'When did you come to America?' 'I was born here.' This interviewer didn't stand a chance after this question. It also didn't help that he was a posh bloke from the BBC !
Yes, I think he did. There was always this Irish v Brit ish thing that bugged Ford as Ford had Irish ancestry. He did though have a sort of friendship with British director Lindsay Anderson who was a fan of Ford's films.
I seriously think a lot can be learned from this man. This is why he is one of my favourite directors, and not someone like Kubrick or Tarkovsky, he was humble, he never overplayed the importance of his films or was showy. When I can sense the director's presence and their agenda behind a film, it takes me right out of it, but with someone like Ford, he let his images and his characters speak. It's like he was saying, "Forget who directed it, just remember the picture, that's what is more important". We need more like him.
That's why I 'm soaking him up in interviews. He really responds to a question, often seizing on a flaw in the questios, makes it his banana peel. That's how he he is funny, wise and a great listener.
@Peter Kelner i guess that depends on your definition of what being artistic means...and i hate to tell you this...BUT YOU..do not get to decide who is or isnt...you are only entitled to your opinion...
@@spactick Edison did no such thing. Like most things he "Invented" he took other ideas that existed at the time and tweaked them to mass produce and market them. His Kinetoscope (1890s) was really just a more perfected version of the Phenakistiscope from 1832. or you got the Zoopraxiscope from the 1880s. In fact, you might have a hard time finding Edison's name in the first few chapters of a history of motion pictures textbook.
it's refreshing to hear a filmmaker who's not up the butt hole of art. not blown away by a shot or a shadow on the wall. he was a craftsman who enjoyed what he did
What Ford says and what he belives are two different things. He DID NOT like being interviewed by people who where ignorant or would obsess about art, which he found pretentious. "Passion" he also would find pretentious. He refuses to enter into a discussion on those terms. If he was not "passionate" then how do you explain "Wagonmaster", "The Sun Shines Bright", "The Rising of the Moon" and others? You may not have seen those "acclaimed" films but he made them for himself alone. That's passion!
John Ford was a man of few words, but those words meant a great deal. john Ford is one of the greatest directors of this century and 4 Oscars for Best Director proves it. Steven Spielberg when he was starting out asked for a interview with John Ford to ask him about movie directing. Ford gave him 1 minute. Spielberg sat in Ford's office and Ford said, "So you want to be a film director." Spielberg said yes he did. Ford said, "Do you see these photos around the room? (They were photos of Fords westerns). Ford said, "What do you see in this photo?" Spielberg said, "I see Indians." Ford said, "NO NO NO, what do you see in this photo?" Spielberg had no answer. For took him to the next one and asked what he saw in that picture. Spielberg said, "I see cavalry and......Ford cut him off. "Listen he said....where is the horizon?" Spielberg said it was up top and on the other photo Spielberg said it was on the bottom. Ford said, "Listen, when you can know the difference of a horizon being on the top of a shot or on the bottom of a shot and not right in the dam middle you may one day make a good director. now get the F**K out of here." That was John Ford and Spielberg said that interview helped him more than he knew at the moment.
What type of man was John Ford? Prior to the Battle of Midway in June 1942, Ford, a naval commander, did some filming on the carrier Hornet including the 30 officers & men of Torpedo Squadron 8 before flying to Midway in time for the battle. In an attack on the Japanese carriers, all 15 planes were shot down & 29 of the 30 men killed. After the battle, Ford used the shots of the squadron members to create a short colored film which he had delivered to each of the aviators' families.
I Love Ford. He is my kind of artist, a difficult guy to deal with for sure, but from whom you could learn a great deal. He’s one of my top favorite filmmakers.
Same. Some people are difficult, sure. But it does not mean those people are not intelligent or great. Difficult personalities could be hardworking and geniuses as well.
I could read him so easy he was trying to be polite on camera bet anything he told the guy off in his usual gruff manner that guy really did not know who he was messing with,a dumb jerk reporter who wanted what he wanted out of someone else not caring how they feel am very sure he was told off and to go back to school and get his education as I feel myself the guy had to be one who flunked!!
It would’ve been even more funny if Ford continued by saying “how am I eccentric? Really? How the fuck am I eccentric? Because I really want to know. Do I amuse you?” Lol
I've heard shorts about what a genius yet legendary jerk ford was. Look at him with his hand over his face making shadows ruining the shot at the beginning. I love how he understands who and what he is when he calls himself a coward even after all the brave things he did in the war. It's important to understand who you are and your limits.
I understand this man somewhat He was very good at what he did, but that’s just how his brain worked and he didn’t understand why people thought it was extra special. When you’re truly great you’re the only one that doesn’t see it
Read character actor Harry Carey Jr.'s book, "Company of Heroes". It's about the nine Ford films that he acted in and gives a pretty good idea of John Ford.
Directing a movie is easy and most rewarding. That is a known fact. Why the interviewer shocked was probably because he didn't interview with directors but auteurs. Because writing is the hard part. Especially at a younger age.
Maureen O'Hara was right. In her memoir: Tis' Herself, she told readers Ford would BS every interview and twist his own vision. Perfect example in this interview John Wayne and stagecoach. Ford crafted the role for Duke. The studio pushed for Gary Cooper, Ford wouldnt budge and ended up cutting the budget in order to secure Duke.
Ford not passionate? Ford not professional? The subtelties of Ford are lost on you. Go read a book on Ford ...there are at least a dozen of them. Some written by pasionate, professional film directors (Anderson, Bogdanovich) In any event his place, at the top, in film history is assured. With or without your appreciation.
An insightful interview I thought. A rough around the edges fellow, used to boss everyone about and insult them. I think he was one of the most feared and even hated director (Bill Holden would have agreed I think). Still, he was nevertheless right about the courage of the little man and he had a masterful talent at his job. If he was a chum of John Wayne, he must have a lot of good in him somewhere.
While the interviewer is clearly struggling a bit here, his response at 4:22 was excellent. It prompted a genuine moment of introspection from Ford, despite his initial rejection of the question.
He reminds me of my Great Uncle George who was an Irish gangster from Philly from the late 20’s to the early 60’s. He always tried to make people feel stupid because, he said,”most people are stupid and talk to dam much!”
Wayne was asked by the government to remain home and make pictures to boost morale. He did what the government asked him to do and said he regretted it the rest of his life. ETA, I forgot to mention that Wayne WANTED to enlist. When he tried to do that the government said we'd like you to continue making pictures.
James Cagney stood up to John Ford, which is why he left Mister Roberts. Ford was a proud irishman and would talk shit to just about everyone, but when he did it to fellow Irishman Cagney, whom was an amateur boxer, beat up gangsters and loved keeping the crew happy, Cagney flipped and said he was gonna kick his head in. Ford just walked off and never came back.
wonderful...just wonderful...the interviews with peter bogdanovich are also great you should take a look at them too...he's more relaxed in those as he knew and respected bogdanovich
From TYRONE QUIN to JOHN FORD. FOR A DAY WHEN HE IS AT HIS LOWEST, AND THERE IS NO COMFORT IN THE WORDS OF A LOVER OR IN THE WORDS OF A FRIEND. ~ THIS IS A SONG OF KING DAVID. IT IS ABOUT MEN DOING BUSINESS OVERSEAS. ~ PSALMS 107:23-28.
That's the point. Ford knew exactly where the camera was and where the light was coming from, and put his hand up to create a shadow over his face. That action says a lot about who the man was: Ford never wanted to be interviewed and made sure everyone knew it.
Ford met Akira Kurosawa in the Fifties, and Kurosawa told him how much he admired Ford's movies with John Wayne...something Ford proudly told Wayne in a letter.
Great director and obviously a man of considerable intelligence. Rather defensive as an interviewee. Perhaps too sensitive for this kind of format. Did he agree to the interview in order to promote a film?
