John Fordis known as a Western legend who was an essential pioneer of the genre, directing masterpieces such asThe Searchers,The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, andFort Apache. While the Oscar-winning director successfully ventured into other genres, such as romantic dramas and comedy, he made his initial cinematic mark in Westerns during the Silent Era and is universally recognized for his immense contributions to the Western genre.
The director cultivated and defined the traditional Western film and only accepted the best of the best to be a part ofFord’s notable stock company, which included big names such asJohn Wayne,Maureen O’Hara, andHenry Fonda. The director’s eye for talent and potential is a main element of his films' success and even though he has an extensive list of pictures set in the Wild West, there are some, likeShe Wore a Yellow Ribbonand3 Godfathers, that feature exceptional performances that can’t be denied.
11’Drums Along the Mohawk' (1939)
Starring: Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, and Edna May Oliver
Set during the American Revolutionary War, a young married couple, Lana (Claudette Colbert) and Gil (Henry Fonda) Martin, settle down along the New York frontier and fight to defend their new home against Loyalists and Native Americans. As the couple stand together, their determination and courage help them survive as well as strengthen their bond.
Drums Along the Mohawkis a gripping Western and historical drama based on the 1936 novel of the same name written byWalter D. Edmonds. The movie marked Ford’s first film in Technicolor and earned generally positive reviews,many commending the performances by the overall stellar cast, notably Edna May Oliver, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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9’Rio Grande' (1950)
Starring: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Ben Johnson
John Wayne stars inRio Grandeas Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke, who is the head of a cavalry post on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. As Yorke and his men fight to defend the settlers against the Native Americans, Yorke’s 16-year-old son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.), who he hasn’t seen since he was an infant, is among the recent new recruits. To add more trouble, Yorke’s estranged wife and Jeff’s mother, Kathleen (Maureen O’Hara), shows up to take Jeff back home.
Rio Grandeis the third and final installment of Ford’s Calvary Trilogy and one of the best films starring frequent co-stars, Wayne and O’Hara.Wayne and O’Hara starred in five films together, each conveying their uncanny chemistry, which is partially due to their genuine off-screen friendship that lasted until Wayne’s death.The iconic duo give another poetic performance together in the movie and are also accompanied by a highly capable supporting cast, deemingRio Grandeas one of Ford’s best films with stellar performances.
Rio Grande
A cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande is confronted with murderous raiding Apaches, a son who’s a risk-taking recruit and his wife from whom he has been separated for many years.
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8’She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' (1949)
Starring: John Wayne, Ben Johnson, and Joanne Dru
As Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) approaches retirement, he must first try to smooth things over between two Native American tribes after Custard’s last stand while also transporting his commanding officer’s wife (Mildred Natwick) and niece (Joanne Dru) to a safe location. When Brittle’s tasks are met with complications and derailed, he attempts to meet with a highly respected Native American chief in the hopes of fending off a potential war.
Ford’s second Technicolor film,She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,is a stunning visual spectacle anda noteworthy Western with all around top-notch performances by the entire cast. The movie was a major success, earning immense praise for its vivid characters, the authentic backdrop of Monument Valley along the Arizona-Utah border, as well as its impeccable cinematography byWinton C. Hoch, who went on to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
Captain Nathan Brittles, a veteran cavalry officer nearing retirement, embarks on one last mission to thwart an imminent Indian uprising. Accompanied by his dedicated men and tasked with safeguarding civilians, he traverses the treacherous terrain of the American West.
7'3 Godfathers' (1948)
Starring: John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr., and Pedro Armendáriz
After three outlaws, Robert Hightower (John Wayne), Pete Fuerte (Pedro Armendáriz), and The Abilene Kid (Harry Carey Jr.) rob a small bank in Arizona, they’re pursued across the desert by local authorities. When the trio finds a pregnant woman stranded in the wilderness, they help her deliver her baby and in her dying last breath, she makes them promise her that they will get her child to safety.
Loosely based on the Biblical tale of the Three Wisemen,3 Godfathersis a sentimental Western with heartfelt performances by all three lead actors. While some critics felt the film had some far-fetched moments, specifically the ending,Wayne, Armendáriz, and Carey Jr. convey their own rendition of wry but likable outlaws. Their unforgettable performances are not only the saving grace of the film but also the main attraction of this endearing Ford Western classic.
3 Godfathers
Three outlaws on the run risk their freedom and their lives to return a newborn to civilization.
6’Fort Apache' (1948)
Starring: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Shirley Temple
Henry Fonda stars as an arrogant Civil War hero, Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, who arrives with his daughter (Shirley Temple) in Arizona where he has been assigned as the head of a cavalry command post. Thursday quickly clashes with the men at the post, specifically Captain Kirby York (John Wayne), who has successfully run the post since Thursday’s arrival and also established a civil relationship with the Native Americans. In an effort to reclaim his glory days, Thursday antagonizes the Native Americans in hopes that they will engage in combat, but Thursday’s misguided ambition comes at the cost of many innocent lives and bloodshed.
Fort Apacheis the first film in Ford’s Calvary Trilogy and features excellent performances from Fonda and Wayne, who are the epitome of good versus evil. While the overall cast is exceptional, Fort Apache is also noted for its complex plot and rare sympathetic viewpoint towards Native Americans, making it one of the first of its kind.Wayne gives a flawless performance but Fonda, who is known for his heroic, good ole' boy roles, takes on a sinister and ignorant role, which he executes with immense tenacity.
Fort Apache
At Fort Apache, an honorable and veteran war captain finds conflict when his regime is placed under the command of a young, glory hungry lieutenant colonel with no respect for the local Indian tribe.
5’Stagecoach' (1939)
Starring: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, and Thomas Mitchell
When a group of people travel in a stagecoach to New Mexico, they are accompanied by marshal Curly Wilcox (George Bancroft), who is searching for an escaped outlaw known as the Ringo Kid (John Wayne). When they cross paths with Ringo, the outlaw decides to help the travelers navigate their way through the harsh wilderness and Native Americans who are on the war path, proving to Wilcox there’s more to the outlaw than he initially thought.
Stagecoachis Ford’s landmark Western, starring Wayne in his breakthrough role as well as an all-star cast, which also includesClaire Trevor,Thomas Mitchell, andJohn Carradine. Even though the whole cast is superb and convey their characters with effective detail,Wayne inevitably runs away with the picture in his signature performance as a heroic outlaw with a heart of gold.Stagecoachis considered to be one of the most influential films of all time and essentially transcended the Western genre to new heights as well as established Wayne as a major box office draw.
Stagecoach
Stagecoach follows a diverse group of passengers traveling through dangerous territory under the looming threat of attack. As they face external perils on their way to Lordsburg, each character’s personal story unfolds, revealing hidden depths and forging unexpected connections, ultimately shaping their shared journey and individual destinies.
4’My Darling Clementine' (1946)
Starring: Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, and Linda Darnell
During a strenuous cattle drive, Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda) and his brothers stop for a night in Tombstone, Arizona, and after a night in town, they return the next morning to find their cattle has been stolen and one of their brothers murdered. While Earp has his suspicions of who is responsible for the crimes, he wants his revenge to be legal and decides to become the new sheriff of Tombstone.
My Darling Clementineis a take on the events leading up to the historical Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and is regarded as one of Ford’s finest films ever made.Fonda delivers a near perfect performance as a tactful lawman who fully believes that patience is a virtue.The film also features top-notch performances byVictor Matureas Doc Holliday,Ward Bondas Morgan Earp, andLinda Darnellas the fiery spitfire Chihuahua.
My Darling Clementine
3’Wagon Master' (1950)
Starring: Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., and Joanne Dru
After being run out of a town, a group of Mormons are in need of a wagon master to help guide their wagon train through the unfamiliar territory. Elder Wiggs (Ward Bond) manages to find two horse traders, Travis Blue (Ben Johnson) and Sandy (Harry Carey Jr.), who reluctantly agree to take the job. Despite the men’s expertise and knowledge, the journey runs into a series of obstacles, including a family of outlaws who forcibly take shelter in their wagons.
Wagon Masteris one of Ford’s greatest cinematic achievements, typically overshadowed by the director’s other work, but the film still reigns as an essential Ford classic with epic performances.
Wagon Masteris one of Ford’s unsung masterpieces which featuresa cast of familiar but lesser known stars of Ford’s stock company who deliver surprisingly spectacular performances. Despite the film having little to no plot,Wagon Masterstill accurately conveys a frequent theme of Ford’s film, the establishment of a community and perseverance, and also has several elements of a traditional Western that make up for the film’s shortcomings.
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2’The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' (1962)
Starring: John Wayne, James Stewart, and Lee Marvin
James Stewartstars as Senator Ransom Stoddard, who returns to the town of Shinebone to attend the funeral of a local man, Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), which raises questions among the townspeople. When pressed by the local newspaper reporters, the Senator recalls his early days of arriving in Shinbone, his unusual friendship with Doniphon, and the local legend surrounding a notorious outlaw, Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin).
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valanceis an emotionally charged Western riddled with outstanding performances by a star-studded cast which also includesVera Miles,Andy Devine, and John Carriadine. Although Stewart and Wayne give tour de force performances,Martin is undeniably captivating as the cruel Valance, delivering a harsh, cutthroat performance which many consider to be one of the actor’s finest. This classic Western ranks as one of Ford’s greatest films and, despite some shade towards the length of the film,The Man Who Shot Liberty Valancestill embodies the traditional qualities of a stellar Ford Western.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
A senator returns to a Western town for the funeral of an old friend and tells the story of his origins.
