Francis Ford (born Francis Joseph Feeney; August 14, 1881 – September 5, 1953) was an American film actor, writer and director. He was the mentor and elder brother of film director John Ford. As an actor, director and producer, he was one of the first filmmakers in Hollywood.
He also appeared in many of his brother John's movies as a character actor, including The Informer (1935), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), and The Quiet Man (1952). He gave a memorable performance as one of the men who is lynched in The Ox-Bow Incident.
Biography He was born Francis Joseph Feeney in Portland, Maine on August 14, 1881, the son of John Augustine Feeney and Barbara "Abbey" Curran. An Irish immigrant, John Feeney was born in the village of Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland, on June 15, 1854. By 1878, John had moved to Portland, Maine, and opened a saloon, at 42 Center Street, that used a false front to pose as grocery store. John opened four others in following years.
Francis Feeney served in the United States Army in the Spanish–American War but was sent home for being underage. Leaving Portland, he drifted into the film business in New York City, working for David Horsley and Al Christie. Moving to Texas, he was part of the Star Film Company's San Antonio operation under Gaston Méliès.
Feeney adopted his stage name "Ford" from the automobile.Scott Eyman, Print the Legend, page 40 Moving to Los Angeles from San Antonio, Francis began his Hollywood career working for Thomas H. Ince at Ince's Bison studio, directing and appearing in westerns.
Work
Ambitious and prolific, in Ford's early work he cast himself as George Armstrong Custer, Sherlock Holmes (with his younger brother as Dr. Watson) and Abraham Lincoln, a role in which he specialized. By 1912, Ford was directing alongside Thomas Ince.
It rapidly became clear that Ince was routinely taking credit for Ford's work,Scott Eyman, Print the Legend, page 43 so in 1913, Ford moved over to the Universal Film Manufacturing Co., a movie studio founded by Carl Laemmle the previous year. His 1913 Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery was Universal's first serial, and the first of a string of very popular serials starring Ford's collaborator and lover Grace Cunard. The 1915 serial The Broken Coin was expanded from 15 to 22 episodes by popular demand, and likely represents the height of Ford's career.
In 1917, Ford founded a short-lived independent company, Fordart Films, which released the 1918 Berlin via America with Phil Kelly, and briefly opened his own studio at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. At the same time, Ford mentored his younger brother, collaborating frequently as writers, directors and actors in each other's projects, but as early as 1917, it was clear that John's star was on the rise. Frank's directorial style remained suitable for serials, but failed to evolve.Joseph McBride, Searching for John Ford, page 94 Ford's final known directorial credit is for the 1928 The Call of the Heart, a 50-minute vehicle for "Dynamite the Devil Dog".
Ford may have acted in over 400 films, with many of his early credits poorly documented and probably lost.
Character Actor From the late 1920s, and for the next two decades, Ford sustained a career as a grizzled character actor and bit player. He is often uncredited, as in his appearance in James Whale's 1931 Frankenstein. Among his most memorable roles was that of the demented old man in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), for which he also was uncredited.
Relationship with John Ford Ford's younger brother, John M. Feeney, nicknamed "Bull," was a successful fullback and defensive tackle on a Portland High state championship football team. In 1914, "Bull" followed Francis to Hollywood, changed his name to John Ford, and eventually surpassed his elder brother's considerable reputation.
Ford's son, Philip Ford, was also a film actor/director. Ford died after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Ford brothers were, at the best of times, critical of each other and sometimes sharply antagonistic. Ford wrote an unpublished memoir in 1934 called Up and Down the Ladder which is "filled with bitter and sometimes heartrending complaints about how old-timers who had helped create the industry had been shunted aside by younger men."Joseph McBride, Searching for John Ford, pages 94–95
When Jack Ford was first in Hollywood working for his brother, Francis had him perform a dangerous stunt where, as his elder brother's stunt double, he ran across a railroad station roof and jumped onto a moving train. At the time he was performing the stunt, the younger brother said to the older that he owed him for the stunt. Many years later, with the power relation reversed, Jack had Francis tied to a hay wagon that was set to be set afire by Native Americans in Drums Along the Mohawk. Before the scene was shot, Jack told his brother, "Now you're paying me, Frank." The hay wagon was set afire, and Jack Ford did not signal to his crew to put out the fire until it reached the leather tongs that bound Francis to the prop wagon.
Selected filmography
The Immortal Alamo (1911, Short) – Navarre The Deserter (actor, 1912, Short) – The Deserter Custer's Last Fight (actor and director, 1912) – General George A. Custer The Post Telegrapher (director, 1912, Short) – Bob Evans – the Post Telegrapher The Invaders (actor and director, 1912) – Colonel James Bryson When Lincoln Paid (actor and director, 1913, Short) – Abraham Lincoln The Battle of Bull Run (1913) – Abraham Lincoln Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery (writer, director and star, 15-episode serial, 1914) – Hugo Loubeque The Adventures of Shorty (director, 1914, and some of the subsequent "Shorty" two-reelers through 1917) A Study in Scarlet (actor and director, 1914, Short) – Sherlock Holmes The Mysterious Rose (1914) The Heart of Lincoln (1915) – Abraham Lincoln The Heart of Maryland (1915) – Abraham Lincoln The Broken Coin (actor and director, 22-episode serial, 1915) – Count Frederick Three Bad Men and a Girl (1915) The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (actor and director, 15-episode serial, 1916) – Dr. Lund, Junior The Bandit's Wager (director, 1916, Short) – Nan's Brother / The Bandit The Purple Mask (1916) – Phil Kelly / The Sphinx John Ermine of Yellowstone (director, 1917) – John Ermine The Mystery Ship (1917) Who Was the Other Man? (1917) The Dazzling Miss Davison (actor, 1917) Motherhood (actor, 1917) John Ermine of the Yellowstone (1917) The Greater Woman (actor, 1917) The Mirror (actor, 1917) The Tornado (writer, 1917) The Avenging Trail (director, 1917) Berlin via America (director, 1918) – Phil Kelly The Craving (writer, director and star, 1918) – Carroll Wayles The Silent Mystery (actor and director, 15-episode serial, 1918) – Phil Kelly The Isle of Intrigue (1918) The Mystery of 13 (actor and director, 15-episode serial, 1919) – Phil Kelly / Jim Kelly Crimson Shoals (1919) – Jack Quinn, the son / Frederick Fielding, the father / Thomas Fielding, the grandfather The Woman of Mystery (1920) Thunderbolt Jack (director, 10-episode serial, 1920) A Man from Nowhere (1920) – The Town Drunkard The Great Reward (director, producer, star, 15-episode serial, 1921) – The American Adventurer Action (actor, 1921) – Soda Water Manning The Lady from Longacre (1921) – Count de Freitas The Stampede (1921) – Robert Wagner Cyclone Bliss (1921) So This Is Arizona (1922) – Ned Kendall Another Man's Boots (1922) – The Stranger Thundering Hoofs (1922) – Daddy Bill / 'Colonel' Bill They're Off (1922) – Col. Blake Bells of San Juan (1922) – Minor Role (uncredited) Storm Girl (1922) – Dr. Blake Angel Citizens (1922) The Village Blacksmith (actor, 1922) – Asa Martin The Boss of Camp 4 (1922) – Dude McCormick The Fighting Skipper (actor and director, 15-episode serial, 1923) Three Jumps Ahead (actor, 1923) – Ben McLean Haunted Valley (actor, 15-episode serial, 1923) – Sharkey Mine to Keep (1923) – Jack Deering Western Feuds (1924) – J.P. Hartley A Rodeo Mixup (1924) – Her Uncle Western Yesterdays (1924) – Twitchie In the Days of the Covered Wagon (1924) Hearts of Oak (actor, 1924) The Measure of a Man (1924) – 'Pale' Peter The Diamond Bandit (1924) – Friar Aloysius Cupid's Rustler (1924) Soft Shoes (actor, 1925) – Quig Mundy The Sign of the Cactus (1925) – Panhandle George A Roaring Adventure (1925) – Colonel Burns / Bennett Hardy The Taming of the West (1925) – Frosty Miller Scar Hanan (1925) – Jury foreman The Power God (serial, 1925) – Government Secret Service Man (Chapter 15) (uncredited) Ridin' Thunder (1925) – Frank Douglas The Red Rider (1925) – Brown Bear Perils of the Wild (director, 15-episode serial, 1925) The Fighting Heart (actor, 1925) – Town Fool The Four from Nowhere (1925) Officer 444 (writer and director, 10-episode serial, 1926) – Fire Chief Lash of the Whip (1926) – 'Hurricane' Smith Speed Cop (actor, 1926) The Winking Idol (director, 10-chapter serial, 1926) Wolf's Trail (1927) Wolves of the Air (1927) Upstream (actor, 1927) – Juggler Men of Daring (1927) – Black Roger The Devil's Saddle (1927) – Pete Hepburn The Heart of Maryland (actor, 1927) – Jefferson Davis The Cruise of the Hellion (1927) – Peg-leg The Wreck of the Hesperus (actor, 1927) – John Hazzard Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927) – Captain (uncredited) One Glorious Scrap (1927) – Ralph Curtis The Branded Sombrero (1928) – Link Jarvis The Trail of '98 (actor, 1928) – Gold Commissioner's Assistant (uncredited) The Four-Footed Range (1928) – Brom Hockley The Chinatown Mystery (1928) – The Sphinx Sisters of Eve (1928) – Pritchard The Call of the Heart (director, 1928) The Charlatan (1929) – Detective (uncredited) The Black Watch (1929) – Maj. MacGregor (uncredited) The Lariat Kid (actor, 1929) – Cal Gregg The Drake Case (1929) – Juror (uncredited) Mister Antonio (1929) – Bit Role (uncredited) The Mounted Stranger (1930) – 'Spider' Coy The Jade Box (actor, 10-chapter serial, 1930) – Martin Morgan Captain of the Guard (1930) – Hussars Officer (uncredited) Kathleen Mavourneen (1930) – James, the butler Song of the Caballero (1930) – Don Pedro Madero Sons of the Saddle (1930) – 'Red' Slade Abraham Lincoln (actor, 1930) – Sheridan's Aide (uncredited) The Indians Are Coming (1930) – George Woods / Tom Woods Resurrection (1931) – Drunken Soldier on Train (uncredited) Seas Beneath (1931) – Eric (Captain of Trawler) (uncredited) The Front Page (1931) – Carl – a Detective (uncredited) A Free Soul (actor, 1931) – Skid Row Drunk (uncredited) The Spirit of Notre Dame (1931) – Alumnus (uncredited) Possessed (actor, 1931) – Drunken Husband (uncredited) Frankenstein (actor, 1931) – Hans (uncredited) Battling with Buffalo Bill (serial, 1931) – Jim Rodney The Last Ride (actor, 1931) – Brady Discarded Lovers (1932) – Medical Examiner (uncredited) The Impatient Maiden (1932) - Insane Asylum Warden (uncredited) Tangled Fortunes (1932) – Matt Higgins Scarface (1932) – Prison Guard (alternative ending) (uncredited) Scandal for Sale (1932) – Belmont Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) Destry Rides Again (actor, 1932) – Judd Ogden The Rider of Death Valley (1932) – Gabe Heroes of the West (actor, 12-chapter serial, 1932) – Cavalry Captain Jungle Mystery (actor, 12-chapter serial, 1932) Air Mail (1932) – Passenger Who'll Die on a Train (uncredited) The Lost Special (actor, 12-chapter serial, 1932) – Botter Hood Clancy of the Mounted (actor, 12-chapter serial, 1933) – Inspector Cabot The Thundering Herd (1933) – Frank (uncredited) Life in the Raw (1933) – Sheriff Myles Pilgrimage (actor, 1933) – Mayor Elmer Briggs The Man from Monterey (1933) – Don Pablo Gonzales Gordon of Ghost City (actor, 12-chapter serial, 1933) – Mystery Man Doctor Bull (1933) – Mr. Herring, Metting Chairman (uncredited) Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (actor, 1933) – Captain Hallett Roman Scandals (actor, 1933) – Roman Citizen (uncredited) Smoky (1933) – Horse Buyer (uncredited) Pirate Treasure (1934) – Dick's Friend at the Airfield The Lost Patrol (1934) – Arab (uncredited)