John Ford's genius -- the simplest gesture

John Ford called them "grace notes" -- shots of spare simplicity and honest emotion that, while not necessary to the plot, served to powerfully convey his deepest feelings and themes. In this clip from THEY WERE EXPENDABLE (1945), watch John Wayne perform perhaps the most subtle grace note in Ford's canon, one that you sense more than see.

Throughout the film, Wayne's impulsive character has been openly seething at having to retreat rather than take the fight to the enemy. Only now, at the end, does he realize that this brashness and anger has been a luxury denied to his commander, who is ever forced to stoically suppress his own agony so that the men under his command can draw strength from his leadership.

In most modern films, Wayne's character would have had a good cry and made a long, pretentious speech about how he's "changed" and "grown" as a human being. Instead, director John Ford has the Duke convey an entire universe of feeling with a single gesture, one so quiet and understated that most viewers miss it entirely.

Just one of the reasons why John Ford is the greatest movie director of all time.
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[quincannon40]

John Ford is not going to slap you in the face with what he has to say. He has respect for his audience. He honed his craft in the silent movies where a gesture could say it all.

He isn't going to spell it out for you but will leave it all there for the viewer to work out for himself.

'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', 'Ft. Apache' and 'The Searchers' all had these moments. The characters had a past and he drew on their shared experiences to show the viewer this.

I love his body of work.

[48alfaone]

Ford saw real war action up close in the Pacific WW2, I'm sure he saw the Arm Bit many times while he was there.

[irish89055]

I love this ending and only recently notice his hand... I thought maybe a joke between them as they almost seem to smile... Actually, prob my favorite movie ending, I own the DVD and the book, by the way, there was another plane..

[rossharmonics]

@grabit1 Another amazing bit of blended wisdom and humor is when Wayne hits something and Montgomery asks if it helped. Wayne says yes. And after a moment's reflection, Montgomery kicks a chair.

[quincannon40]

grabit1: Yes, and he has promoted him during the same scene. Everytime I watch it I see more. And I love the closeup of Jack Pennick when The General is shown about to come aboard. And I love the references to The Arizona. Sends chills up my spine everytime. My birthday is on Dec. 7 so I am susceptible to these references. Being Irish, they get to me everytime.

[grabit1]

@quincannon40 Quincannon, somehow they dropped me off here again tonight, bypassong the TMZ no-parking zone.

I think that even the better gesture in this movie happened earlier, when Robert Montgomery simply placed his binoculars on Ward Bond's chest to pass along the command. No salutes. No nothing. No "Book." No "Rules."

[grabit1]

Quincannon40! Where have you been?

Not too many wee sups I hope. As you said before, it's a waste of the taxpayer's money!

As if anyone pays taxes anyway.

Putting all seriousness aside, you are right. Ford will not slap you in the face. He will simply present his characters, and their point of view. Which isn't necessarily his point of view. Tag Gallagher said it better than I can.

[quincannon40]

Since it's a waste of the taxpayer's money I think I'll apply for a scout position and remain then. And thanks for the wee sup of Bushmills which was Jack's whisky.

[grabit1]

Sergeant Quincannon! Have yourself a wee sup and don't really retire after all, since you wrote what I've been saying (and often writing) for 40+ years.