TCM Schedule for Friday, July 3, 2020 -- TCM Special Theme: Directed by John Ford

[Staph]

Throughout the day today, and every Friday this month, TCM is celebrating the works of director John Ford. Take it away, Roger!

"My name is John Ford. I make Westerns," the filmmaker famously announced at a Directors Guild of America meeting in Hollywood in 1950. Known as a practical craftsman who got the job done with a minimum of artistic pretensions, Ford gloried in the Western as the most straightforward of genres. Yet, his Western films were filled with such powerful storytelling, visual impact and psychological insight that he is often counted among the greatest of all cinematic artists.

Every Friday of this month, TCM celebrates the legacy of Ford's vision as a versatile and uniquely talented filmmaker.

Ford did not limit his output to Westerns but worked across a wide range of movie forms with equal skill. Through the course of his career he won four Academy Awards as Best Director (a record in that category), and not one was for a Western.

His Oscars came for The Informer (1935), a drama about the Irish War of Independence; The Grapes of Wrath (1940), an account of the struggles of a migrant family during the Great Depression; How Green Was My Valley (1941), a study of a Welsh mining family during the Victorian era; and The Quiet Man (1952), a turbulent romance between an Irish-born American and fiery Irish lass in the 1920s.

All these films except the last-named (along with more than 30 others) are showing in the TCM tribute. We're also screening John Ford: The Man Who Invented America (2019), a French documentary by Jean-Christophe Klotz that explores the director's life and his impact on modern culture.

Ford (1894-1973) was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and followed his older brother Francis, an actor/writer/director, to Hollywood. Ford began his own career by acting and performing stunts in his brother's silent movies and directed his first film in 1917. His first notable success as a director was The Iron Horse (1924), which established his lifelong connection to the Western.

Among the classic Ford Westerns in our tribute are Stagecoach (1939), My Darling Clementine (1946), Fort Apache (1948), 3 Godfathers (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Wagon Master (1950), The Searchers (1956), The Horse Soldiers (1959), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), Two Rode Together (1961), How the West Was Won (1962, co-directed by Henry Hathaway and George Marshall) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964).

.....

by Roger Fristoe

Enjoy!


6:30 AM -- CONSOLATION MARRIAGE (1931)
A couple who married after each was jilted faces the return of their former loved ones.
Dir: Paul Sloane
Cast: Irene Dunne, Pat O'Brien, John Halliday
BW-81 mins, CC,

The ocean liner seen at the beginning of the film is the S.S. Leviathan. Built in 1914 in Germany, she was seized by the U.S. in 1917 when that country entered WWI. It served as a troopship during the war, with Humphrey Bogart among the crew. After the war is was acquired by the United States Lines, was completely refitted and resumed transatlantic passenger service in 1923. Never profitable due to Prohibition which made her a "dry" ship and the Great Depression, she was withdrawn for service in 1933 and finally sold for scrap in 1938.


8:00 AM -- MARRIAGE IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR (1944)
A spoiled rich girl refuses to let marriage interfere with man-chasing.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Lana Turner, James Craig, John Hodiak
BW-116 mins, CC,

In early September 1941, George Cukor was announced as the film's director and Robert Taylor and Myrna Loy were announced as the stars. The entire project was scrapped by Warners and sold to MGM after numerous re-writes and rejections from the Production Code Administration. MGM had to make several changes to the novel's plot to meet the Production Code, including removing blatant references to adultery and abortion. Approval of the script was not received until January 1943.


10:00 AM -- CLASH BY NIGHT (1952)
An embittered woman seeks escape in marriage, only to fall for her husband's best friend.
Dir: Fritz Lang
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan
BW-105 mins, CC,

This movie was shot while Barbara Stanwyck was in the process of divorcing Robert Taylor. The movie also featured the rising young star Marilyn Monroe. Barbara gave a good performance in one of her most memorable films. Despite her emotional devastation, the crew noted Barbara's lack of a diva tantrum, Fritz Lang later said, "She's fantastic, unbelievable, and I liked her tremendously. When Marilyn missed her lines---which she did constantly---Barbara never said a word."


12:00 PM -- WAGON MASTER (1950)
Two wandering cowhands sign on to help a wagon train headed for Utah.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: Ben Johnson, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey Jr.
BW-86 mins, CC,

In the scene where Sandy (Harry Carey, Jr.) and Jackson (Chuck Hayward) fight, the fight is broken up by Elder Wiggs (Ward Bond). Bond has ripped pants as he separates the fighters, and you can hear a dog barking in the background. This happened because Director John Ford wanted to use two dogs, that had been ruining every scene in the film by fighting, in the background as the men fought, hoping the dogs would start fighting as a contrast to the men fighting. Instead of fighting, however, one of the dogs ran away, and the other attacked Bond and ripped his pants. Ford could barely contain his laughter, but kept filming. Afterward, he became quite concerned and said they needed to find the dog, in case it had bitten Bond, not just ripped his pants. Ford was worried the dog might have needed a tetanus shot.


1:30 PM -- 3 GODFATHERS (1949)
Three outlaws on the run risk their freedom and their lives to return a newborn to civilization.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, Harry Carey Jr.
C-106 mins, CC,

This is a remake of the silent film The Three Godfathers (1916), which starred Ford's long-time friend Harry Carey. When Carey died in 1947, Ford decided to remake the story in Technicolor and dedicate the film to his memory. Carey's son, Harry Carey Jr., plays one of the three, "The Abilene Kid". The film Three Godfathers (1936) is based on the same source, so this film is, in some sense, a remake of that film as well.


3:30 PM -- SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949)
An aging Cavalry officer tries to prevent an Indian war in the last days before his retirement.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar
C-104 mins, CC,

Winner of an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Color -- Winton C. Hoch

John Ford initially was uncertain who to cast in the lead role. However, he knew that he did not want John Wayne for the part, taking into account that, among other factors, Wayne would be playing a character over 20 years older than he was at the time. Reportedly, Wayne's performance in Red River (1948) changed Ford's mind, causing him to exclaim, "I didn't know the big son of a bitch could act!" Ford realized Wayne had grown considerably as an actor, and was now capable of playing the character he envisaged for this film. When shooting was completed, Ford presented Wayne with a cake with the message, "You're an actor now."


5:18 PM -- THE GREAT AMERICAN MUG (1945)
This short film takes a look at the typical American barbershop.
Dir: Cy Endfield
Cast: Arthur Space, William "Bill" Phillips, Eric Mayne
BW-10 mins,

The cuspidor (or spittoon) in the barbershop is stated as being made by Adams & Westlake. Founded in Chicago in 1957, the company made all sorts of railroad apparatus, most notably lanterns and all sorts of brass works, including cuspidors and even beds. As of 2020 the company is still in business in Elkhart, Indiana, having moved there in 1927.


5:30 PM -- FORT APACHE (1948)
An experienced cavalry officer tries to keep his new, by-the-books commander from triggering an Indian war.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple
BW-128 mins, CC,

First entry in John Ford's famed "Cavalry Trilogy," followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), though it was not originally intended as a trilogy. This second project--Ford's independent venture teaming with Merian C. Cooper--was planned to give their company, Argosy Productions, financial stability after the commercial failure of The Fugitive (1947).


7:39 PM -- MARCH ON AMERICA! (1942)
This short film was aimed at boosting American morale during WWII by providing an overview of American history.
Dir: Richard Whorf
C-21 mins,



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPECIAL THEME: DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD



8:00 PM -- MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946)
When the Clantons steal his family's cattle and kill his brother, Wyatt Earp signs on as sheriff of Tombstone and vows to bring them in.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature
BW-97 mins, CC,

John Ford was asked by a film historian why he changed the historical details of the famous gunfight if, as he claimed, the real Wyatt Earp had told him all about it on a movie set back in the 1920s. "Did you like the film?" Ford asked, to which the scholar replied it was one of his favorites. "What more do you want?" Ford snapped.


10:00 PM -- THE SEARCHERS (1956)
An Indian-hating Civil War veteran tracks down the tribe that slaughtered his family and kidnapped his niece.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles
C-119 mins, CC,

Western star Harry Carey died in 1947. Director John Ford cast Carey's wife (Olive Carey) as Mrs. Jorgensen (the mother) and Carey's son (Harry Carey Jr.) as one of the sons (Brad) as a tribute to Carey. In the closing scene with John Wayne framed in the doorway, Wayne holds his right elbow with his left hand in a pose that Carey fans would recognize as one that he often used. Wayne later stated he did it as a tribute to Carey. Off-camera, Olive watched.


12:15 AM -- STAGECOACH (1939)
A group of disparate passengers battle personal demons and each other while racing through Indian country.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine
BW-96 mins, CC,

Winner of Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Thomas Mitchell, and Best Music, Scoring -- Richard Hageman, W. Franke Harling, John Leipold and Leo Shuken

Nominee for Oscars for Best Director -- John Ford, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Bert Glennon, Best Art Direction -- Alexander Toluboff, Best Film Editing -- Otho Lovering and Dorothy Spencer, and Best Picture

John Ford liked to bully actors on the set, and this was no exception. At one point he said to Andy Devine, "You big tub of lard. I don't know why the hell I'm using you in this picture." Undaunted, Devine replied, "Because Ward Bond can't drive six horses." Likewise he attacked Thomas Mitchell, who eventually retorted, "Just remember: I saw Mary of Scotland (1936)," effectively humbling the director. Worst of all was Ford's treatment of John Wayne. He called him a "big oaf" and a "dumb bastard" and continually criticized his line delivery and manner of walking, even how he washed his face on camera. However, at least part of this was to provoke the actor into giving a stronger performance; Claire Trevor recalls how Ford grabbed Duke by the chin and shook him. "Why are you moving your mouth so much?" he said. "Don't you know you don't act with your mouth in pictures? You act with your eyes." Wayne tolerated the rough treatment and rose to the challenge, reaching a new plateau as an actor. Ford helped cement the impression that Wayne makes in the film by giving him plenty of expressive reaction shots throughout the picture.


2:00 AM -- SCARY MOVIE (1991)
A paranoid young man gradually comes to believe that an escaped lunatic may be hiding in the neighborhood Halloween house of horrors.
Dir: Daniel Erickson
Cast: John Hawkes, Suzanne Aldrich, Ev Lunning
BW-82 mins, CC,

In so far as I can tell, there is no connection between this film and Scary Movie (2000) (and its four sequels), other than the title.


3:30 AM -- THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986)
A radio host is victimized by the cannibal family as a former Texas Marshall hunts them.
Dir: Tobe Hooper
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson
BW-101 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Caroline Williams wanted to make a strong impression at her audition. When she was called in, she went to the end of the hallway and ran screaming into the room, where she pulled Tobe Hooper and L.M. Kit Carson out of their seats and used the chairs to barricade the door before she began her scene.


5:15 AM -- DUCK AND COVER (1951)
In this short film, a monkey's prank on a turtle demonstrates how to survive a nuclear attack.
Dir: Anthony Rizzo
Cast: Leo M. Langlois III, Ray J. Mauer,
BW-9 mins,


5:15 AM -- BOOKED FOR SAFEKEEPING (1960)
In this short documentary, police officers are trained in the assistance and management of mentally ill and confused persons.
Dir: George C Stoney
BW-32 mins,

[CBHagman]

1. As always, the stories are must-reads.

I especially liked the detail about Ward Bond and the dog.

And the description of the set of Stagecoach is eye-opening. I didn't think anyone could make me feel sorry for John Wayne, but someone finally has. But it's a brilliant movie, on so many levels, and the ensemble cast is one of its greatest strengths. I'm glad to know Thomas Mitchell and even Andy Devine were not cowed by John Ford.

(And just last night I was just thinking about Mary of Scotland and its crap history, so Thomas Mitchell's retort is timely!)

Also, great stories about Barbara Stanwyck and others. I get the impression not enough people alive today realize what a treasure Barbara Stanwyck was, how versatile she proved through multiple eras.

[Staph]

2. I'm fascinated that

in the year of the Oscar juggernaut that was Gone With The Wind, Thomas Mitchell won an Oscar for his role as Doc Boone in Stagecoach, rather than as Scarlet O'Hara's father!