John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath (1940). His four Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952) is a record, and one of those films, How Green Was My Valley (1941), also won Best Picture.

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed more than 140 films (although nearly all of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Ford's films and personality were held in high regard by his colleagues, with Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles among those who have named him as one of the greatest directors of all time.

In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot which frames his characters against a vast, harsh and rugged natural terrain.

John Ford (* 1. Februar 1894 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine als John Martin Feeney; † 31. August 1973 in Palm Desert, Kalifornien) war ein US-amerikanischer Filmregisseur und Filmproduzent, der über Jahrzehnte zu den erfolgreichsten Regisseuren Hollywoods gehörte und filmhistorische Bedeutung erlangte. Er gewann vier Oscars in der Kategorie Beste Regie und ist damit Rekordpreisträger unter den Regisseuren der Oscar-Geschichte. Er wurde insbesondere als führender Regisseur des amerikanischen Westerns berühmt und drehte wegweisende Filme des Genres wie Ringo, Faustrecht der Prärie, Der Schwarze Falke und Der Mann, der Liberty Valance erschoß. Aber auch außerhalb des Westernfilmes drehte er Klassiker wie Früchte des Zorns, Schlagende Wetter und Der Sieger. Insgesamt umspannte Fords Filmkarriere über 140 Filme in fast 50 Jahren.

John Ford, (Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 1 de Fevereiro de 1894 – Palm Desert, 31 de agosto de 1973) foi um cineasta dos Estados Unidos de grande renome. Venceu quatro Oscars de melhor diretor, detendo o recorde na categoria, e foi eleito o terceiro maior diretor de todos os tempos pela Entertainment Weekly (atrás apenas de Alfred Hitchcock e Orson Welles). É conhecido pelos seus westerns, alguns dos seus filmes são presenças assíduas entre as escolhas dos cinéfilos de todo o mundo. De facto, filmes como "No tempo das diligências", ou "Rastros de ódio", são frequentemente citados como sendo alguns dos melhores filmes.