
John Ford
Director, producer and writer, also cinematographer and editor · Died August 31, 1973, aged 79 · Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath (1940). His four Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952) is a record, and one of those films, How Green Was My Valley (1941), also won Best Picture. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed more than 140 films (although nearly all of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Ford's films and personality were held in high regard by his colleagues, with Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles among those who have named him as one of the greatest directors of all time. In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot which frames his characters against a vast, harsh and rugged natural terrain.
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Biography from TMDB.
- February 1, 1894
- August 31, 1973 (aged 79)
- Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
- Director, producer and writer, also cinematographer and editor
- 69 on MovieCove · 166 credits in all
What are John Ford's films like?
Across their 64 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 63
A split, not a type: Light 18 · Serious 22 · Dark 24
A split, not a type: Grounded 37 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 3
Gentle 15 · Charged 32 · Intense 17
Steady 34 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 2
Straight-faced 36 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 6
Slow burn 41 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 2
Casual 29 · Engaged 33 · Full focus 2
Easy watch 22 · Affecting 24 · Heavy 18
Resolved 57 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2
Moods and endings
- Happy21
- Bittersweet33
- Tragic2
- Ambiguous7
- Other1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch John Ford's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 69 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).
- Stagecoach (1939) · director, producer · free
- The Long Gray Line (1955) · director · free
- They Were Expendable (1945) · director, producer · free
- Four Sons (1928) · director, producer · free
- The Iron Horse (1924) · director, producer · free
- The Alamo (1960) · second unit director · free
- Just Pals (1920) · director · free
- Judge Priest (1934) · director · free
- The Battle of Midway (1942) · director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor · free
- Arrowsmith (1931) · director · free
- December 7th (1943) · director, producer · free
- Men Without Women (1930) · director, writer, producer · free
- +3 more
Subscription and free streaming for John Ford's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
166 credits, 69 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Battleground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

Unforgiven(1992)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Vietnam! Vietnam! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

7 Women(1965)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Cheyenne Autumn(1964)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Donovan's Reef(1963)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
How the West Was Won(1962)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Flashing Spikes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Alcoa Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

Two Rode Together(1961)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
The Colter Craven Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Alamo(1960)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Sergeant Rutledge(1960)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
The Horse Soldiers(1959)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all filmsKorea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

The Last Hurrah(1958)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Gideon of Scotland Yard(1958)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all filmsJohn Ford at the NFT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Wagon Train(1957)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
The Rising of the Moon(1957)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
The Wings of Eagles(1957)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
The Growler Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

The Searchers(1956)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all filmsRookie of the Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
The Jane Wyman Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Mister Roberts(1955)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
The Red, White and Blue Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Long Gray Line(1955)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Mogambo(1953)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
The Sun Shines Bright(1953)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
What Price Glory(1952)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
The Quiet Man(1952)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
This Is Korea! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Rio Grande(1950)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Wagon Master(1950)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon(1949)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Mighty Joe Young(1949)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Pinky(1949)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
3 Godfathers(1948)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Fort Apache(1948)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
The Fugitive(1947)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
My Darling Clementine(1946)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
It's Your America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

They Were Expendable(1945)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
In Memoriam Manuel Quezon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

At the Front in North Africa with the U.S. Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
We Sail at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

December 7th(1943)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all filmsGerman Industrial Manpower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

The Battle of Midway(1942)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Sex Hygiene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Torpedo Squadron 8 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Women in Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

How Green Was My Valley(1941)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Tobacco Road(1941)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
The Long Voyage Home(1940)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
The Grapes of Wrath(1940)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Drums Along the Mohawk(1939)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Young Mr. Lincoln(1939)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Stagecoach(1939)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Submarine Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Four Men and a Prayer(1938)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
The Hurricane(1937)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Wee Willie Winkie(1937)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
The Plough and the Stars(1936)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Mary of Scotland(1936)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
The Last Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Steamboat Round the Bend(1935)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
The Informer(1935)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
The Whole Town's Talking(1935)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Judge Priest(1934)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
The World Moves On(1934)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
The Lost Patrol(1934)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Doctor Bull(1933)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Pilgrimage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Air Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Arrowsmith(1931)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
The Brat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Seas Beneath(1931)
Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
Up the River(1930)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Born Reckless(1930)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Men Without Women(1930)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Big Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Salute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Black Watch(1929)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Strong Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Riley the Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Napoleon's Barber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Hangman's House(1928)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Four Sons(1928)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Mother Machree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Upstream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

The Blue Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

3 Bad Men(1926)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
The Shamrock Handicap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

The Fighting Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Thank You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

The Iron Horse(1924)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Kentucky Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Lightnin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Hearts of Oak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Hoodman Blind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

North of Hudson Bay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

Cameo Kirby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

Three Jumps Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

The Face on the Barroom Floor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

The Village Blacksmith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

Silver Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

Little Miss Smiles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

Jackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

Sure Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

Desperate Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

The Wallop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

The Freeze-Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

The Big Punch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

Just Pals(1920)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Hitchin' Posts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

The Girl in Number 29 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

The Prince of Avenue A (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

Marked Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

A Gun Fightin' Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Rider of the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Ace of the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Outcasts of Poker Flat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Last Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Riders of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Gun Packer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

By Indian Post (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Gun Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Bare Fists(1919)
Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Rustlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

A Fight For Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Fighting Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Roped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Three Mounted Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

The Craving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

A Woman's Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

Hell Bent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

The Scarlet Drop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

Thieves' Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

Wild Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

The Phantom Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

Bucking Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

A Marked Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Secret Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

Straight Shooting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

Cheyenne's Pal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Soul Herder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Scrapper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)
The Trail of Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Tornado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Purple Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

The Bandit's Wager (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

The Broken Coin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

The Birth of a Nation(1915)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
A Study in Scarlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)
Career shape
A full career of 165 titles from 1914 to 2004.

Biggest box office
How the West Was Won (1962)

Highest rated
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Most popular right now
Fort Apache (1948)
Film career
- 1959Screen debut· The Horse Soldiers
By role
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do John Ford's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 64 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 77th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up36
- 50th to 74th19
- 25th to 49th12
- Below 25th2
Shape of the crowd
41 of their 69 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved12
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser41
- Broadly Agreed8
- Mixed7
Reviewers score the atmosphere 72/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 63 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is John Ford's work okay for kids?
Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does John Ford work with?
People who share at least 2 of John Ford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dudley Nichols shares the most, 15.
Writers
- Dudley NicholsShared titles: Pinky (1949), The Fugitive (1947), The Battle of Midway (1942), The Long Voyage Home (1940), Stagecoach (1939), The Hurricane (1937), Mary of Scotland (1936), The Plough and the Stars (1936), Steamboat Round the Bend (1935), The Informer (1935), Judge Priest (1934), The Lost Patrol (1934) and 3 moreSee newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Dudley Nichols
- Frank S. NugentShared titles: Donovan's Reef (1963), Two Rode Together (1961), The Last Hurrah (1958), The Rising of the Moon (1957), The Searchers (1956), Mister Roberts (1955), The Quiet Man (1952), Wagon Master (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), 3 Godfathers (1948), Fort Apache (1948)See all 11 shared titles with Frank S. Nugent

- James Warner BellahShared titles: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), Rio Grande (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Fort Apache (1948)See all 5 shared titles with James Warner Bellah
- James Kevin McGuinnessShared titles: Rio Grande (1950), December 7th (1943), The Battle of Midway (1942), Born Reckless (1930), Men Without Women (1930), The Black Watch (1929)See all 6 shared titles with James Kevin McGuinness

Actors
- Ward BondShared titles: The Wings of Eagles (1957), The Searchers (1956), Mister Roberts (1955), The Long Gray Line (1955), The Quiet Man (1952), Wagon Master (1950), 3 Godfathers (1948), Fort Apache (1948), The Fugitive (1947), My Darling Clementine (1946), They Were Expendable (1945), Tobacco Road (1941) and 2 moreSee newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Ward Bond

- John WayneShared titles: Donovan's Reef (1963), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Wings of Eagles (1957), The Searchers (1956), The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Grande (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), 3 Godfathers (1948), Fort Apache (1948), They Were Expendable (1945), The Long Voyage Home (1940) and 1 moreSee newest 12 of 13 shared titles with John Wayne

- Henry FondaShared titles: How the West Was Won (1962), Mister Roberts (1955), Fort Apache (1948), The Fugitive (1947), My Darling Clementine (1946), The Battle of Midway (1942), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)See all 9 shared titles with Henry Fonda

- Victor McLaglenShared titles: The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Grande (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Fort Apache (1948), Wee Willie Winkie (1937), The Informer (1935), The Lost Patrol (1934), The Black Watch (1929), Hangman's House (1928)See all 9 shared titles with Victor McLaglen

Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Jack MurrayShared titles: Two Rode Together (1961), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Last Hurrah (1958), The Searchers (1956), Mister Roberts (1955), The Sun Shines Bright (1953), The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Grande (1950), Wagon Master (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), 3 Godfathers (1948) and 3 moreSee newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Jack Murray
- Alfred NewmanShared titles: How the West Was Won (1962), What Price Glory (1952), When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950), Pinky (1949), December 7th (1943), The Battle of Midway (1942), How Green Was My Valley (1941), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), The Hurricane (1937), Wee Willie Winkie (1937) and 1 moreSee newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Alfred Newman

- Joseph H. AugustShared titles: They Were Expendable (1945), The Battle of Midway (1942), Mary of Scotland (1936), The Plough and the Stars (1936), The Informer (1935), The Whole Town's Talking (1935), The Seas Beneath (1931), Men Without Women (1930), Up the River (1930), The Black Watch (1929)See all 10 shared titles with Joseph H. August

- George SchneidermanShared titles: Steamboat Round the Bend (1935), Judge Priest (1934), The World Moves On (1934), Doctor Bull (1933), Born Reckless (1930), Four Sons (1928), Hangman's House (1928), 3 Bad Men (1926), The Iron Horse (1924), Just Pals (1920)See all 10 shared titles with George Schneiderman
Producers
- Merian C. CooperShared titles: The Searchers (1956), The Sun Shines Bright (1953), The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Grande (1950), Wagon Master (1950), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), 3 Godfathers (1948), Fort Apache (1948), The Fugitive (1947), The Lost Patrol (1934)See all 10 shared titles with Merian C. Cooper

- Darryl F. ZanuckShared titles: Pinky (1949), How Green Was My Valley (1941), Tobacco Road (1941), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), Wee Willie Winkie (1937), The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)See all 8 shared titles with Darryl F. Zanuck

- Cliff ReidShared titles: The Plough and the Stars (1936), The Informer (1935), The Lost Patrol (1934)See all 3 shared titles with Cliff Reid
- Winfield R. SheehanShared titles: The World Moves On (1934), Doctor Bull (1933), The Black Watch (1929)See all 3 shared titles with Winfield R. Sheehan





