John Ford Goes to War

During World War II, John Ford, then in his forties, was commissioned in the Naval Reserve and placed in command of the Field Photographic Unit by Bill Donavan, the director of the soon-to-be-OSS. Throughout the conflict, Field Photo produced at least 87 documentaries, many bearing Ford's hallmark attention to heroism and loss, and many from the perspective of the fighting soldier and sailor. Talking heads examine Ford's life and temperament, how the war granted him fulfillment, and how his war films reflected the same values and conflicts that characterized his Hollywood productions. Among the films profiled are "Battle of Midway," "Torpedo Squadron," "Sexual Hygiene," and "December 7."