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John Ford: The Complete Films
""When in doubt, make a Western."" -- John Ford Director of nearly 150 feature films and winner of six Oscars, John Ford (1895-1973) was the quintessential American filmmaker. Ford produced an unparalleled body of work that includes such classics as The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was My Valley, Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, The Quiet Man, and The Searchers. In response to critics and fans who praised his work as having a powerful, singular vision, Ford was known for making statements such as ""It's no use talking to me about art, I make pictures to pay the rent""; though such assertions betrayed his genuine love of filmmaking, which he called ""the only thing I really like to do."" Author Scott Eyman calls Ford ""America's Homer"" -- a fitting title for the filmmaker who helped frame the American experience for the world.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
74 people want to read
About the author
Scott Eyman
27 books121 followersScott Eyman has authored 11 books, including, with Robert Wagner, the New York Times bestseller Pieces of My Heart.
Among his other books are "Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer," "Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford," "Ernst Lubitsch: Laughter in Paradise," and "The Speed of Sound" (all Simon & Schuster) and "John Ford: The Searcher" for Taschen.
He has lectured extensively around the world, most frequently at the National Film Theater in London, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Moscow Film Theater. He's done the commentary tracks for many DVD's, including "Trouble in Paradise," "My Darling Clementine," and Stagecoach.
Eyman has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune, as well as practically every film magazine extinct or still extant.
He's the literary critic for the Palm Beach Post; he and his wife Lynn live in Palm Beach.
Among his other books are "Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer," "Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford," "Ernst Lubitsch: Laughter in Paradise," and "The Speed of Sound" (all Simon & Schuster) and "John Ford: The Searcher" for Taschen.
He has lectured extensively around the world, most frequently at the National Film Theater in London, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Moscow Film Theater. He's done the commentary tracks for many DVD's, including "Trouble in Paradise," "My Darling Clementine," and Stagecoach.
Eyman has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune, as well as practically every film magazine extinct or still extant.
He's the literary critic for the Palm Beach Post; he and his wife Lynn live in Palm Beach.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 19, 2020
Written by one of the most highly regarded and readable film historians Scott Eyman, this is an essential book both for film buffs and admirers of peerless filmmaker John Ford's illustrious career.
More a study of his films through the years than a biography, and what sets this book apart from so many others, is the incredible number of quality stills included (many in color) with a comprehensive and informative description of each.
Added to those hundreds of beautifully reproduced photos and excellent overview of his entire output, there is a refreshing concentration on his pre-war and silent films which are often overlooked in other books. What impressed me was the wide variety of the stills, many of which I had not seen before, and coupled with Eyman's expert analysis makes this filmmaker study a cut above the rest.
There are numerous Ford biographies (including the author's own "Print the Legend") out there, so no point in having the same sort of book again. This one is a first-class addition to any film-lover's collection and the sturdy flexi-style binding makes for easy access to thoroughly savor this book.
Added bonus: a chronology of Ford's life and an invaluable filmography listing from his first silent "The Tornado" (1917) to his last "7 Women" (1966) with a super collection of movie posters and a fascinating array of photos depicting Ford in action during the location shooting of his films.
More a study of his films through the years than a biography, and what sets this book apart from so many others, is the incredible number of quality stills included (many in color) with a comprehensive and informative description of each.
Added to those hundreds of beautifully reproduced photos and excellent overview of his entire output, there is a refreshing concentration on his pre-war and silent films which are often overlooked in other books. What impressed me was the wide variety of the stills, many of which I had not seen before, and coupled with Eyman's expert analysis makes this filmmaker study a cut above the rest.
There are numerous Ford biographies (including the author's own "Print the Legend") out there, so no point in having the same sort of book again. This one is a first-class addition to any film-lover's collection and the sturdy flexi-style binding makes for easy access to thoroughly savor this book.
Added bonus: a chronology of Ford's life and an invaluable filmography listing from his first silent "The Tornado" (1917) to his last "7 Women" (1966) with a super collection of movie posters and a fascinating array of photos depicting Ford in action during the location shooting of his films.
June 27, 2023
The authors give a broad overview of John Fords complete career that is very well written. It is very much an introduction and may disappoint people looking for a more in depth analysis of Fords work. Film fans will find many interesting facts and pictures taken from on set and the movies themselves. I was particularly fascinated by the look at Fords silent era work which I am not familiar with. There are plenty of anecdotes and a scholarly assessment of Ford’s directing style and what it meant to the development of movies. A fun interesting read.
June 13, 2020
beautiful visually. Great gift for Ford fans.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews