John Ford Statue, Gorhams Corner

The John Ford Statue

Gorham’s Corner, Portland

On September 9^th, I visited the John Ford statue which is situated in Portland at the intersection of Ford, Bank, York, Pleasant, and Danforth Streets (Also known as Gorham’s Corner). The statue is an impressive ten foot tall bronze creation depicting film director John Ford seated with his right leg crossed over his left leg in his director’s chair, sporting his wide brimmed fedora and holding his famous pipe in his left hand.  The base of the statue appears to be sculpted to look like an outcropping of rock that might be found in the background of the many westerns that Ford directed.  Forming a semi circle around his statue are 6 plaques, each of which details one of his six Oscar winning films: 

                                       David Wallace posing with Gorham's Corner plaque.

 

 David Wallace next to the John Ford statue.

      The Informer 1935, The Grapes of Wrath 1940, How Green Was My Valley 1941, the wartime documentaries The Battle of Midway 1942, December 7^th 1943, and The Quiet Man 1952. 

     A son of Irish immigrants (John Augustine Feeney and Barbara “Abbey” Curran), John Ford was born John Martin “Jack” Feeney on February 1^st 1894.  He was one of eleven children.  Though the future six time Oscar winning Hollywood Director and Navy Rear Admiral was actually born in Cape Elizabeth, his statue is located in Portland proper.  As perhaps Portland's most famous son of Irish immigrants, it's seems fitting that his statue would be located in what was once the heart of the Irish immigrant population.  

    After attending Portland High School Ford moved to California to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Francis who had started a career as a film actor.   John landed his first acting role in 1914 in the silent film The Mysterious Rose.  In addition to acting, Ford worked as a production assistant and cameraman.  By 1917 Ford had made his transition from actor to Director.  Between 1917 and 1928, he directed more than 60 silent films.  Ford was one of the first directors to incorporate sound into his films.  During his 50 year career, he would increase that total to more than 140 films.  He had a reputation for shooting only as much  footage as he needed and for shooting films in sequence, which meant much less editing.  His last completed film was 7 Women 1966.  After several years of declining health, John Ford died on August 31, 1973.