"Directed by John Ford", is the tedious account by aficionado actors and a few others, about the "greatness" of director John Ford. After about ten minutes, the obsequious fawning becomes entirely tedious. The whole time is taken up by an exaggerated flattery or affectation. Not one critique is mentioned, only a few funny anecdotal stories about how John Ford controlled everyone. Apparently, by the expressed opinion of those involved, he is the sole and only director that invented all film techniques. Clint Eastwood even has a part where he says, "John Ford lived in a time before political correctness." By that, I think he means that John Ford was allowed carte blanche, to denigrate anyone he wished to, especially the Native Americans in his tepid Westerns.
Then they mention what a great spiritualist John Ford seemed to be, neglecting his rabid anti-Native American portrayal. His films have so much spirituality, I guess that works if you are Irish or Welsh, but if you are an Apache or Navajo, then it's to the "cannon fodder" with you in his films. Frankly, I didn't think much of his films to begin with, they were bloated, self-indulgent pieces of utter sentimentality. There's a few here or there that one can sit through without wanting to vomit, but for the most part, they are unapologetic exercises in nostalgic insipidness.
I would have appreciated a more objective balance added to the rabid sycophantic display put together by Peter Bogdanovich.
But apparently we are not allowed to criticize "great men".
Then they mention what a great spiritualist John Ford seemed to be, neglecting his rabid anti-Native American portrayal. His films have so much spirituality, I guess that works if you are Irish or Welsh, but if you are an Apache or Navajo, then it's to the "cannon fodder" with you in his films. Frankly, I didn't think much of his films to begin with, they were bloated, self-indulgent pieces of utter sentimentality. There's a few here or there that one can sit through without wanting to vomit, but for the most part, they are unapologetic exercises in nostalgic insipidness.
I would have appreciated a more objective balance added to the rabid sycophantic display put together by Peter Bogdanovich.
But apparently we are not allowed to criticize "great men".