I probably have about 25 John Ford movies. I am a huge Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart fan. "Young Mr. Lincoln" is a movie I make sure I watch at least once a year.
"My Darling Clementine" and "Fort Apache" are on that list too. If you get a chance....watch " The Informer" by Ford. 1935. Victor McLaglen won an Oscar for Best Actor and Ford won for best Director. You won't be disappointed.
I think I have seen every movie John Ford directed, including the “lesser” ones. The quality and quantity of them both are incredible.
In 1939, Ford not only directed “Young Mr. Lincoln,” but also “Stagecoach” and “Drums Along The Mohawk.” Three Academy-award nominated films in the same year.
In 1940, he did three more films, including the classic “The Grapes of Wrath.” In 1941, the Oscar winning “How Green Was My Valley.”
In a world where good directors now do one film every two or three years, he directed 5 classic, all-time great films in 3 years.
His ability to get superb performances out of actors, including some who were not necessarily great actors, was unmatched. You mentioned Victor McLaglan, who won the Oscar for “The Informer.” He also was terrific in Ford’s Western Trilogy (Fort Apache, Rio Grande and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon) and in Ford’s “The Quiet Man.” But, I would be hard-pressed to think of another good performance in his career.
It’s like when someone asked Peter Bogdanovich how does one become a great movie director. He replied “watch the movies of all of the great ones: John Ford, John Ford and John Ford.”