| John Ford is one of America's foremost Academy | | | | of the First Transcontinental Railroad and was an epic |
| Award-winning film directors. His impressive and | | | | undertaking. Filmed on location in Sierra Nevada the film |
| influential directing style has included adaptations of | | | | went on to become one of the top grossing films of |
| classic 20th century American novels like The Grapes | | | | the decade. It was during the 1920's that Ford would |
| of Wrath along with some of the most exciting | | | | became president of the Motion Picture Directors |
| Westerns in motion picture history. Ford's impressive | | | | Association, later to become the Directors Guild of |
| directorial career includes more films than could | | | | America. |
| possibly be listed here and his use of stunning | | | | The War Years |
| cinematography is legendary. | | | | While serving as a Commander in the United States |
| Born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on February 1, 1894, John | | | | Navy during World War II, Ford made documentaries |
| was the tenth of eleven children in his family. He grew | | | | for the Navy Department. During that time he would |
| up in the Munjoy Hill area of Portland, Maine trying his | | | | win two more Academy Awards for the |
| hand at farming, fishing, running a saloon, and even | | | | semi-documentary The Battle of Midway (1942), and |
| dabbling a little in politics serving as an alderman. | | | | for the propaganda film December 7 (1943). At the |
| On July 3, 1920, John married Mary McBryde Smith. | | | | conclusion of the war, Ford became a Rear Admiral in |
| Together they had two children and remained married | | | | the United States Navel Reserve. |
| until his death on August 31, 1973. | | | | Award Winning Success |
| The Beginning of His Career | | | | John Ford had the pleasure of working with the top |
| Following the footsteps of his older brother Frank, who | | | | film superstars of his era, and they with him. In total, |
| was a prominent actor-director in his own right, John | | | | Ford was to win six Academy Awards with four |
| moved to Hollywood in 1914. He began working on | | | | being for Best Director. He still holds the record for the |
| brother Frank's films as a handyman, stuntman, and on | | | | most Best Director awards and was the first to win |
| occasion even an actor. Wanting to create a name for | | | | consecutive honors in 1940 for The Grapes of Wrath |
| himself, John began his career at Universal Studios | | | | and in 1941 for How Green Was My Valley. |
| directing silent films. This was a busy time in Ford's | | | | Surprisingly, although noted as one of the greatest |
| career as he directed 62 shorts and features | | | | director of Westerns, Ford won no Academy Awards |
| between 1917 and 1928. | | | | for these efforts. He was however, nominated as |
| In 1920, Ford left Universal to sign with the William Fox | | | | Best Director for the 1939 film Stagecoach which |
| studio where he directed his first major success The | | | | provided the first major picture starring role for John |
| Iron Horse in 1924. This historical drama told the story | | | | Wayne. |