TopTenREVIEWS presents the film career and movie reviews of John Ford.
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Director Facts
Birth:
February 1, 1894
Death:
August 31, 1973
Biography:
John Ford came to Hollywood following one of his brothers, an actor. Asked what brought him to Hollywood, he replied "The train". He became one of the most respected directors in the business, in spite of being known for his westerns, which were not considered "serious" film. ...more about John Ford
John Ford
DIRECTOR RANKINGS:
CAREER SPAN
Decade
Movie Score
# Movies
1920s
No Reviews
12
1930s
2.6413
23
1940s
3.0637
14
1950s
2.8322
14
1960s
2.1701
4
1970s
No Reviews
2
Ratings and rankings are based on all available critic reviews & awards for each movie.
Overall Director Score: 
3.1669
3.1669John Ford Movie Rankings
1
3.6915Ethan Edwards (John Wayne)returned from war to find his family massacred and his niece kidnapped by Indians. With his half-nephew he vows to find and save his niece from the people he despises. After years of searching, he finds she as become one of them. ...more about Searchers
Director Awards
- Directors Guild of America, USA - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- DVD Best Pricing:
Wal Mart
2
3.6805Based on the John Steinbeck novel, Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) is a man just released from prison, but when he returns home to his family farm, he finds it deserted. It seems the depression and the drought has forced the farmers to find greener pastures. ...more about Grapes of Wrath
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Director
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
3
3.2500After a disaster in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton returns to his birthplace in Ireland. Hoping to live out a quiet existence Sean falls in love with a local girl. Her brother, Red Will, refuses to give his sister's hand and Sean is forced to conquer is old demons and fight for the woman he loves. ...more about Quiet Man
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Director
- Directors Guild of America, USA - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- Golden Globes, USA - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
More Movie Rankings Below
John Ford Shopping
4
3.1636Three outlaws, on the run after robbing a bank, encounter a woman in labor in the middle of the desert. Although the child lives, the woman dies. To appease her dying wish the three promise to deliver the baby to safety, even if it risks their own lives. ...more about 3 Godfathers
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
5
3.1262At the turn of the century in a Welsh mining village, the Morgans (he stern, she gentle) raise coal-mining sons and hope their youngest will find a better life. Lots of atmosphere, very sentimental view of pre-union miners' lives. ...more about How Green Was My Valley
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Director
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
6
2.9938Mister Roberts is aboard a US cargo ship, working in the Pacific during the Second World War. He'd do anything to leave the quiet of the ship to join in the "action". ...more about Mister Roberts
Director Awards
- Directors Guild of America, USA - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- DVD Best Pricing:
Overstock.com
7
2.9848Senator Ranse Stoddard returns to the city Shinbone in the Wild West to go to the funeral of his friend, Tom Doniphon. ...more about Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
- DVD Best Pricing:
Overstock.com
8
2.9542The fall of the Phillippines to the Japanese in World War II, and the heroism and tragedy of the defenders, as exemplified by the story of one American PT boat squadron. ...more about They Were Expendable
- DVD Best Pricing:
Overstock.com
9
2.9463In John Ford's sombre exploration mythologising of American heroes, he slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday, who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. ...more about Fort Apache
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
10
2.9249Ten years in the life of Abraham Lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. He moves from a Kentucky cabin to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his law practice. ...more about Young Mr. Lincoln
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
11
2.9207Before the Revolutionary War farmer Martin brings bride Magdelana the Mohawk Valley where they are burned out by Indians. Neighbors take them in and Martin joins the militia to fight the Indians. ...more about Drums Along the Mohawk
- DVD Best Pricing:
Wal Mart
12
2.9206Wyatt Earp and his brothers move to Tombstone to live the lives of quiet farmers, but when a band of outlaws kills their youngest brother, Earp and his siblings acquire the sheriff's badge and promise to hold them accountable for their actions. All this leads up to the famous shootout at the O.K. ...more about My Darling Clementine
- DVD Best Pricing:
Wal Mart
13
2.8609Captain Nathan Brittles, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled. ...more about She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
14
2.8283A stagecoach carrying various passengers sets off from Tonto to Lordsburg, New Mexico, but along the way they encounter a group of Apaches led by Geronimo. The passengers try to fight off the Indians, and just as they run out of ammo, the U.S. Calvary comes to the rescue. ...more about Stagecoach
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Art Direction
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Director
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
DVDEmpire
15
2.7819Rio Grande takes place after the Civil War when the Union turned their attention towards the Apaches. ...more about Rio Grande
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
16
2.7457Aboard the freighter Glencairn, the lives of the crew are lived out in fear, loneliness, suspicion and cameraderie. ...more about Long Voyage Home
Director Awards
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Overstock.com
17
2.7273Victor Marswell runs a big game trapping company in Kenya. Eloise Kelly is ditched there, and an immediate attraction happens between them. Then Mr. and Mrs. Nordley show up for their gorilla documenting safari. Mrs. ...more about Mogambo
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
18
2.6939In the waning days of WWI, a U.S. "Mystery Ship," sets sail for the coast of Spain towing a submarine. Their mission is to find and sink a U-boat that has been especially effective in attacking Allied shipping. ...more about Seas Beneath
- Not Available on DVD
19
2.6894Based on a Sinclair Lewis novel "Martin Arrowsmith". A medical researcher is sent to a plague outbreak, where he has to decide priorities for the use of a vaccine. ...more about Arrowsmith
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Art Direction
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
20
2.6652A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail/supply centre. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. ...more about Horse Soldiers
- DVD Best Pricing:
DVDEmpire
21
2.6286The life story of a salt-of-the-earth Irish immigrant, who becomes an Army Noncommissioned Officer and spends his 50 year career at the United States Military Academy at West Point. ...more about Long Gray Line
Director Awards
- Directors Guild of America, USA - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
22
2.5880A World War I British Army patrol is crossing the Mesopotomian desert when their commanding officer, the only one who knows their destination is killed by the bullet of unseen bandits. ...more about Lost Patrol
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
23
2.5423Based of the Graham Greene novel about a revolutionary priest in Central America. A priest who is The Fugitive is trying to getaway from the authorities who have denounced Christianity and want anyone linked to it dead. ...more about Fugitive
- Not Available on DVD
25
2.5387Shiftless Jeeter Lester and his family of hillbilly stereotypes live in a rural backwater where their ancestors were once wealthy planters. ...more about Tobacco Road
- Not Available on DVD
26
2.5108The US Army is under pressure from the desperate relatives of white prisoners of the Comanches to secure their rescue. A cynical and corrupt marshal, Guthrie McCabe, is persuaded by an army lieutenant to assist in the negotiations with the Comanches. ...more about Two Rode Together
- Not Available on DVD
27
2.4816Mary Stuart returns to Scotland to rule as queen, to the chagrin of Elizabeth I of England who finds her a dangerous rival. ...more about Mary of Scotland
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
28
2.4688An aging politician (Spencer Tracy) tries to get re-elected one last time in the changing world of the 1950s when TV started to play a bigger part in politics. ...more about Last Hurrah
Director Awards
- National Board of Review, USA - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
29
2.4474Level headed Mike Miller runs Desert Airport, an air mail base full of daring young pilots risking their lives to get the mail through-regardless of the weather. ...more about Airmail
- Not Available on DVD
31
2.3743Little Priscilla Williams goes to live with her grandfather, the colonel at a British Army base in 19th century India. She drills with the troops, gets captured by rebels, and generally cheers everyone up. ...more about Wee Willie Winkie
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Art Direction
- Not Available on DVD
33
2.3515Documentary about the bombing of Pearl Habour on December 7th, 1941 and its results, the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the US effors to beat back the Japanese inforcements. ...more about December 7th
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
34
2.2465Colonel Loring Leigh, British Indian Army, appears to have issued an order that cost 90 lives. Cashiered, he returns home, tells his sons of a conspiracy by an arms syndicate to supply the rebels...then is found dead, an apparent suicide. ...more about Four Men and a Prayer
- Not Available on DVD
35
2.1538In 1918 France, Captain Flagg commands a disreputable company of Marines; his new top sergeant is his old friendly enemy, Quirt. ...more about What Price Glory
- DVD Best Pricing:
Herman Street
36
2.1369Will Rogers plays the lead roll, that of Judge William "Billy" Priest in a very patriotic (Confederate) southern town. Priest plays a laid-back, widowed judge who helps uphold the law in his toughest court case yet. ...more about Judge Priest
- Not Available on DVD
37
2.0410Sailor Terangi is unjustly imprisoned for killing a man in a fight. Unfortunately, the governor of the island has no interest in the concerns of the natives and refuses a pardon. ...more about Hurricane
- Not Available on DVD
38
1.9634A few short hours after President Lincoln has been assassinated, Dr. Samuel Mudd gives medical treatment to a wounded man who shows up at his door. Mudd has no idea that the president is dead and that he is treating his murderer, John Wilkes Booth. ...more about Prisoner of Shark Island
- Not Available on DVD
39
1.8688Lieutenant Tom Cantrell is sent to defend Sergeant Braxton Rutledge a black cavalry soldier on a charge of rape and murder. The story begins in a courtroom and the story is told through flashbacks. ...more about Sergeant Rutledge
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
41
1.6818Dublin, 1922. Gypo Nolan, strong but none too bright, has been ousted from the rebel organization and is starving. ...more about Informer
Director Awards
- Academy Awards, USA - Best Director
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Director
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
43
1.5191John Ford weaves three "Judge Priest" stories together to form a good- natured exploration of honour and small-town politics in the South around the turn of the century. ...more about Sun Shines Bright
- Not Available on DVD
45
On June 4-6, 1942, a large Japanese force attempted to capture Midway Island in the North Pacific, but was defeated by U.S. forces with a loss ratio of 4:1 in favor of the Americans. ...more about Battle of Midway
- DVD Best Pricing:
Newegg.com
46
Captain Donald King of the British Army goes to India just as World War I breaks out, convincing his comrades that he is a coward. In reality, he is on a secret mission to rescue British soldiers held prisoner there. ...more about Black Watch
- Not Available on DVD
48
A society novelist brings a brash young chorus girl home in order to study her for inspiration for his new novel. His family is distraught, but soon her behavior has forever altered their snobbish ways. ...more about Brat
- Not Available on DVD
49
Wrongfully blamed for the death of Col. John Randall, Cameo Kirby (Gilbert) must find the true villain and clear his name before he can declare his love for Adele (Olmstead), the dead man's daughter. ...more about Cameo Kirby
- Not Available on DVD
51
Dr. Bull is an old-fashioned country doctor whose affair with the widow Janet Cardmaker is creating waves in the small town where he practices. When there is a mysterious outbreak of typhoid which the doctor is slow in reacting to, it all comes to a head. ...more about Doctor Bull
- Not Available on DVD
53
In Burgendorf, Bavaria, Mother Bernle has four sons. Franz is in the army, Johann works at the forge, Andreas tends the sheep. Joseph is riding a hay wagon with a pretty girl when some of the hay falls off, landing on the fearsome Maj. Von Stomm. ...more about Four Sons
- Not Available on DVD
58
Aboard the U.S. submarine S13 in the China seas, Chief Torpedoman Burke goes about his duties. In actuality, he is Quartermaine, the infamous former commander of the British ship Royal Scot, which was sunk by Germans with a Field Marshal aboard. ...more about Men Without Women
- Not Available on DVD
59
Three vignettes of Irish country life, based on a series of short stories. The title piece is about an arrested Irish nationalist and his daring escape. Tyrone Power (his last movie) introduces each story. ...more about Rising of the Moon
- Not Available on DVD
60
Trovatosi in grosse difficoltà economiche, un vecchio nobiluomo irlandese è costretto a vendere parte della propria scuderia ad un possidente Americano, che si porta via anche il suo miglior fantino. ...more about Shamrock Handicap
- Not Available on DVD
65
Two prisoners, Saint Louis and Dannemora Dan, escape during a theatrical production in order to go to the aid of Steve, a former prisoner whose past is about to be exposed by the man who framed Judy unless Steve agrees to help him commit another crime. ...more about Up the River
- Not Available on DVD
69
When Willie leaves home to join the war effort he is all ready to become a hero, but he is only frustrated when his posting ends up to be in his home town, and he is recruited into training, keeping him from the action. ...more about When Willie Comes Marching Home
- Not Available on DVD
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