John Ford Goes to War (2002)
56 min
When World War II broke out, John Ford, in his forties, commissioned in the Naval Reserve, was put in charge of the Field Photographic Unit by Bill Donavan, director of the soon-to-be-OSS. During the war, Field Photo made at least 87 documentaries, many with Ford's signature attention to heroism and loss, and many from the point of view of the fighting soldier and sailor. Talking heads discuss Ford's life and personality, the ways that the war gave him fulfillment, and the ways that his war films embodied the same values and conflicts that his Hollywood films did. Among the films profiled are "Battle of Midway," "Torpedo Squadron," "Sexual Hygiene," and "December 7."
- Release date
- January 1, 2002
- Country of origin
- United States
Cast
- Peter Bogdanovich as Self
- Jane Darwell
- Scott Eyman as Self
- F.X. Feeney as Self
- Henry Fonda as Self
- Dan Ford as Self
Crew
- Ward Bond · Archive footage
- Michael Curtiz · Archive footage
- Jane Darwell · Archive footage
- Harry Davenport · Archive footage
- Henry Fonda · Archive footage
- John Ford · Archive footage
- Tom Thurman · Director
- Tom Marksbury · Writer
- Tom Thurman · Producer
- Mike Brower · Cinematographer
- Chris McElhone · Editor