), Universal,1921
- (As Jack Ford) Sure Fire, Universal, 1921
- (As Jack Ford) Jackie, Fox Film Corporation, 1921
- Screenwriter (as Jack Ford), The Big Punch, 1921
- (As Jack Ford) The Wallop, 1922
- (As Jack Ford) Little Miss Smiles, 1922
- (As Jack Ford) The Village Blacksmith, 1922
- Prologue only (as Jack Ford), Silver Wings, Fox Film Corporation,1922
- (As Jack Ford) Three Jumps Ahead, Fox Film Corporation, 1923
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Cameo Kirby, Fox Film Corporation, 1923
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North of Hudson Bay (also known as Journey of Death), 1923
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Hoodman Blind, Fox Film Corporation, 1923
- (As Jack Ford) The Face on the Bar-Room Floor, 1923
- And producer, The Iron Horse (also known as The Iron Trailand The Trans-continental Railroad), Fox Film Corporation, 1924
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Hearts of Oak, 1924
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Lightin', 1925
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Kentucky Pride, 1925
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The Fighting Heart, 1925
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Thank You, Fox Film Corporation, 1925
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The Shamrock Handicap, Fox Film Corporation, 1926
- And screenwriter, Three Bad Men, Fox Film Corporation, 1926
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The Blue Eagle, 1926
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Upstream, 1927
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Mother Machree, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
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Four Sons, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
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Hangman's House, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
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Napoleon's Barber, 1928
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Riley the Cop, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
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Strong Boy, Fox Film Corporation, 1929
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Salute, 1929
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The Black Watch, 1929
- Co-story writer (Submarine), Men without Women, 1930
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Born Reckless, 1930
- Co-story writer, Up the River, 1930
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The Seas Beneath, 1931
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The Brat, 1931
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Arrowsmith, United Artists, 1931
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Flesh, 1931
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Air Mail, Universal, 1932
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Pilgrimage, 1933
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Dr. Bull, 1933
- And producer, The Lost Patrol, 1934
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The World Moves On, 1934
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Judge Priest, 1934
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The Whole Town's Talking (also known as Passport to Fame),1935
- And producer, The Informer, 1935
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Steamboat Round the Bend (also known as Steamboat Bill), 1935
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The Prisoner of Shark Island, 1936
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Mary of Scotland, 1936
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The Plough and the Stars, 1936
- Story writer, The Last Outlaw, 1936
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Wee Willie Winkie, 1937
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The Hurricane, 1937
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Four Men and a Prayer, 1938
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Submarine Patrol, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938
- (Uncredited) Second unit director, The Adventures of Marco Polo, United Artists, 1938
- And producer, Stagecoach, United Artists, 1939
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Drums Along the Mohawk, 1939
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Young Mr. Lincoln, 1939
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The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
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The Long Voyage Home, United Artists, 1940
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Tobacco Road, 1941
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Sex Hygiene, 1941
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How Green Was My Valley, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941
- And co-cinematographer, editor, producer, and screenwriter, The Battleof Midway, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1942
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Torpedo Squadron, 1942
- (With others) December Seventh (also known as December 7th: TheMovie), Central Park Media, 1943
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We Sail at Midnight, 1943
- And producer, They Were Expendable, 1945
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My Darling Clementine, 1946
- And producer (with others) The Fugitive, 1947
- And producer (with others) Fort Apache (also known as War Party), RKO Radio Pictures, 1948
- And producer (with others) Three Godfathers, 1948
- And producer (with others) She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, RKO Radio Pictures, 1949
- (Uncredited) Pinky, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1949
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When Willie Comes Marching Home, 1950
- Executive producer, Mighty Joe Young (also known as Mr. JosephYoung of Africa), RKO Radio Pictures, 1949
- And producer (with others) Wagonmaster, Republic Pictures, 1950
- And producer (with others) Rio Grande (also known as Rio Bravo and Rio Bravo, Rio Grande Command), Republic Pictures, 1950
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This is Korea!, 1951
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What Price Glory, 1952
- And producer (with others) The Quiet Man, Republic Pictures, 1952
- And producer, The Sun Shines Bright, 1953
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Mogambo, 1953
- (Uncredited) Second unit director, Hondo, Warner Bros., 1953
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The Long Gray Line, 1955
- (With others) Mister Roberts, 1955
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The Searchers, 1956
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The Wings of Eagles, 1957
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The Rising of the Moon, 1957
- And producer, The Last Hurrah, 1958
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Gideon of Scotland Yard (also known as Gideon's Day), 1959
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Korea, 1959
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The Horse Soldiers, United Artists, 1959
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Sergeant Rutledge, 1960
- (Uncredited) Second unit director, The Alamo, United Artists, 1960
- And producer, Two Rode Together, 1961
- And producer, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1962
- "The Civil War," How the West Was Won, 1962
- And producer, Donovan's Reef, 1963
- And producer, Cheyenne Autumn, 1964
- (With others) Young Cassidy, 1965
- (And producer) Seven Women, 1966
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Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend, 1970
- Executive producer, Vietnam! Vietnam!, 1971
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Film Appearances
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Lucille Love, the Girl of Mystery (15 episode serial), 1914
- (As Jack Ford) Bull Feeney, The Mysterious Rose, 1914
- (As Jack Ford) Klansman, The Birth of a Nation (also known as The Birth of a Nation; Or, the Clansman and The Clansman), 1915
- (As Jack Ford) Jim, Three Bad Men and a Girl, Universal, 1915
- (As Jack Ford) Lieutenant Johns' brother, The Hidden City, 1915
- (As Jack Ford) Frank, The Doorway of Destruction, 1915
- (As Jack Ford) The Broken Coin (15 episode serial), 1915
- (As Jack Ford) Cecil's brother, The Lumber Yard Gang, 1916
- (As Jack Ford) Dr. Lund, Senior's accomplice, Peg o' the Ring (15episode serial), 1916
- (As Jack Ford) Roughneck crewman, Chicken-Hearted Jim (also knownas Chicken-Hearted Bill), 1916
- (As Jack Ford) The Bandit's Wager, 1916
- (As Jack Ford) The Lieutenant, Trail of Hate, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) Jack Dayton, The Tornado, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) Buck the Scrapper, The Scrapper, 1917
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Big Time, 1929
- Himself, At the Front, 1943
- Himself, Directed by John Ford, 1971
- Himself, Hollywood Mavericks, 1990
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Television Director
- "Rookie of the Year," Screen Directors Playhouse, 1955
- "The Bamboo Cross," Fireside Theater, 1955
- "Major Adams, Trail Master," Wagon Train, 1957
- "The Colter Craven," Wagon Train, 1960
- "Flashing Spikes," Alcoa Premiere, 1962
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Television Appearances
- Himself, The American West of John Ford (also known as The Great American West of John Ford; special), 1971
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WRITINGS
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Screenplays
- (As Jack Ford) The Tornado, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) The Scrapper, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) story writer, Cheyenne's Pal (also known as Cactus My Pal and A Dumb Friend), 1917
- (As Jack Ford) story writer, A Marked Man, 1917
- (As Jack Ford) story writer, The Scarlet Drop (also known as Hill Billy), 1918
- (As Jack Ford) story writer, The Gun Packer (also known as TheGun Pusher and Out Wyoming Way), 1919
- (As Jack Ford) Riders of Vengeance, 1919
- (As Jack Ford) co-story writer, A Gun Fightin' Gentleman, 1919
- (As Jack Ford), Under Sentence, 1920
- (As Jack Ford), The Big Punch, 1921
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Three Bad Men, Fox Film Corporation, 1926
- Co-story writer (Submarine), Men without Women, 1930
- Co-story writer, Up the River, 1930
- Story writer, The Last Outlaw, 1936
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The Battle of Midway, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1942
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Books
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John Ford's Stagecoach, Richard Anobile (ed.), New York, 1975
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My Darling Clementine, Robert Lyons (ed.), New Brunswick, NJ, 1984
- Also contributed articles to periodicals, including Cahiers du Cinema.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books:
- Anderson, Lindsay, About John Ford, London, 1981.
- Baxter, John, The Cinema of John Ford, New York, 1971.
- Bogdanovich, Peter, John Ford, Berkeley, 1978.
- Gallagher, Tag, John Ford: The Man and His Films, Berkeley, 1986.
- McBride Joseph, and Michael Wilmington, John Ford, London, 1975.
- Sinclair, Andrew, John Ford, New York, 1979.
- Stowell, Peter, John Ford, Boston, 1986.
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Directors: International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers Second Edition, St. James Press, Chicago, IL, 1991.
Periodicals:
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The Economist, September 10, 1994, pp. 105-107.
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Film Comment, July 10, 1994, pp. 66-75.
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Insight on the News, February 20, 1995, pp. 26-28.
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Melus, Summer 1997, pp. 33-45.*
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