Category: John Ford

Two Rode Together: John Ford attempted a small-scale, satirical reworking of ‘The Searchers’ starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark

Two Rode Together (1961), directed by John Ford and starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark in lead role, finds the great American director attempting a satirical, quasi-sequel to his classic Western, "The Searchers (1956)." The 1956 film, "The Searchers," is perhaps the greatest Western ever made, and certainly one of the greatest American films ever … Continue reading Two Rode Together: John Ford attempted a small-scale, satirical reworking of ‘The Searchers’ starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark →

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The Horse Soldiers: John Ford’s lone stab at a Civil War Western is consistently entertaining and features strong performances from John Wayne and William Holden

Though Director John Ford has been the pre-eminent chronicler of American history, he has never made a film set during the American civil war. The Horse Soldiers (1959), starring John Wayne and William Holden, which came pretty much at the end of his illustrious career was the only film set during that period. Though not … Continue reading The Horse Soldiers: John Ford’s lone stab at a Civil War Western is consistently entertaining and features strong performances from John Wayne and William Holden →

Rio Grande: John Ford brought John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara together for the first time in this final film in his ‘Cavalry’ trilogy

“Wayne’s greatest achievement may have been creating John Wayne. The character he played, the character he invented, was the American persona of the man who is hard and believes in doing right and will do it against all the odds.”Charlton Heston on John Wayne Rio Grande (1950), the third and final film in John Ford's … Continue reading Rio Grande: John Ford brought John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara together for the first time in this final film in his ‘Cavalry’ trilogy →

Fort Apache: John Wayne and Henry Fonda represents the two sides of the American soldier in this magnificent first film in John Ford’s ‘Cavalry’ trilogy

Fort Apache starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda is the first film in what became John Ford's 'Cavalry' trilogy. It's one of John Ford's most balanced, racially sensitive westerns that tries to understand the Native American issue even as it pays homage to the Army Who better than an Irishman can understand the Indians, while … Continue reading Fort Apache: John Wayne and Henry Fonda represents the two sides of the American soldier in this magnificent first film in John Ford’s ‘Cavalry’ trilogy →

My Darling Clementine: John Ford romanticizes Wyatt Earp’s heroism to the point of myth in one of the greatest Westerns ever made

My Darling Clementine(1946), directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp and Victor Mature as Doc Holliday, is one of the greatest Westerns ever made. It's a highly romanticized take on Wyatt Earp's heroism at Tombstone. “The conquest and settlement of the West has been a stupendous feat of our race for … Continue reading My Darling Clementine: John Ford romanticizes Wyatt Earp’s heroism to the point of myth in one of the greatest Westerns ever made →

The Man who shot Liberty Valance: In his final Western with John Wayne, John Ford subverts the myths of the Old-West that he himself created

The Man who shot Liberty Valance (1962) was the last western John Ford made with John Wayne. The film, also starring James Stewart, Lee Marvin and Vera Miles, is Ford’s most political film that subverts a lot of myths about the American West as well as the John Wayne persona that Ford himself created  “This … Continue reading The Man who shot Liberty Valance: In his final Western with John Wayne, John Ford subverts the myths of the Old-West that he himself created →

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon: A magnificent John Wayne performance anchors this visually stunning John Ford Western

John Ford's classic Western, She wore a Yellow Ribbon(1949), is the second film in Ford's famed 'Cavalry trilogy'. It's also one of the most visually beautiful films ever made, with John Wayne giving an extraordinary performance in the lead role. "There are no nuances because Nathan Brittles, like Tom Dunson, is folklore and legend, They're … Continue reading She Wore a Yellow Ribbon: A magnificent John Wayne performance anchors this visually stunning John Ford Western →

The Searchers: John Wayne’s greatest performance powers John Ford’s seminal Western magnum opus

May 26th marks John Wayne's birth anniversary. To commemorate this moment, here is a look back on his greatest performance in his greatest film. John Ford's Magnum opus, The Searchers(1956), is universally considered the greatest, and the most influential, Western of all times, and often makes it to the top ten list of the greatest … Continue reading The Searchers: John Wayne’s greatest performance powers John Ford’s seminal Western magnum opus →

Stagecoach: John Ford’s Western classic turned John Wayne into an American icon

John Ford's classic western, Stagecoach(1939),  proved to be seminal on many counts , most of all for the birth of a movie icon named John Wayne. ‘When in doubt, make a western’John Ford (1894 – 1973) John Ford is considered the greatest American director ever. He is also the greatest director of Westerns. His "Stagecoach" … Continue reading Stagecoach: John Ford’s Western classic turned John Wayne into an American icon →