"This man directs less than any man in the business. As a matter of fact, he doesnt direct—he doesnt want any actor to give an impression of him playing the part. He wants the actor to create the part—thats why he hired him, because he saw him in this part."
John Martin Feeney, better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and was one of the first American directors to be recognized as an auteur. In a career of more than 50 years, he directed over 130 films between 1917 and 1970, and received a record four Academy Awards
"I think "laconic" is a good word for John Ford and for his technique of direction. No big deal about communication with John. Terse, pithy, to the point. Very Irish, a dark personality, a sensitivity which he did everything to conceal, but once he said to me while I was doing a scene with Ray Massey, "Make it scan, Mary." And I said to myself, "Aha! I know you now!"."
John Ford"Very early, I was a film buff.... I learned from everything. You learn for just meeting John Ford."
John Ford"Sometimes Ford failed to grasp the meaning of a question that a European director, or American directors like Elia Kazan, Richard Brooks, , or would have had no trouble assimilating. For example: How do you direct your actors? Ford couldnt understand the rationale for such a question. It seemed truly odd to him. Not dumb--like the radio journalist who asked him about "Fantastic Ride" [La Chevauchee fantastique is the French release title of Stagecoach]--but odd, and he didnt know what to answer. Since he was physically rather intimidating, with his one eye that seemed to peer deep inside of you and his piratelike countenance, even the bold could easily get flustered."
John Ford"The only director who does not move either his camera or his actors very much, and in whom I believe, is John Ford. He succeeds in making me believe in his films even though there is little movement in them. But with the others I have the impression that they are desperately trying to make Art."
John Ford"Do you know that Eugene ONeill loved [(1940), based on a cycle of ONeills one-act sea plays]? Every month he had a print screened for him. Its a little thing that made me very proud of this picture."
John Ford"I only met John Ford once. On the steps of MGM one evening. We were introduced by mutual friends. People spend a lot of time comparing my work to his. Most of thats bullshit. First of all, I dont like most of his later films. I love The Informer and Grapes of Wrath and—what was that other one?—Tobacco Road. His best Western is . Fonda was sensational in that. I hated . I loved the book but I thought the movie was shit. But I suppose he didnt like much of what I did, either. I think were very different."
John Ford