If there is a name that stands out bright in the history of American cinema, it is that of director John Ford (1894-1973). A complex and talented artist, working in a popular medium based on the collaborative efforts of writers, actors, craftsmen, and producers, Ford achieved in fifty years of filmmaking a unique stature in … Read more
It has (too) recently come to my attention that the Criterion Collection’s release of John Ford’s brilliant Stagecoach is now available through the Netflix Watch Instantly feature. As one of the most influential Westerns of all time — as well as a prominent entry on the list of “All-Time Greatest Film Entrances” — it’s one of … Read more
I taught for a while in Paris and, after knocking off work, would walk down the rue des Écoles, past the College de France, past the statue of Joachim du Bellay, to the Cinéma Henri Langois — the best repertory cinema I know — to see a Western. I took my seat in the dark … Read more