Downtown in Portland in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

John Ford Memorial

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

1. John Ford Memorial

bronze statue of Ford (sculpted by George Kelly), surrounded by stone monuments commemorating the six Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "Oscars" awarded to the director.

Inscription.

John Ford, Director
- “I Make Westerns”

Born: John Martin Feeney, 2-1-1894
Died: John Ford, 8-31-1973

Portland High School Class of 1914

Married Mary McBride Smith of North Carolina, 1920 - From Laurinburg, NC

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Nataninez / Tall Soldier - Navajo Nation

The gift of this statue to the citizens of Portland Maine, the United States of America, and the Ford descendants by Mrs Linda Noe Lane of Monroe, Louisiana is in grateful memory of her friendship and respect for Mary and John Ford. Dedicated July 12, 1998.

The Informer
(1935) John Ford received his first Academy Award for direction in this I.R.A. story of friendship, betrayal, guilt and redemption set in 1922 in Dublin, Ireland.

A landmark film in the early sound era and the first to win 5 major Academy Awards. Ford’s stylistic impressionism with its use of shadow, tempo and subjectivity make this a film classic.

The Grapes of Wrath
(1940) This cinema masterpiece adapted from John Steinbeck’s novel is the definitive portrayal of the Great Depression in America and the common man’s struggle.

Ford’s humane

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characterization of the Joad family’s plight and trek to California is presented in a documentary style with social concern and “hope for our people.” The film earned Ford his second Academy Award.

How Green Was My Valley
(1940) The film was the recipient of six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. It was a sentimental memory story of a Welsh mining family and its eventual disintegration.

Ford’s choreographed scenes, choral background music and ritualized depiction of family loss and social change in the modern industrial age was superb.

The Battle of Midway
(1942) As chief of the field photographic branch of the O.S.S., Navy Commander John Ford and his crew were responsible for filming many of the battles of World War II.

This authentic, stirring film of the battle, documenting the turning point in the Pacific Theatre won the Academy Award for best documentary. It was, according to Ford, “a film for the mothers of America.”

December 7th
(1943) John Ford earned his fifth Oscar for this documentary detailing the United States Navy’s comeback after the devastation of the Japanese attack on Pearl

RAdm John Ford, U.S. Navy image. Click for more information.

Naval Historical Center

2. RAdm John Ford, U.S. Navy

IMDb website entry
Click for more information.

Harbor.

Homage was paid to the soldiers from different services, different regions and different racial origins. The film affirmed a “we are all Americans” theme.

The Quiet Man
(1952) John Ford’s courtship love story celebrated the heritage and customs of his family’s native Ireland, earning him his sixth Oscar.

With Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne as its principal actors, the movie was gloriously filmed in Technicolor and scored with traditional Irish songs. The film was a joyous return to the land and family and continues to be his most popular film.

Erected 1998 by Mrs. Linda Noe Lane.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 12, 1998.

Location. 43° 39.276′ N, 70° 15.439′ W. Memorial is in Portland, Maine, in Cumberland County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Fore Street, on the right when traveling north on Pleasant Street. The John Ford memorial is at "Gorham Corner", the intersection

John Ford Memorial Statue - by George Kelly image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

3. John Ford Memorial Statue - by George Kelly

of Pleasant, Fore, York, Danforth and Center Streets in Portland, Maine. It is one block northwest of Commercial Street (U.S. Highway 1) via Center Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 4 Pleasant St, Portland ME 04101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Home of Deacon Brown Thurston, 32 Union Street (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wadsworth-Longfellow House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Portland Civil War Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elm Theater Mask (approx. 0.2 miles away); J.B. Brown Memorial Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hack Stand of Reuben Ruby (approx. ¼ mile away); Secondhand Clothing Store of Lloyd Scott (approx. ¼ mile away); Asa Clapp / Asa William Henry Clapp / Mary Jane Emerson Clapp (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

4. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 1

all markers in Portland.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . . John Ford. (Submitted on July 18, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. Hollywood; cinema; George Kelly; Irish-Americans, Oscar winners, Academy Award winners

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

5. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 2

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

6. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 3

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 4 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

7. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 4

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

8. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 5

John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

9. John Ford Memorial - Oscar Marker Stone 6

John Ford Memorial - inscriptions on base of statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 5, 2009

10. John Ford Memorial - inscriptions on base of statue

Photographed by Ianatlarge, October 8, 2011

11. John Ford Memorial

DAR Golden Wheel on base.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,947 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on March 20, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on July 18, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 11. submitted on May 15, 2023, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.