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John Ford Biography

Birth Name:John Martin Feeney

Birth Place:Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States

Profession Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Assistant director, Soundtrack, Cinematographer, Editor, Stunts

Fast Facts

Achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy Reserve after serving in World War II and the Korean War
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1973
After moving to California to pursue a career in acting, he landed an uncredited role as a Klansman in "The Birth of a Nation․"
Quote: "It is easier to get an actor to be a cowboy than to get a cowboy to be an actor․"
Frequently incorporates characters with conflicted morals in his films
A pioneer in the film industry for his use of location shooting and long shots
Made documentaries for the Navy Department during World War II
Virtually never took more than two takes per shot when shooting a scene
Wore an eye patch due to complete eyesight loss in one eye when, impatiently, he decided to uncover his eyes earlier than doctors informed him following cataracts surgery
Once threw a young man out of his office after the kid asked him for advice about filmmaking, who turned out to be future director Steven Spielberg

Awards

1934Special Recommendation-: winner
1934Mussolini Cup-Best Foreign Film: nominated
1935NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1935Mussolini Cup-Best Foreign Film: nominated
1936Oscar-Best Director: winner
1936Special Recommendation-: winner
1936Mussolini Cup-Best Foreign Film: nominated
1939NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1940Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1940NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1941Oscar-Best Director: winner
1941NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1942Oscar-Best Director: winner
1943Silver Condor-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
1947NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
1948Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): winner
1948Prize-Best Director: winner
1948Grand International Award-: nominated
1948International Award-: winner
1950Grand Prix-: winner
1952International Award-: winner
1952Pasinetti Award-: winner
1952OCIC Award-: winner
1952Golden Lion-: nominated
1953Oscar-Best Director: winner
1953Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1953Grand Prize of the Festival-: nominated
1953DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1953Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
1956DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1956DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1957DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1958NBR Award-Best Director: winner
1960DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1960Golden Seashell-Best Film: nominated
1961Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1963Blue Ribbon Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1963Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
1963Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1964Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1965CEC Award-: winner
1965Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1966Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1966Crystal Globe-Best Film: nominated