Cheyenne Autumn (1964) ***

Revisionist western presenting a pro-Indian perspective.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962) ****

Superlative western starring James Stewart as an idealistic tenderfoot lawyer and John Wayne as a rough rancher. One of the most profound of all westerns, exposing the mythology of the Far West.

The Searchers (1956) *****

Complex western starring John Wayne as a racist cowboy who tries to find his niece captured by Indians.

Mister Roberts (1955) ****

Tremendously entertaining film set on cargo ship during World War II.

Mogambo (1953) ***

Ava Gardner gives her best performance in this fine remake of "Red Dust" (1932). Clark Gable reprises his earlier role. 

The Quiet Man (1952) *****

John Ford's tribute to Ireland, that land of green pastures, strong-willed women, friendly folks and brawling rows.

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949) ****

Magnificent western starring John Wayne.

Fort Apache (1948) ***

Fine western starring Henry Fonda as a Custer-like cavalry commander who leads his troops into defeat. John Wayne plays a more cautious officer who tries to avert the disaster.

My Darling Clementine (1946) ****

Classic western starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp.

They Were Expendable (1945) ***

Excellent war drama about PT boats during the Battle of the Philippines.

December 7th (1943) ***

A documentary film about the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. There are three versions of this film. The shortest one (20 min.) won an Oscar as best documentary short. A slightly longer version (33 min.) was released in theatres. There is also the original, feature-length cut of the film (81 min.). The short versions focus on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. The original cut's main focus is on the Japanese community in Hawaii, questioning their loyalty and allegience.

How Green Was My Valley (1941) ***

This is a perfectly nice picture about Welsh coal miners that can only be hated for one reason - it stole the Oscar for best picture from both "Citizen Kane" and "The Maltese Falcon" - the most bizarre choice in the entire history of the Academy Awards.

The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) ***

An adaptation of John Steinbeck's greatest novel.

The Long Voyage Home (1940) ***

Life on a cargo ship.

Drums Along The Mohawk (1939) *

Disappointing John Ford drama set in upper-state New York during the American Revolution. The score: Yankee pioneers – good, the British, the Loyalists and their Indian allies – bad. A perfect example of the Roosevelt-era Americana propaganda. There is no doubt that the story would be far more interesting if told from the other point of view. Compared to it, John Ford's later films like "The Searchers" are positively objective and even-handed.

Young Mr Lincoln (1939) ***

A young lawyer from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln defends two young men accused of murder.

Stagecoach (1939) ****

Classic western starring John Wayne. One of John Ford's best films.

Hurricane (1937) ***

A disaster pic set in the South Pacific.

Wee Willie Winkie (1937) **

Shirley Temple neither sings nor dances in this one, which automatically makes it one of her less memorable films. In fact, if this Kipling-inspired nonsense is still remembered at all today, it's mostly for its infamous film review by Graham Greene in which he accused Shirley Temple's fans of being pedophiles.

The Informer (1935) ****

An Irish revolutionnary is tortured by guilt because he betrayed a friend. Powerful drama directed by John Ford.