The Legend of John Ford

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

What’s your favorite John Ford film? I am so excited to share Part 2 with you all soon; most of my favorite Ford films come from his later years!

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

@@bradysanders6544 Nothing wrong with that, haha. Those are two of my favorites as well! The Searchers might be my all-time favorite, but they're probably both top 5-10 at the very least!

[@Calv1999]

Definitely the searchers

[@Ananymo0se]

I like Cars 2

[@vanpelt2321]

I'm such a doofus. Just realized I never replied to your question. Like Pappy himself, who always veered between "How Green Was My Valley" and "The Sun Shines Bright" as his favorites, I'm always changing. Think "Wagon Master" is up there with "Searchers" but "Liberty Valance" is inching up on the scale. It is so complex in its simplicity, like a Mahler symphony or Velazquez painting, it works on so many planes and is ultimately inscrutable. Thanks for asking.

[@thekkdjalskjdlfkjalksd]

Long Voyage Home, Donovan's Reef, Searchers, Stagecoach, Hurricane, Seven Women, Three Godfathers, Young Mr Lincoln....those have all been my favorite at some point. I wonder about the missing reels of his Will Rogers pictures, though. Zanuck chopped that stuff up, removing some of the most progressive stuff, including a passionate anti-lynching speech from Rogers 'Judge Priest' that was supposedly "the most blistering thing you ever head."

[@vanpelt2321]

Excellent. First class presentation and as articulate, insightful and intelligently presented as the AFI's classic "Directed by John Ford." When researching my biography on Pappy at the Lilly Library archives, the greatest thrill (aside from reading his love letters to and from Kate Hepburn) was holding his Oscars for "The Grapes of Wrath" and "How Green Was My Valley". Eagerly charging into part the second.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Incredible anecdote, I’d love to check out those letters! What’s the name of your John Ford biography? I’d love to read it too :) Thank you very much for this kind comment, it really made my day.

[@vanpelt2321]

@@whenthepicturesgotbigger no, thank you. Your work is as professional and top shelf as other documentaries but you add what they lack: passion. My bio is called "John Ford: Poet in the Desert" and unlike the excellent studies by Eyman, McBride, Gallagher and even Lindsay Anderson, mine wasn't read by many although it did win a couple awards. Working with Dan Ford, Pappy's grandson and guardian of the archives, was a big help and big thrill. Please do have at the episode on HTWWW. Very eager to see you have a go at that great and enduring masterwork.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

@@vanpelt2321 Hi Van Pelt! I just wanted to let you know that that promised video on How the West Was Won is coming later this month! I hope you enjoy it and look forward to seeing your thoughts

[@vanpelt2321]

@@whenthepicturesgotbigger as my Greek people say, you're a mensch! I'm so bloody excited to hear your in-depth analysis and takes on HTWWW. Don't want to crash your party but try to work in the connection between HTWWW and Yvonne DeCarlo and "The Munsters". Her husband, stuntman par excellence Bob Morgan, was horrifically injured and permanently crippled doubling for George Peppard in the runaway train sequence. That forced Yvonne out of retirement and seeking work to pay the bills. That's why she took the role of Lilly Munster. Can't wait to see and please let me know when it's up and live.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

@@vanpelt2321 woah, that’s an incredible tidbit! Thank you for sharing :) I will be sure to get back to you later this month!

[@sarahrozaner3494]

Loved this video! Makes me want to watch every ford film that hasn’t been lost. I can’t wait for part 2!

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you! Yeah, it's a shame that so many are lost.

[@damianlopez-gaston2466]

A joy to see something this good about America's greatest director. I look forward to revisiting often. Cheers.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you so much for watching this and for leaving such a kind comment! Cheers :)

[@marceldamen3016]

Really nice documentary on John Ford’s early work. Can’t wait for Part 2. Keep up the good work! 💪🏻

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you! I am glad you liked it :))

[@brianahodge8613]

Ahh! I love how I can immensely feel your love and passion for John Ford and his work in every second of this video! I would absolutely love a video on prison escape films and beg that you talk about Le Trou (one my favs of all time!). From the Ford that I've seen, my favourite would be My Darling Clementine, just stellar! Onto part 2!

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you so much Briana! I always get so excited to see that you’ve commented. So, I just finished Le Trou!! It’s been on my watchlist for some time but your comment was the catalyst I needed to finally sit down and watch it - and WOW, what an ending…. Those last 15 minutes were so suspenseful and amazing, and I’ll never forget how my jaw dropped when that periscope turned. Also, I’ve never seen such cinematic digging, haha. Thank you so much for commenting and always supporting my videos :) And I really, really loved Le Trou. I will make it a priority to do a prison escape video at some time in the future! Hope you also enjoy Part 2 of the John Ford video :)

[@brianahodge8613]

@@whenthepicturesgotbigger I'm glad you enjoyed it, ending blew me away also. I just love films that show people being methiodal with their tasks, another of that sort that I love is Le Cercle Rouge, it's probably since I'm very methodical. And yes, I very much enjoyed the second Ford video, I appreciate the nuance you bring to his career, since many people label The Searchers as completely racist despite not even watching it and actually delving into his career, he was a varied director. I've gotta get to seeing The Long Gray Line since I love The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

I’m so happy you enjoyed that video too! And yes, The Long Gray Line is spectacular and maybe even better than The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and that’s coming from one of the biggest Powell and Pressburger fans around, haha. I look forward to hearing your thoughts if you get a chance to watch it!

[@daniellajones2188]

WOW! This video was filled with so much info! Great editing too! Your long format videos are always my favorite. Can’t wait to check out part 2 😊

[@martinjavierroncero993]

I loved your video man. I have been watching John Ford films for 7 months and the end of the video hitted me hard. Thanks for this incredible video.

[@greatstationsyt]

You are doing so well on these projects. I’m very impressed! Keep it up!

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

This comment makes it all worth it! Thank you! If even one person walks away itching to watch a Ford movie, or feeling more knowledgeable on classic Hollywood, then I’ll be overjoyed. Thanks for your view and kind comment!!

[@GustavoScheffer]

Good video about Ford.

[@ashroskell]

Really fascinating video, and you’re right. There’s probably another whole video’s worth of material to dig up about the Carey’s and the Ford’s. I would suggest you take some more care with the sound mix. There were moments I couldn’t make out what you said and had to resort to subtitles. But, you wrote an excellent script and chose your visuals well. Superb opener too, summing up the character we’re about to explore.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

@@ashroskell Hi Ash! Sorry I took a while to respond to your comments, but I really appreciate your kind words and constructive feedback :) The audio and some of the editing definitely could’ve been improved, and I’m working really hard to make sure that my next big director video is of an even higher quality. I really appreciate what you said about my script and selection of visuals, I’ll continue to emphasize those elements in future videos. Thank you!!

[@timlangford8678]

Great job. Obviously a lot of hard work and time went into this. Much appreciated!

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@andreakoeppe7107]

Dang. Just dang. So good, thank you.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@Calv1999]

I watched The informer and it was pretty great. Now time for Pilgrimage!

[@parsaebrahimi9601]

جان فورد یکی از بهترینها بود❤❤❤

[@bloggersanonymous6159]

So I watched this now after your other one and im shocked you dont bring up how Ford cut his own movies. In film school they taught us he didnt let anyone else edit his movies. Very interesting, I wonder if youve heard that

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

I have! He tried to edit in camera, essentially. It was a smart way around studio interference. One of the many instances imo of Ford’s stubbornness contributing to his success!

[@schaffermatt]

Nice vid, but “Napoleon’s Barber” was not released by 20th Century-Fox; it was produced and released by FoxFilm, William Fox’s company, which was acquired by 20th Century Pictures in 1935. There are no 20th Century-Fox pictures until that year. William Fox was never associated with this new company. I appreciated learning about available Ford films I knew nothing about, like “Pilgrimage.”

[@acdragonrider]

13:39: I’ll see that soon at some point but I really loved Union Pacific

[@Clumsyone]

Harry Carey didn't win the Oscar for Mr. Smith that year it went to Thomas Mitchell for Stagecoach

[@Ananymo0se]

i’m ur biggest fan!

[@hankworden3850]

"Thank you" - John Ford

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

The Searchers. Don't ask me more.

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

"HankerCheeef" "Rio Grawnd", "Mareeno-Hara". 😅

[@johnkaufman5474]

My favorite Ford film is My Darling Clementine. Meanwhile, I think the greatest American poet is Walt Whitman.The greatest American film director? John Ford.

[@Ananymo0se]

DO A GIVEAWAY!!!