film The Doorway of Destruction (1915). However, by 1917, he was working almost entirely as a director. According to MacIntyre, the first studio John directed for was Universal Studios. During his early days in cinema, many of his films were short Westerns. His first film with Universal in 1917 was, The Soul Herder starring Harry Carey Sr. Carey would become a lifelong friend of Ford. Most of his early films were short Westerns, many of them starring Carey and occasionally Hoot Gibson. During the next couple of years 1917-1921, Ford would direct a number of Westerns for Universal Studios. In addition, he wrote, directed, and starred in at least three of the films The Trail of Hate (1917), The Tornado (1917), and The Scrapper (1917). However, the majority of his time with Universal was spent directing. (Pg. 1 of web pg.) In 1921, John moved to Fox Film Corporation and directed such stars as John Gilbert, Tom Mix, Madge Bellamy, Henry B. Walthall, Janet Gaynor, and George O’Brien. In addition, Ford discovered O’Brien. Through the 1920’s, he began assembling such talent as John Wayne, Fred Kohler, Victor McLaglen, and J. Farrell MacDonald. According to Sklar, the turning point in Ford’s career occurred when he directed his first historical epic, The Iron Horse (1924). A brilliant storyteller, Ford soon developed a distinctive style as a director, displaying not only a consistent point of view but also thematic continuity over time. Ford gave his films more than grandness he celebrated everyday people. It was a formula that he would repeat film after film with great success. Ford was a director that was able to work within the changing studio structure and still express his own individuality. Other films Ford directed while at Fox Film Corporation were Cameo Kirby (1923) starring John Gilbert, Three Bad Men (1926) starring O’Brien, and Hangman’s House (1928) starring June Collyer and Victor McLaglen. ...
