Product Details

• Actors: John Ford, Peter Bogdanovich, Orson Welles, Ward Bond, Harry Carey
• Directors: Peter Bogdanovich
• Writers: Peter Bogdanovich
• Format: Color, DVD, Black & White, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 15, 2009
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002945DVG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,898 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Directed by John Ford" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Directed By John Ford (1971) (2006), 110m., June 22, 2009

By 

Brock Stevens (Coal City, WV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directed by John Ford (DVD)

I thought this was a great documentary, originally released in 1971, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and Narrated by Orson Welles. This documentary aired on TCM in 2006 and the viewers went CRAZY, it was #5 or #6 on their list of films most requested to be on DVD. I recorded it on VHS back in '06, and will be buying this commercial release in September. This documentary has interviews with John Ford (Of Coarse), John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg... (Eastwood, Scorsese, and Speilberg's interviews were added in 2006 when Bogdanovich re-cut it, along with some other footage that was not in the original 1971 release.) I don't suggest this documentary for everyone, if you are an avid movie fan (Like Me) who enjoys seeing people reflect on their careers and other stars telling stories about things that happened on movie sets then you'll love it as I do, but if you aren't interested in such types of documentaries than this is not for you. Also, if you are a HUGE John Ford fan seek out Mr. Ford's AFI Salute (Only on VHS at this time).

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Encountering an Old Love, September 14, 2009

By 

Liam Wilshire (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directed by John Ford (DVD)

I last saw this film 30 years ago, and it left such an impression on me, it has been at the top of my "Why isn't this on video?" list ever since. In a way, I'm glad I missed seeing it on TCM--on DVD, the re-edit of the original plus the improved quality of the clips makes it like meeting an old love and finding her more beautiful than ever.

The interview material added since 1971 (particularly Maureen O'Hara's 1992 contribution) really helps to explain why Ford was so hilariously contrarian in his original contact with Bogdonovich. There is a much fuller sense of John Ford as a person than in the original film. Spielberg, Eastwood, Scorsese and others help place his work in an artistic context.

But the real thrill of the film is in the clips themselves. Bogdonovich had just done his first feature, a B-movie starring Boris Karloff, and would go on to make three masterpieces in a row. DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD, falling in the midst of this progression, is really like a piece of found art, in which he lovingly assembles pieces of Ford's films to make something entirely his own. The talking head portions are beautifully shot on 35mm, and fit seamlessly into the material of the clips. Also, to listen to Fonda, Stewart, and Wayne is to appreciate how skilled they all are as raconteurs.

DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD calls attention to the irony that is so easily overlooked in Ford's films, and makes a point of showing Ford to be not so much a chronicler of American History as an archivist of the myths and rituals of American History.

Even for those not fully convinced of Ford's genius, this documentary is a valuable primer on how to understand film art. It is also a gorgeous example of film art in its own right.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory for Cinephiles, July 20, 2009

By 

C. C. Clark III "amateur historian" (Hampden, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Directed by John Ford (DVD)

Anyone who loves feature films, especially Ford films, should see this documentary. Although made in the early 70's, it has been updated. Bogdanovich managed to befriend many of the greats of Hollywood's Golden Era, and thankfully has put on record his conversations and rememberances. In this film there are many priceless moments; the one that comes to mind first is John Wayne's telling of his first encounter with Ford. Duke appears very relaxed in his interview, which Bogdanovich conducted on John Wayne's patio overlooking Newport Beach. The film is narrated by Orson Welles, another friend of Bogdanovich, who called Ford "the old master." Great stuff is found within; get it now!