SYNOPSIS

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John Ford was one of the most respected 

director's of Hollywood's golden era, which seems to have come about in reaction to the rise of fascism. The blacklist period following the war was designed to alter the tone of the film industry to make it more favorable to capitalist thinking. To an old socialist like Ford this meant the beginning of the end for his beloved Camelot.

 

Ford was not only a chronicler of his time, he was also a commentator with deeply felt humanistic values. His towering influence helped shape the collective consciousness at a critical moment in history—when the people of the world attempted to unite against fascism and tyranny. Today, a similarly crucial stage of human evolution has been reached which render’s Ford’s moral and spiritual courage increasingly relevant and valuable despite his being largely misunderstood. His influence on filmmaking and history is immeasurable yet he remains vastly under-appreciated outside of the academic community. 

 

Toward the second half of his life, Ford was deeply saddened by America’s descent into the disease of empire. The once unified country became plagued by discord, vilification, decadence and disharmony. John Wayne, who was Ford’s close friend and collaborator, used his fame to heighten the divisive atmosphere of the fifties and sixties. The actor, who followed Ford’s lead as a heavy drinker, rebelled against his mentor’s vision for a just, peaceful and cooperative world and hijacked Ford’s legacy in the process. 

 

Upstream looks back to the ethos of the Popular Front which brought together people of varying religions and creeds to defeat overt fascism. The book places Ford’s work in this context through comparisons to other films from the period, recollections of his collaborators and an emphasis on blacklisted writers and directors who Ford tried to help as he could. The book’s relevance relates to the eagerness expressed by people of all ages and ethnicities to heal the wounds inflicted by decades of covert fascism.

 

Upstream begins with a brief overview of Ford's life, his major influences and the themes he commonly explored. The majority of the book is broken into chapters corresponding with sixty-three of his most prominent films. These chapters explore Ford’s; repeated motifs, parallel symbolism, alcohol addiction, bi-sexuality, military service, historic significance and his working-class and indigenous influences. The book attempts to show how Ford’s work gallantly displays his deep belief in human potential and our intrinsic ability to transcend differences. He is the director who spoke for the dreams and aspirations of everyday people more than any other.

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