John Ford

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Birthday:

1 February 1894, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA

Birth Name:

John Martin Feeney

Height:

183 cm

John Ford came to Hollywood following one of his brothers, an actor. Asked what brought him to Hollywood, he replied "The train". He became one of the most respected directors in the business, in spite of being known for his westerns, which were not considered "serious" film. He won six Oscars, counting (he always did) the two that he won for his WWII documentary work. He had one wife; a son and daughter; and a grandson, Dan Ford who wrote a biography on his famous grandfather. Show less «

I love making pictures but I don't like talking about them.

Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing is...Show more »

Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes. Show less «

It is easier to get an actor to be a cowboy than to get a cowboy to be an actor.

It's no use talking to me about art, I make pictures to pay the rent.

I didn't show up at the ceremony to collect any of my first three Oscars. Once I went fishing, another time there was a war on, and on anoth...Show more »

I didn't show up at the ceremony to collect any of my first three Oscars. Once I went fishing, another time there was a war on, and on another occasion, I remember, I was suddenly taken drunk. Show less «

For a director there are commercial rules that it is necessary to obey. In our profession, an artistic failure is nothing; a commercial fail...Show more »

For a director there are commercial rules that it is necessary to obey. In our profession, an artistic failure is nothing; a commercial failure is a sentence. The secret is to make films that please the public and also allow the director to reveal his personality. Show less «

[on John Wayne] Duke is the best actor in Hollywood.

As a beauty, Dolores del Rio is in a class with [Greta Garbo]. Then she opens her mouth and becomes Minnie Mouse.

My name is John Ford and I make Westerns.

[1967] I am a liberal Democrat and a rebel.

[on Native American Indians] We've treated them badly, it's a blot on our shield; we've robbed, cheated, murdered and massacred them, but th...Show more »

[on Native American Indians] We've treated them badly, it's a blot on our shield; we've robbed, cheated, murdered and massacred them, but they kill one white man and God, out come the troops. Show less «

Maureen O'Hara is one of the actresses I most dislike. Everybody thought I was her lover. Actually, I hated her and she hated me, but she wa...Show more »

Maureen O'Hara is one of the actresses I most dislike. Everybody thought I was her lover. Actually, I hated her and she hated me, but she was right for the parts. Show less «

[on the CinemaScope anamorphic aspect ratio] I hated it. You've never seen a painter use that kind of composition - even the great murals, i...Show more »

[on the CinemaScope anamorphic aspect ratio] I hated it. You've never seen a painter use that kind of composition - even the great murals, it still wasn't this huge tennis court. Your eyes pop back and forth, and it's very difficult to get a close-up. Show less «

None of my so called better pictures are westerns.