Like most of the Classic Hollywood directors we’ve studied, Ford got his start (1914), in the early days of Hollywood, working at odd jobs for a studio. While he learned movie making on the job from the ground up, it was his older brother, Francis Ford, an established actor and director, who gave the younger Ford his first job. He made about 60 silent films, most two reelers, and went on to make 80 feature length films including two highly impactful documentaries for the War Department in WWII. He has won four Academy Awards for best director, the most for any director. And yet, while credited with doing the most to develop the Western genre and some of his Westerns are in many film enthusiasts’ top five best-of-lists, oddly, none of his Oscars were for a Western.

Many of his films tell stories of individuals in the context of their communities and the progression of American history. In addition to the conflicts of the individual and the community, his films also explore many conflicts in the American story. As one critic noted, “Whether it be European vs Indian, brute force vs book learning, East vs West or savagery vs civilization, a nation-making opposition is at the heart of almost every Ford film.” His films give visual form to the nation building myth of the West, but they also question the moral implications of this mythos.

While we can’t avoid the Western Genre in viewing some of Ford’s greatest films, we will see his work in a variety of genres as reflected in the following list: Stagecoach, 1939; Young Mr. Lincoln, 1939; Grapes of Wrath, 1940; The Quiet Man, 1952; The Searchers, 1956; and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1962. 

Each class will start with a brief lecture followed by discussion. All films will be watched individually before class. Films are available to rent for free in DVD format in public libraries or to stream on various streaming platforms, some free with membership others for a charge of $2.99 to $3.99.

It will take around two hours to watch a film to be discussed in class. In previous classes some students have attested to the benefits of watching a film twice. Viewing questions to help students prepare for discussion will be sent out about a week in advance of the film to be discussed for that week’s class.

Please note that the last class is during the break week.