"The Grapes of Wrath" is a religious experience to me. And there's "How Green was My Valley." And . . . ❤

John Ford is my favorite director of all time. It's amazing how you chose 5 classic masterpieces, and yet Ford still has so many to his filmography as well, such as The Searchers, The Informer, Tobacco Road, Fort Apache, The Quiet Man, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, They Were Expendable, The Last Hurrah, Sergeant Rutledge, etc. Speaks volumes about Ford's strength as a filmmaker. Your list is a perfect set of Ford films, and hopefully will be the entry to more people discovering his works. Thanks for the tribute!

The Searchers is not even on the list? Incredible!

Nicely done. "Print the legend"--that line has stuck with me for a half-century. Thanks.

Liberty Valance is, by the way, the single best American film ever made.

Good video, good choices. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was underrated for many years.

I like that you talk about films that aren’t The Searches. I am sure almost all would put it on their lists.

When you cited How Green Was My Valley, l got a lump in my throat. I first saw that film when l was as old as Roddy McDowell was in the movie and it is indeed a wonderful, timeless film. Thank you for posting.

good video and picks, my list (we share 2 picks): 5. The Informer 4. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 3. The Grapes of Wrath 2. Drums Along the Mohawk and number 1 the searchers

I'm glad you label these as "personal favorites," since there can be no arguing with personal choices. My five favorite John Ford films are The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was My Family, Stagecoach, The Informer, and The Long Voyage Home.

Long Voyage Home always overlooked.

I agree that "My Darling Clementine" was a great movie, but not one scene was historically accurate. It was complete fiction from beginning to end. I still love it because it's simply one of the best western movies ever made.

A very worthwhile contribution to KZfaq - thanks. I will seek out "Young Mr Lincoln" again, having a dim memory of seeing it many years ago. I am certainly a fan of the rest of this selection, in particular "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" -with its amazing cast that included the likes of Lee Van Cleef before he became a big movie name himself.

All great selections but I will always rank Stagecoach as Ford’s true masterpiece.

Great list! I've seen them all but never realized they were directed by Ford who I always associated with only John Wayne films

Another great list with stellar analysis for a director that I personally would not have even attempted to summarize in just 5 films. He was a mountain. You did a great job. Love that the younger generations can appreciate moves many sadly dismiss as outdated. Today my younger collogues were talking about how songs got their names. And I mentioned that the Buddy Holly song 'That'll be the day' was from The Searchers. John Wayne's continual annoyance with Jeffrey Hunter saying the line repeatedly in a stern dismissive tone. Holly and the band watched the move and made a classic song. Of course nobody I was talking to, much younger than I, knew who Buddy Holly was or had even seen a John Wayne movie. Again, very refreshing to see others appreciate classic film. As a kid I wanted to watch My Darling Clementine because it was mentioned in a MASH episode and so began my fascination with John Ford.

It's interesting to see a list of best JF movies that doesn't include "The Searchers". But we are in agreement on #1!

What about “The Informer” This would be in my top 5.

Agree with you on Lee Marvin's performance in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Amazing portrayal of a vicious outlaw.

Excellent video -- although I'm stunned that you would leave out "The Searchers." For me, that's not only one of the best movies John Ford ever made, but one of the best that *anyone* ever made. Of course, as you said, with Ford there are so many to choose from!

Agree with Grapes of Wrath

my best john ford 1; stagecoarch 2; How Green Was My Valley 3; THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT４;3 Bad Men　５;The Grapes of Wrath

Personally, I think that Wayne and Stewart were too old for their rolls in Liberty Valance, but it’s still a great movie.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating this wonderful video. I love how it features many Ford films that are often relegated to the sidelines by some of his more celebrated works. I've always felt that "Valley" was subjected to unjust criticism because of its victory over "Kane"; as though the results from Hollywood's annual beauty contest should/would/could have any impact on the ongoing reputation of either film. "Valley" also has to have one of the most beautiful soundtracks of any film with the lovely, poignant singing of the Welsh miners. And "Clementine" simply glows with beauty and humanity and depth. The "To Be Or Not To Be" scene must surely rank as one of the most inspired renderings of Shakespeare on film. And who would have thought that Victor Mature, of all people, would give such an inspired reading of such a well-known text?

I like the quiet man, and she wore a yellow ribbon, and grapes or wrath, drums along the Mohawk.

All great but my personal list would start with The Quiet Man☘️

1) Searchers. 2) Stagecoach. 3) TMWSLV. 4) Ft. Apache. 5) The Quiet Man.

as long as THE GRAPES OF WRATH is on that list, I'm happy

Great list. Mine might be a little different because there are some more obscure films I absolutely love and rank very high.

Yes, Ford had so many great movies that rating them is Almost impossible. I would put The Grapes of Wrath is #1. Great movie that reflected the life of many in the Great Depression era. I would put The Searchers as #2.

Lincoln and Drums should not be on this list. Add The Searchers (what gorgeous color) and maybe the most beautiful color film, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Fort Apache. is superb.....I could go on

Don't agree but one the Searchers the other top 4 They Were Expendable , The Quiet Man, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande.

"Stagecoach", "My Darling Clementine", "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "The Searchers". Add your own choice to make five.

Ford's biography was titled "Print the Legend"...

Great, Great films!

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the best movie ever made.

Monument Valley was pretty much Ford's exclusive playground...

I agree wholeheartedly with this list !!!!! I'm not a fan of The Searchers.

I could live with this list if you put The Searchers at #1 and bumped the rest down one, chasing Young Mr Lincoln. My Darling Clementine is terribly underrated.

I would just make one change. "The man who ....." by "The Searches"

I would replace ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ and ‘My Darling Clementine’ with some of these, ‘The Searchers’(overrated, but still a epic), Sergeant Rutledge’ (underrated, Woody’s performance will rip your heart out), ‘Mr. Roberts’(as good if not better than Wilder).

I have every one of these great films . You need to mention the Searchers which is the best western ever made

...one of my favorite libes is from Fort Apache.."Pour me some Some Scripture"...

Good commentary, Would those westerns be considered in top ten westerns of all time? I doubt it.

How Green Was My Valley was Alex Trebeck's favorite. It was also named Best Picture in 1941 beating out Citizen Kane. Like the whole scenario at the camp dance in Grapes.U left out Strother Martin, Lee van Cleef, Woody Strode in your description of LV. Vera Miles is still around.

They Were Expendable must be on any such list.

Switch out Clemetine for The Quiet Man and you got yourself a list :)

Seems to be a penchant for black and white films and the potential underlying starkness of “beautiful” shots that apparently cannot be so classic as the cinematography of Ford films such as She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (Academy Award), The Quiet Man, and The Searchers…..oh and the acting in them specifically by Wayne was dam good.

First for me is 'The Searchers' but some of these films I've not seen.'

This opens with the closing scene of The Searchers yet it's missing

No1　The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance！　NO2　How Green Was My Valley！　The Grapes of Wrath！　NO3　My Darling Clementine！　The Quiet Man！ Two Rode Together　and　The Searchers　good ！

John Ford was a mean drunk. He pushed James Stewart around, and John Wayne had to threaten to leave the movie Liberty Valance, because of that.

THREE GODFATHERS THREE PEOPLE CARRY THE WHOLE THING NUFF SAID!!

TAKE OUT THE MOVIE " THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE" AN ADD IN " THE INFORMER" . TAKE OUT " MY DARLING CLEMENTINE" AN FILL IN WITH " THE SEARCHES. FORD WON THE BEST DIRECTORS AWARD FOR " THE INFORMER" AN VICTOR MCGALLEN WON THE BEST ACTORS AWARD FOR THIS SAME MOVIE. THK YOU. I RESPECT YR CHOICE TOO, BRO!

Read 'TIS HERSELF, the autobiography of Maureen O'Hara, to see what John Ford was like as a human being.

Forget film school... watch this video

Interesting he did not include two movies that Ford wan the best director Oscar: The informer (1935) and The Quiet Man (1952). However all the films are great.

the quiet man?

Fonda was a great actor, but he’s way too handsome to play Abe. He’s better as Tom Joad. Clementine, yes. Underrated. Searchers is Ford’s greatest and Wayne’s.

The Searchers.

E quel capolavoro di SENTIERI SELVAGGI ve lo siete dimenticati???

I agree with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. I would have to put The Searchers as a very close 2nd.

Everyone crying about the Searchers being left off... overrated lol

I don't think John Wayne is a great actor. I prefer Joel McCrea and Henry Fonda as the Great American Actors.