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

• CREDITS
• Film Work
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• The Last Outlaw, 1919
• 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
• Cameo Kirby, Fox Film Corporation, 1923
• North of Hudson Bay (also known as Journey of Death), 1923
• 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
• Hearts of Oak, 1924
• Lightin', 1925
• Kentucky Pride, 1925
• The Fighting Heart, 1925
• Thank You, Fox Film Corporation, 1925
• The Shamrock Handicap, Fox Film Corporation, 1926
• And screenwriter, Three Bad Men, Fox Film Corporation, 1926
• The Blue Eagle, 1926
• Upstream, 1927
• Mother Machree, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
• Four Sons, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
• Hangman's House, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
• Napoleon's Barber, 1928
• Riley the Cop, Fox Film Corporation, 1928
• Strong Boy, Fox Film Corporation, 1929
• Salute, 1929
• The Black Watch, 1929
• Co-story writer (Submarine), Men without Women, 1930
• Born Reckless, 1930
• Co-story writer, Up the River, 1930
• The Seas Beneath, 1931
• The Brat, 1931
• Arrowsmith, United Artists, 1931
• Flesh, 1931
• Air Mail, Universal, 1932
• Pilgrimage, 1933
• Dr. Bull, 1933
• And producer, The Lost Patrol, 1934
• The World Moves On, 1934
• Judge Priest, 1934
• The Whole Town's Talking (also known as Passport to Fame),1935
• And producer, The Informer, 1935
• Steamboat Round the Bend (also known as Steamboat Bill), 1935
• The Prisoner of Shark Island, 1936
• Mary of Scotland, 1936
• The Plough and the Stars, 1936
• Story writer, The Last Outlaw, 1936
• Wee Willie Winkie, 1937
• The Hurricane, 1937
• Four Men and a Prayer, 1938
• Submarine Patrol, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938
• (Uncredited) Second unit director, The Adventures of Marco Polo, United Artists, 1938
• And producer, Stagecoach, United Artists, 1939
• Drums Along the Mohawk, 1939
• Young Mr. Lincoln, 1939
• The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
• The Long Voyage Home, United Artists, 1940
• Tobacco Road, 1941
• Sex Hygiene, 1941
• How Green Was My Valley, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941
• And co-cinematographer, editor, producer, and screenwriter, The Battleof Midway, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1942
• Torpedo Squadron, 1942
• (With others) December Seventh (also known as December 7th: TheMovie), Central Park Media, 1943
• We Sail at Midnight, 1943
• And producer, They Were Expendable, 1945
• 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
• 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
• This is Korea!, 1951
• What Price Glory, 1952
• And producer (with others) The Quiet Man, Republic Pictures, 1952
• And producer, The Sun Shines Bright, 1953
• Mogambo, 1953
• (Uncredited) Second unit director, Hondo, Warner Bros., 1953
• The Long Gray Line, 1955
• (With others) Mister Roberts, 1955
• The Searchers, 1956
• The Wings of Eagles, 1957
• The Rising of the Moon, 1957
• And producer, The Last Hurrah, 1958
• Gideon of Scotland Yard (also known as Gideon's Day), 1959
• Korea, 1959
• The Horse Soldiers, United Artists, 1959
• 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
• Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend, 1970
• Executive producer, Vietnam! Vietnam!, 1971
• Film Appearances
• 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
• Big Time, 1929
• Himself, At the Front, 1943
• Himself, Directed by John Ford, 1971
• Himself, Hollywood Mavericks, 1990
• 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
• Television Appearances
• Himself, The American West of John Ford (also known as The Great American West of John Ford; special), 1971
• WRITINGS
• 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
• 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
• The Battle of Midway, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1942
• Books
• John Ford's Stagecoach, Richard Anobile (ed.), New York, 1975
• My Darling Clementine, Robert Lyons (ed.), New Brunswick, NJ, 1984
• Also contributed articles to periodicals, including Cahiers du Cinema.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

• 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.
• Directors: International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers Second Edition, St. James Press, Chicago, IL, 1991.

• The Economist, September 10, 1994, pp. 105-107.
• Film Comment, July 10, 1994, pp. 66-75.
• Insight on the News, February 20, 1995, pp. 26-28.
• Melus, Summer 1997, pp. 33-45.*