John Ford Fun Features This is the section for all our "FUN" John Ford information - please enjoy! Did You Know?  … that John won four Best Director Academy Awards, which is more than any other director in Oscar history. Although known primarily for his westerns, ironically it was four of his more traditional dramas (The Quiet Man, How Green Was My Valley, The Grapes of Wrath and The Informer) that earned him the coveted statues. It's also interesting to note that John also holds the distinction of being one of the rare directors who won Best Director Oscars back to back - The Grapes of Wrath in 1941 and How Green Was My Valley in 1943. To learn more please visit our Tribute to The Quiet Man.… that John came to Hollywood to join his brother Francis Ford who was making a good living as a bit-player in silent movies. With the help of his brother, John got work as an actor, he even appeared as an extra in D.W. Griffith's classic silent film Birth of a Nation.  … that John discovered, mentored and made a start of the legendary John Wayne (for as long as they both lived, John Wayne called John Ford "Coach".) They first meant when John Wayne and good-friend Ward Bond, both young USC football players at the time, took summer jobs as extras at Fox Studios where John were directing low-budget westerns. John Wayne appeared in small roles in a number of these movies. In 1938, Ford was doing pre-production for the movie that would become what many believe to be the best western ever made, Stagecoach. Ford had been looking for a good role to give to John Wayne but wasn't really considering him for the part of The Ringo Kid. Fortunately for John Wayne, the movie's low budget ($550,000) was too low to attract the kind of talent (for example Gary Cooper) that John Ford really wanted. Ironically, it was John Wayne's $3,000 price tag that got him the role - the rest was movie history. The two Johns went on to make more than twenty movies together. To learn more please visit our Tribute to John Wayne. … that John was a real-life friend of Wyatt Earp - the subject of one of his most famous westerns, My Darling Clementine. Many of the plot developments in the story of the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral are said to have come directly from the source.… that although he was in his mid-forties, a very patriotic John joined the military when WWII broke out. He spent the war making documentaries about many of the most important battles of war.  … that John liked to work with people he knew and trusted. He developed an acting troupe of sorts that was known as the John Ford Stock Company. Members included John Wayne, James Stewart, Harry Carrey, Henry Fonda, Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, Victor McLaglen, Maureen O'Hara, Mildred Natwick and Jane Darwell. To learn more please visit our Tribute to John Wayne, Tribute to Henry Fonda, Tribute to James Stewart and Tribute to Maureen O'Hara.On Location Hollywood Walk of Fame Star In the early 1960's, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce developed the idea of the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." The sidewalks of the most famous streets in the heart of Hollywood were lined with "stars" recognizing celebrities' life-long contributions to the entertainment industry. Receiving a star is still to this day considered a huge honor. Here's where you can find John Ford's star: 
Walk of Fame Star(Motion Pictures) 1640 Vine St. Hollywood, CA Burial Place of John Ford Holy Cross Cemetery 5835 W. Slauson Ave. Culver City, CA SEE MAP Fan Memories Do you have a John Ford story, memory or anecdote you would like to share? Be the first to conTribute! your own Fan Memory. conTribute! conTribute! your own Fan Memory conTribute! to the John Ford Message Board Email Us with any comments, corrections or suggestions Help | Site Map | Home John Ford pictured (left) in Sergeant Rutledge This Tribute is not officially endorsed or authorized by John Ford. Unauthorized use of this material is strictly prohibited. Click here for further terms of use. © 2001-2005 Destination Hollywood, Inc. All rights reserved. |
 
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