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Directed by John Ford See Post #9

post #1 of 46
7/12/06 at 1:44am
Thread Starter 
It looks like Peter Bogdanovich's documentary "Directed by John Ford" will be getting a release:
Frank Marshall: Actually, we're [he and Bogdanovich] re-cutting and updating the John Ford documentary. We've done new interviews with Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Walter Hill and others. It's really exciting. It will air on Turner Classic Movies [this October].

link
No doubt a DVD release will follow.
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post #2 of 46
7/12/06 at 2:54am

Re: Directed by John Ford

A lot of people don't like Bogdanovich, but for some reason he cracks me up and I like listening to his stories, particularly about John Ford. Ford was a crusty old man and I hope that I live long enough to be one too.





Crawdaddy
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post #3 of 46
7/12/06 at 3:49am

Re: Directed by John Ford

Bogdanovich's book Who The Devil Made It should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in studio era Hollywood. It contains some of the best quotes ever, like Howard Hawks being unsure of what The Big Sleep was about, but convinced it would be a good film if he just strung together enough good scenes.
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post #4 of 46
7/12/06 at 5:08am

Re: Directed by John Ford

Wonder who owns that CBS special that saluted Ford in the early seventies. I think it was called "The American West Of John Ford", and featured Wayne, Stewart, and Fonda, as well as the director. It would be well worth seeing again.

http://www.greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/
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post #5 of 46
7/12/06 at 5:17am

Re: Directed by John Ford

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnPM
Wonder who owns that CBS special that saluted Ford in the early seventies. I think it was called "The American West Of John Ford", and featured Wayne, Stewart, and Fonda, as well as the director. It would be well worth seeing again.

http://www.greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/

It's available in R2 - see here; the quality is appalling, but it's fascinating stuff.

I think I've plugged it before, but Ford fans should also be laying their hands on the German R2 of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon for the nigh on hour long Philip Jenkinson BBC interview with Ford (which Joe McBride quotes from in his Cheyenne Autumn commentary).

I've never seen the whole of Directed by John Ford - it can't come to DVD soon enough...
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post #6 of 46
7/12/06 at 7:39pm

Re: Directed by John Ford

I have the doc on VHS. I taped it off AMC years ago. The quality of the AMC version was pretty bad, but I expect that the original version utilized crappy 16mm clips back when it was released.

The doc is quite good. Wayne, Fonda and James Stewart are on hand to offer insight into certain films and situations. I like Bogdonavich's projects on great filmmakers (including his 'Searchers' commentary). This doc is a must-have for Fordians.

If they do not fin good source material for the documentary, they could at least restore the film clips with recent remastered ones.
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post #7 of 46
7/13/06 at 9:17am

Re: Directed by John Ford

Sounds neat!! Well this be released on it's own, or (hopefully) bundled into a boxset?

Quote:
A lot of people don't like Bogdanovich, but for some reason he cracks me up and I like listening to his stories, particularly about John Ford. Ford was a crusty old man and I hope that I live long enough to be one too

I like his stories too, which are always personable, as opposed to the more studious stories others typically tell. I do however find his impersonation of Hitchcock to be a little bit much.
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post #8 of 46
7/13/06 at 9:20am

Re: Directed by John Ford

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
It's available in R2 - see here; the quality is appalling, but it's fascinating stuff.

I think I've plugged it before, but Ford fans should also be laying their hands on the German R2 of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon for the nigh on hour long Philip Jenkinson BBC interview with Ford (which Joe McBride quotes from in his Cheyenne Autumn commentary).

I've never seen the whole of Directed by John Ford - it can't come to DVD soon enough...

I'll second that DVD John quotes as I love that interview.

I have seen that awful dvd you're talking about John as I've seen it for a couple of quid @ Virgins.
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post #9 of 46
11/2/06 at 1:44pm

Re: Directed by John Ford

For those interested, Turner Classic Movies is showing "Directed by John Ford" on November 7th and November 21st. This documentary has been restored and some additional footage added to it.

The capper of our Ford salute, and the best chance yet for all of us to get a direct, unvarnished look at the legendary Ford, is Peter Bogdanovich's documentary Directed by John Ford, which will be having its world television premiere on TCM on November 7, with a repeat on November 21. It's a re-edited, re-vamped and expanded version of a film Bogdanovich compiled in 1971 that was only briefly shown at the time and has not been seen for the past 30 years. Flash ahead to 2006: with the help of TCM and producer Frank Marshall (and the inclusion of 20 additional minutes of new footage), you can review Ford's entire career, see some magnificent film clips and watch as Wayne, Stewart, O'Hara, Henry Fonda, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood and others give fascinating, personal insights into Ford, the filmmaker, and Ford, the man. There's also priceless footage of Ford himself being interviewed. Watching this gift from Peter Boganovich will make it even clearer why Orson Welles once said, "I learned filmmaking by studying the Old Masters—and by that I mean John Ford, John Ford and John Ford."

by Robert Osborne

http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?date=&cid=146791
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post #10 of 46
11/2/06 at 2:06pm

Re: Directed by John Ford

Wow!! thanks for the heads up!
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post #11 of 46
11/4/06 at 10:36am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

where can I see this in the UK ?
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post #12 of 46
11/4/06 at 11:06am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

saw a clip of this new version,and it looked a whole lot better!!!!
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post #13 of 46
11/7/06 at 10:46pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

After seeing this wonderful documentary again after so many years, I must say that it can't come to dvd fast enough. It appears that its dvd rights might be controlled by Warner and after seeing a special thanks to George Feltenstein at the end of this revised documentary, I think it stands a good chance of being released some day.




Crawdaddy
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post #14 of 46
11/8/06 at 12:05am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

what would be the most likely warner film for this to be packaged with?

Though to be fair, this is one of the few bio docs that could stand on its own as an individual release.

I've wanted to see the film for seven years since I first read "print the Legend" It was great to finally get to see it.

Adam
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post #15 of 46
11/8/06 at 5:52am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_S
what would be the most likely warner film for this to be packaged with?

Conspicuous by its absence in the last Ford box was Wagon Master, but they still have enough to get together another set - The Plough and The Stars, The Rising of The Moon, 7 Women, though I think it's about time Fox paid their own tribute to the old man and got together their own collection.
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post #16 of 46
11/8/06 at 6:56am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Conspicuous by its absence in the last Ford box was Wagon Master, but they still have enough to get together another set - The Plough and The Stars, The Rising of The Moon, 7 Women, though I think it's about time Fox paid their own tribute to the old man and got together their own collection.
Looking at it from a purely marketing perspective as far as possible units sold, I have some doubt as to how well that boxset will sell. However, that doesn't mean that Warner couldn't release this great documentary by itself/with Wagon Master or package it with one of his more well known "A" titles and release it on HD.

As far as Fox, I totally agree that Fox needs to release their own Ford boxset.




Crawdaddy
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post #17 of 46
11/8/06 at 10:45am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

The one missing is The Fugitive
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post #18 of 46
11/8/06 at 10:49am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Neski
The one missing is The Fugitive
A underrated film and a beautifully filmed black and white movie, however, it's not a well-known film outside of film buffs and John Ford fans which might make it hard to sell on its own.




Crawdaddy
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post #19 of 46
11/8/06 at 11:11am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Neski
The one missing is The Fugitive

For some strange reason I had it fixed in my head that it belonged to Fox (it's my age y'know); and I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Robert, I accept totally what you say about marketing, and I'd argue that there are many films Warners have released that would appear to be a hard sell other than to film fans. But if the doco does become a HD exclusive, I suspect I won't be the only (HD-less) Ford fan who would be seriously miffed.

I think that the doco and Wagon Master alone would support another Warners set; put it this way, if it helps I'll buy two.
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post #20 of 46
11/8/06 at 12:03pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
For some strange reason I had it fixed in my head that it belonged to Fox (it's my age y'know); and I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Robert, I accept totally what you say about marketing, and I'd argue that there are many films Warners have released that would appear to be a hard sell other than to film fans. But if the doco does become a HD exclusive, I suspect I won't be the only (HD-less) Ford fan who would be seriously miffed.

I think that the doco and Wagon Master alone would support another Warners set; put it this way, if it helps I'll buy two.
John,
Don't mind me, in regard to dvd releases, I'm at times too pragmatic in my thinking. Blame it on my business management background.




Crawdaddy
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post #21 of 46
11/11/06 at 4:13am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

I recorded this but haven't watched it yet do to the fear of spoilers. For some reason most documentaries always show the ending to movies and I haven't seen several Ford films and I don't want them ruined. I own but haven't watched: THE INFORMER, MARY OF SCOTLAND, THE FUGITIVE, THE HURRICANE, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, THE LONG VOYAGE HOME and THE LAST HURRAH.

Should I hold off watching the doc?
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post #22 of 46
11/11/06 at 11:50am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

I think its safe Michael. While they show key scenes from THE INFORMER and YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, they're not exactly spoilers (although you may not want to see those scenes for the first time outside of the actual movie). Otherwise, of the movies you listed, as I remember they showed only a snippet from DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, and that was just to show an example of something and not story specific.
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post #23 of 46
11/12/06 at 2:22am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

The endings of the Searchers and End speech of Grapes of Wrath are shown. Young Mr Lincoln has a couple of scenes, but nothing I think that would be bothersome if you've not seen the movie.
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post #24 of 46
11/12/06 at 10:33am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Thanks Pete and Adam.
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post #25 of 46
1/26/09 at 11:44am

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

A poster over at the Criterion forum says:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Dambacher
I spoke with Mr. Bogdanovich regarding the above piece the other day. He's informed me that his now legendary documentary will soon be seeing the light of a DVD laser. It will be available on DVD in May through Warner Home video....

Direct quote from the man himself, "... I re-did the film in 2006 and that it was shown on TCM that year... And will be available on DVD in May through Warner Home video... I feel that the new version is infinitely better than the original and I hope you get a chance to see it!"

It's quite wonderful.
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post #26 of 46
1/26/09 at 12:25pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Sounds like a good opportunity to get WAGON MASTER, THE FUGITIVE and 7 WOMEN out as well. Hint, hint.
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post #27 of 46
1/26/09 at 2:18pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Elliott
I recorded this but haven't watched it yet do to the fear of spoilers. For some reason most documentaries always show the ending to movies and I haven't seen several Ford films and I don't want them ruined. I own but haven't watched: THE INFORMER, MARY OF SCOTLAND, THE FUGITIVE, THE HURRICANE, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, THE LONG VOYAGE HOME and THE LAST HURRAH.

Should I hold off watching the doc?

Have you watched them since your last post ?

They are awesome
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post #28 of 46
1/26/09 at 2:48pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

I'd also like to see FLESH (1932) if only because it seems to be the inspiration for the script that Barton Fink is working on. It's a film that was directed by Ford from a Moss Hart script in which Wallace Beery plays a German wrestler.
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post #29 of 46
1/26/09 at 2:51pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

Quote:
Originally Posted by oscar_merkx
Have you watched them since your last post ?

They are awesome

I did get THE INFORMER, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, and THE LAST HURRAH viewed since I last posted. As well as several of the silents.

I've watched even more documentaries in that time and I'd love to ask one of the directors why they always show clips from the endings.
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post #30 of 46
1/26/09 at 3:18pm

Re: Directed by John Ford See Post #9

that's really great to hear.
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