John Ford, a veteran American filmmaker known for his work from the early age of cinema, has hugely impacted his contemporary directors and later generations. Known as one of the early masters and “the director’s director”.
In the annals of American film, no name shines more brightly than that of John Ford. Director and filmmaker for more than half of a century and one hundred and fifty-plus films, he stands preeminent in his craft – not only as a creator of individual films of surpassing excellence but as a master among those who transformed early motion pictures into a compelling new art form that developed in America and swept the world. As an interpreter of the nation’s heritage, he left his personal stamp indelibly printed on the consciousness of whole generations both here and abroad. In his life and his work, John Ford represents the best in American films and the best in America. – Commendation on the presidential Medal of Freedom given to John Ford in 1973.
Contemporary directors such as Spielberg, and Scorsese and directors from the past like Kurosawa, Sergio Leone, and Orson Welles had inspiration from Ford and had an impact on their visual language and all of them openly said. Let’s have a look at everyone’s views on Ford.
Spielberg :
“I try to watch a John Ford film before I start work on any movie simply because he inspires me, and I’m very sensitive to the way he paints his pictures, and the way he blocks people, and frames the action while giving the illusion that there’s things happening outside of the camera when there’s not.”
Scorsese :
“To me and to so many directors, John Ford is a towering figure and continues to be a profound inspiration, his films deftly convey his unique and acute sense of humanity; his deep understanding of people. When I first started watching his films, Ford’s force behind the camera was palpable. He was a visionary in the truest form and his films are enriched with artistic energy. I see his films often, studying them and each time, I learn something new.”
Kurosawa :
“John Ford is really great. When I’m old thats the kind of director I want to be.”
Sergio Leone :
Sergio Leone once said that the John Ford film he liked most of all was The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: “He loved the West and with that film at last he understood it.”
Orson Welles :
I prefer the old masters, by which I mean John Ford.