John Wayne & John Pappy Ford shared a special chemistry together during the golden age of Hollywood. It was Ford who first noticed Duke (by accident) and took to him for the rest of his life. They shared common interest with USC football, and the rest is history.
John Wayne once said about Pappy, "If it hadn't been for the personal interest and encouragement of director John Ford, I might still be shifting furniture for other actors."
Ford directed Duke in 31 times. They were:
Four Sons
Mother Machree
Hangman's House
Salute
Men Without Women
Stagecoach
The Long Voyage Home
They Were Expendable
Fort Apache
Three Godfathers
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
What Price Glory (Stage Play)
Rio Grande
Bullfighter & the Lady (Editor)
The Quiet Man
Hondo (2nd Unit Director/Uncredited)
The Searchers
Rookie of the Year (Television)
The Wings Of Eagles
The Western (Television)
The Alamo (2nd United Director/Uncredited)
Wagon Train (Television)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Flashing Spikes (Television)
How The West Was Won
Donovan's Reef
Chesty (Documentary)
Directed by John Ford (Documentary)
The American West of John Ford (Television)
American Film Institute Award(Television)
Pappy was always critical to Duke and hard on him, but the results were great motion pictures, great performances, many awards for his works. Duke & Pappy spent a lot of time together on Ford's boat with many friends, which resulted in a family atmosphere. Ford knew who he wanted on his set, and Duke was one of them. He gave Duke his big break from "B" movies with the lead role of the The Ringo Kid in Stagecoach. To Pappy's credit, he directed 146 films from 1917 to 1976.
Pappy won 4 Oscars for Best Director. The movies were The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941) & The Quiet Man (1952).
Pappy died of Stomach Cancer on August 31, 1973 at the age of 79.
As for Duke, he was there a day before Pappy's passing to say his goodbyes. Ironic that less than six years later (June 11, 1979), Duke would die from the same cancer as Ford. He was 72.
