Customer Reviews

Ford At Fox Collection: The Essential John Ford Collection (The Frontier Marshall / My Darling Clementine / Drums Along the Mohawk / How Green Was My Valley / The Grapes of Wrath / Becoming John Ford)

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This is one of three boxed sets coming out in addition to the giant "Ford at Fox" set, and it contains four of John Ford's best known and most successful films that he directed while at Fox in addition to the documentary that was especially made for "Ford at Fox". Included are:

Drums Along The Mohawk (1939) (already on DVD) - stars Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert as Gilbert and Lana Martin, newlyweds trying to make a go of a homestead in upstate New York during the American revolution. They battle the elements as well as the Indians in their attempt to build a life together.
Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Commentary by Film Historians Julie Kirgo & Nick Redman
Theatrical trailer
Still galleries:
Advertising
Lobby cards
Studio portraits
Behind the scenes
Production stills

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) (on DVD under the Studio Classics series). The story of the Joads as they suffer mistreatment when they move from their repossessed Dust Bowl farm to California. The first of only two Best Actor nominations for Henry Fonda.
Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish Mono and Spanish subtitles
Commentary by Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride
U.K. prologue
Biography: Daryl Zannuck: 20th Century Filmmaker
Restoration comparison
Theatrical trailer
Movie Tone News:
1934: "First Drought In Many Years Hits Mid-West"
1934: "Drought Distress Is Increasing In The Mid-West"
1934: "Mid-West Drought Distress Becomes National Disaster"
1934: "Outtakes"
1941: "Roosevelt Lauds Motion Pictures At Academy Fete"
Still gallery

How Green Was My Valley (1941) (on DVD under Studio Classics series). Stars Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O'Hara in the story of how lush Welsh countryside became an ugly strip-mined area over time. Won Best Picture.
Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish subtitles
Commentary by Anna Lee Nathan and Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride
Backstory: How Green Was My Valley
Still gallery
Theatrical trailer

My Darling Clementine (1946) (on DVD under Studio Classics series). John Ford, who actually knew Wyatt Earp, directs Henry Fonda, who plays Wyatt Earp.
Disc One
Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish subtitles
Commentary by Wyatt Earp III
Disc Two
Alternate pre-release version (Ford's cut)
What is the pre-release version featurette
Theatrical trailer
Behind the scenes

Becoming John Ford (2007)
Feature-length documentary with English Stereo and Spanish/French subtitles
The Battle of Midway (doc. 1942)
Battle of Midway - Additional Footage (1942)
December 7th (doc. 1943)
Torpedo Squadron (doc. 1942)
Ford at Fox Photo Galleries (estimated 29 to be broken out by title)
Ford at Fox Movie Poster / lobby card gallery
Pressbook Galleries
Vintage Programs: The Iron Horse, Four Sons

Congratulate Fox on separating their enormous full collection of Ford's work at the studio with three smaller but potent boxes: The Classics, The Silents, and The Comedies. Although these classics have already been issued, the addition of 1939's "Frontier Marshall," which was the precursor to "My Darling Clementine," in a beautifully remastered version, and the documentary "Becoming John Ford" are worth the price of the whole set (I bought it at Amazon for $24.99!). In fact, the Ford documentary also includes "The Battle of Midway" with additional footage, "December 7th," and the much-neglected "Torpedo Squadron" (1942). Commentary has also been added to "Drums Along The Mohawk."

All these films represent "must have" classics for your collection. The packaging is compact and colorful.

Sifting through the various packages which are available on DVD of John Ford's filmaking at 20th Century Fox, this set is probably the one which offers the most reliable entertainment, the highest standard of films and the best value. It is worth noting that all of the films, with the exception of "Frontier Marshall" (not a Ford film), represent Ford at his best while he worked within the constraints of the studio system (not necessarily a bad thing) and in collaboration with Darryl F. Zanuck, the studio head and as strong minded as Ford. All of the films have extensive and informative reviews under their individual titles, so here a few random comments:

- "Frontier Marshall", a B grade western directed by Alan Dwan, is a precursor to "My Darling Clementine". It demonstrates the difference between an assembly line western with a tight budget and the achievements of Ford with a much bigger budget and a much better cast for the lyrical "My Darling Clementine". Everything about the latter is superior, possible with the exception of an amusing Binnie Barnes in the part modified for Linda Darnell which Darnell played so artificially.
- Ford preferred not to work with conventional stars and Claudette Colbert undermines "Drums along the Mohawk". While she acts the part, she never looks the part. With her reputation for vanity, the false eyelashes etc are absurd.
- "How Green was My Valley" contains a really good commentary with geriatric Anna Lee, one of the stars of the film, adding her comments.

All of the prints are in great condition and the documentaries provide invaluable information about the films, the studio and Zanuck. The dud of the set, if you discount "Frontier Marshall", is the documentary, "Becoming John Ford", a prototype of pretentious and tedious film making. You will learn much more about Ford himself by watching the documentary attached to "How Green was My Valley" in which Roddy McDowell, Maureen O'Hara and Anna Lee appear or listening to the very detailed commentary on "My Darling Clementine". This disk also contains a pre-release cut of the film and the differences are carefully analysed. It gives a rare opportunity to understand how Zanuck could use his editorial skills to enhance a narrative.

John Ford and Frank Capra were masters of their craft and all of their films from the 30's and 40's still hold up today. In this Ford set I particularly enjoyed How Green was My Valley and the Grapes of Wrath because issues they dealt with are as current today in 2008.

Bravo!

I'd previously seen all these movies and played one of the DVDs after buying the set. Image quality was very good for a remastered 70 year old film. Amazon shipped super fast even with free shipping.

Buy the box set for "Clementine" and "Grapes of Wrath". The other films are mediocre. Ford and John Wayne (instead of Henry Fonda) make a better boxed set with their western triolgy plus "Stagecoach". But, I did not hesitate to buy this set. Here's what you get: "Frontier Marshall" with Randolf Scott is not Ford's best, nor does Scott stand out as Wyatt Earp. It is a highly fictionalized part of Earp's life, which begs the question "Why not film Earp according to the facts of his life?" It looks like it was done by all concerned to fulfill studio contracts. 'My Darling Clementine" is closer to the Earp saga (roughly 30% accurate). Forgetting that it is about a fictional Wyatt Earp, the western itself is one of Ford's best, and Henry Fonda's best. The cinematography is surperb, but the absence of multiple close-ups is notable, and regrettable. Also, Ford disagreed with the final cut. Included in this box set are Ford's original film scenes without the additional music and added scenes -- you might agree that his version carries more impact. "Drums Along The Mohawk" is rather boring, which is a surprise for a John Ford film, and the genre. There is no build up to the indian battle scenes, therefore no excitement, no anticipation. It is a routine melodrama about a married couple on the frontier. Nothing special. At any time during this film, you may feel free to get and go to the kitchen and order a pizza, without missing anything important in the film. "How Green Was My Valley" is a standard John Ford drama. The critics have vacillated over the years with regard to the quality of this John Ford film. It has never received a "10", at the most a "7" and with the passage of time, today a mediocre "4". "The Grapes Of Wrath" is a powerful film, both for Ford and Fonda. Critics have claimed that Ford was pro-communist, or at least an extremely pink socialist. The film definitely cries out for the workers of the world to unite. As a depression era drama, it hits all bases to tear your heart out. The cinematography is matched only by "Clementine". But in this film Ford paints graphic pictures with close-ups of every lead. At times it is almost film noir. It is better casted than any other film in this boxed set. This film is a definite "10" and has stood the passage of time to keep it in the top 100 films of all time. It is said that Stalin's favorite American picture was "Clementine" and FDR's was "Grapes Of Wrath". It is recorded that both watched their Ford favorites over 20 times. Perhaps FDR was inspired to formulate his "New Deal" after the 20th viewing. Buy this boxed set used, to get full value.

I can only assume that the apparent short shrift that Ford's arguably finest film, "Young Mr. Lincoln",seems to be getting from the "Ford at Fox" folks (it's not included in the "Essential Ford" box, and seems to have been only begrudgingly included in the main set)is due to a possible licensing agreement with Criterion, who put out the (excellent)double-disc release of the film last year. Since I already own the Criterion disc, I guess I just resent the implication that "Drums Along the Mohawk" is somehow considered "essential", and "Mr. Lincoln" is not..Oh well, a minor quibble, I suppose. I wish Fox would include Dwan's "Frontier Marshall" in the main "Ford at Fox" box (as they apparently are in the "Essential Ford" set)..But when all is said and done, who cares? Gear your accordions up for "Red River Valley"! On December 4th, the Ford Fest commences!!