PRINT THE LEGEND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN FORD.: Amazon.ca: Scott. Eyman: Books

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15 Reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive almost to a fault..., Aug 22 2002

By

William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: PRINT THE LEGEND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN FORD. (Hardcover)

Unless you are old like me and remember many John Ford movies from their original 50's release dates, or you have a semi-professional interest in film directing, this book offers more than one needs to know about a complex, often unlikeable, sometimes generous, routinely selfish genius. It isn't just a bio of John Ford, respected director with a 40-year career...it also functions as a partial history of movie-making itself, since Ford began before 1920, when films were silent, and ended up in the mid-60's, when wide screens, technicolor, blatant sex and violence and changes in how movies were financed stranded him in a very different professional atmosphere. To a person with a more casual interest in Ford and his films, like me, the book had many surprises. Ford was cruel on the set to many actors whom he befriended away from the cameras, John Wayne and Hank Fonda included. Ford was a binge drinker, and kept his sprees separate from his duties until the mid-1950's, rather late in his progressive alcoholism. Ford was capable of great kindness, generosity and loyalty, but also held grudges for decades. He was not only personally brave in World War II while filming the real battle of Midway, he was tuned in enough to have joined the Navy and prepared for documenting the war on film a full year before Pearl Harbor. He also showed courage in standing up to the Communist witch-hunts in the early 50's. He was sometimes a liberal Democrat, sometimes a conservative Republican. His final decade was full of illness and idleness and loneliness and undoubtedly some bitterness. If you are a lover of "American" movies, John Ford's story will be essential for you. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll ever need to read it a second time, or keep the book in my personal collection.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Just Another Ford Bio, Mar 16 2001

By

Carla England (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PRINT THE LEGEND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN FORD. (Hardcover)

I certainly wish I could join the parade of accolades on Scott Eyman's "Print the Legend." It is just yet another version of the many-times-told tales of the life of the eccentric, gifted director, John Ford. It seemed that Eyman was using a lot of words to say much less than other biographies on Ford - specifically that of Ronald L. Davis who wrote "John Ford - Hollywood's Old Master" my John Ford bio of preference.

As I read Scott's book, I began affixing red flag tabs on pages that have passages that are totally contradictory to what other people "who were there" had shared with me. I also had problems with quoted statements of Ford's co-workers and/or friends - sometimes having to look to a preceding page to see the identity of the person Eyman was quoting.

I know it is extremely difficult to write a bio when so many of those significant in life of the subject have passed on; much of the information is hopefully well substantiated facts, mixed with hearsay. Eyman is certainly a fine writer, and writing about the life of a man who thrived on telling lies to confuse and irritate as many people as possible, is not an easy project.

This is not a book I would buy - just check out at the library.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Herculean Effort, Feb 28 2001

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John F. Tierney (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PRINT THE LEGEND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN FORD. (Hardcover)

I have always been a fan of John Ford films, although I have not seen every one of them. My favorite movies of his are "The Quiet Man," "The Searchers," and "Liberty Valance." I watch each of them at least once per year (guess which one I watch around March 17?).

I loved the stories behind the movies, although I would have loved to have seen more behind the scenes stuff. For example, there were some wonderful moments in Liberty Valance that had subtle social commentary in them; an example is when Rance is teaching the Reading class at Mr. Peabody's newspaper office, and Pompei can't remember the part of the Declaration of Independence that states "all men are created equal." Rance helps him out and says, "That's OK Pompei, a lot of people forget that part." Where did some of these lines originate?

The book offers great insight into how the movies were made, and his mercurial personality. Ford, like many of us, has his flaws. But his work stands on its own, and this book helps us to see a very balanced view of a very complex icon of modern American entertainment.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars " A genius between 'action' and 'cut' "
This book is a brilliant recreation of the personality of a conflicted genius. Drunk, boor, loyal friend, egotist,poor father, generous benefactor, are all labels that could apply... Read more

Published on Feb 5 2001 by John Bowes

5.0 out of 5 stars Knew the man, read the book
In my early 20s I found myself working with John Ford and John Wayne. I spent a lot of time with both men and others who were mentioned in Mr. Eyman's book. Read more

Published on Dec 14 2000 by Tom Justin