How John Ford's West was won the heroes of John Ford's films are the frotiersmen, pioneers and peacemakers who dedicated themselves to the founding of the home and communities that make up America. Ford's vision is a folk westwards in search of freedom and opportunity, but couched in the homeliest of terms - where a dance or a gathering round a graveside speaks volumes more than the dramatic battles and gunfights that were also waged in the winning of the West - Tavernier, Bertrand 1941-2021 (1983)