Ford, John, 1894?-1973 - Social Networks and Archival Context (original) (raw)

John Martin Feeney, (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He was born John Martin "Jack" Feeney on February 1, 1894 or 1895 (sources differ on the year) in Cape Elizabeth, Maine to John Augustine Feeney and Barbara "Abbey" Curran. Instead of his birth name, Ford often gave his given names as Sean Aloysius, sometimes with surname O'Feeny, O'Feeney, O'Fienne, or O'Fearna; an Irish language equivalent of Feeney, or as John Augustine Ford.

In a career of more than 50 years, Ford 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 filmmakers of his generation. He made frequent use of location shooting and long shots, in which his characters were framed against a vast, harsh, and rugged natural terrain. Ford is renowned both for Westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), as well as adaptations of classic 20th century American novels such as The Grapes of Wrath (1940). He was the recipient of five Academy Awards including a record four wins for Best Director.

During World War II, Ford served as head of the photographic unit for the Office of Strategic Services and made documentaries for the Navy Department. He was commissioned as a commander in the United States Navy Reserve. He won two of his five Academy Awards during this time, one for the semi-documentary The Battle of Midway (1942), and one for the propaganda film December 7th: The Movie (1943).

Ford's work was held in high regard by his colleagues, with Orson Welles and Ingmar Bergman among those who named him one of the greatest directors of all time.

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