(1894 – 1973) Known as the foremost director of westerns in Hollywood history none of Ford’s six Academy Awards for direction were for westerns. Renowned worldwide as one of America’s finest cinematic storytellers, principally because of his blending of characterization, action, dialogue and landscape, Ford, who directed 125 films from 1917 to 1966, was born John Martin Feeney in Maine, and moved to Hollywood in 1914. Both lauded and criticized for his patriotism, sentimentality pride in being Irish American, political conservatism, irascibility and loyalty to friends, many of whom, like John Wayne and James Stewart, were part of his acting “family,” Ford remains one of the undisputed geniuses of American narrative cinema.