There are only a few classic American directors that have the distinction to be called one of the greatest of all time, and John Ford is in that esteem category. His talent of perfectly illustrating on film the American Frontier (1800s to early 1900s) is not just entertaining, exciting, and romanticized, but his films are laced with folklore, cultural relevance, and history that make him a one-of-a-kind director in the western genre. Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Ford established himself early on as a top auteur of western films, and made some of the best movies that represented American values. In Ford’s extraordinary take on the classic story of Wyatt Earp, he constructs the film in a new direction. “Most westerns puts the emphasis
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His four Academy Awards for Best Director remain a record. One of the films for which he won the award, How Green Was My Valley, also won Best Picture. During World War II, Commander John Ford, served in the United States Navy and as head of the photographic unit for the Office of Strategic Services, made documentaries for the Navy Department” (Wikipedia). Ford’s own filmmaking style was evident with his Westerns and war movies in that he “rarely used camera movements in his films, reserving them only for very specific moments. Also avoided close-ups as much as possible. (He) rarely shot a scene with more than two takes and frequently cast (actors) John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond, and James Stewart, (whose) characters are often morally grey individuals trying to survive a harsh world “ (IMDb, …show more content…
In the film, My Darling Clementine, the climatic showdown of the famous gunfight at the end of the movie seems more like a natural coincidence and part of the lavish Arizona background than a main focal point. “Ford’s ability to communicate through images rather than relying on the script, which he insisted be reduced to a bare minimum” (Schneider 65). During Ford’s career, he “directed more than 140 films (although most of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential film-makers of his generation“
His four Academy Awards for Best Director remain a record. One of the films for which he won the award, How Green Was My Valley, also won Best Picture. During World War II, Commander John Ford, served in the United States Navy and as head of the photographic unit for the Office of Strategic Services, made documentaries for the Navy Department” (Wikipedia). Ford’s own filmmaking style was evident with his Westerns and war movies in that he “rarely used camera movements in his films, reserving them only for very specific moments. Also avoided close-ups as much as possible. (He) rarely shot a scene with more than two takes and frequently cast (actors) John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond, and James Stewart, (whose) characters are often morally grey individuals trying to survive a harsh world “ (IMDb, …show more content…
In the film, My Darling Clementine, the climatic showdown of the famous gunfight at the end of the movie seems more like a natural coincidence and part of the lavish Arizona background than a main focal point. “Ford’s ability to communicate through images rather than relying on the script, which he insisted be reduced to a bare minimum” (Schneider 65). During Ford’s career, he “directed more than 140 films (although most of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential film-makers of his generation“