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John Ford, 1894-1973
John Ford was one of the most accomplished figures in Hollywood history. He spent fifty years acting, producing, and most notably directing both silent and sound films. He is best known for such Westerns as Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956), and his use of panoramic vistas in Monument Valley, Utah, became a hallmark of his work. One of the twentieth century's greatest directors, Ford completed most of his editing on camera and left very little film on the cutting room floor. He won four Academy Awards for Best Director and one for Best Documentary. During World War II, he worked with the United States Navy to train a documentary film unit, which he commanded throughout the war.
This photograph by Hollywood portraitist Roman Freulich shows Ford in his naval uniform. He continued to serve as a naval reserve officer after the war and attained the rank of rear admiral.
Roman Freulich, c 1944 |