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John Ford: The Man Who Invented America

Over a 50-year career and more than a hundred movies, filmmaker John Ford (1894-1973) forged the legend of the Far West. By giving a face to the underprivileged, from humble cowboys to persecuted minorities, he revealed like no one else the great social divisions that existed and still exist in the United States. More than four decades after his death, what remains of his legacy and humanistic values in the memory of those who love his work?

Top Cast

  • Jean-Christophe Klotz

    Jean-Christophe Klotz

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Joseph McBride

    Joseph McBride

    Self - Biographer

  • Cécile Gornet

    Cécile Gornet

    Self - Philosopher

  • Michel Cieutat

    Michel Cieutat

    Self - Film Historian

  • Jennifer Ortiz

    Jennifer Ortiz

    Self - Cattle Rancher

  • Fermin Ortiz

    Fermin Ortiz

    Self - Cattle Rancher

  • Nancy Schoenberger

    Nancy Schoenberger

    Self - American Literature Professor

  • Dan Ford

    Dan Ford

    Self - Grandson

  • Angelo Baca

    Angelo Baca

    Self - Filmmaker

Overview

Over a 50-year career and more than a hundred movies, filmmaker John Ford (1894-1973) forged the legend of the Far West. By giving a face to the underprivileged, from humble cowboys to persecuted minorities, he revealed like no one else the great social divisions that existed and still exist in the United States. More than four decades after his death, what remains of his legacy and humanistic values in the memory of those who love his work?

Related Movies

Visions of Light

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

Visions of Light

7.0 1992