The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.

• Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Spotlighting Women in John Ford’s Films1. The Dark Side of Mother Love: Henrietta Crosman’s Hannah Jessop in Pilgrimage2. Fearless Free Spirit: Jean Arthur’s Wilhelmina Clark in The Whole Town’s Talking 3. “Swamp Gal”: Anne Shirley’s Fleety Belle in Steamboat Round the Bend4. The Innocent Turned Imperialist: Shirley Temple’s Priscilla in Wee Willie Winkie and Philadelphia in Fort Apache 5. All About Attitude: Claire Trevor’s Dallas in Stagecoach and Joanne Dru’s Denver in Wagon Master6. Colonial Spunk: Claudette Colbert’s Lana and Edna May Oliver’s Mrs. McKlennar in Drums Along the Mohawk7. Family First: Jane Darwell’s Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Sara Allgood’s Beth Morgan in How Green Was My Valley8. More Than the Sum of Her Parts: Mildred Natwick’s Four Small Gems for John Ford9. “On the very edge of eternity”: Donna Reed’s Sandy Davyss in They Were Expendable 10. Ford’s Wild Irish Rose: Maureen O’Hara’s Kathleen in Rio Grande and Mary Kate in The Quiet Man 11. Female Supremacy: Ava Gardner’s Honey Bear and Grace Kelly’s Linda in Mogambo12. “Way out on a limb”: The Women Who Trigger Ethan’s Quest in The Searchers and the Women Who Must Face Its Consequences 13. Reconnection and Regret: Vera Miles’ Hallie in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance14. No Other Way Out: Anne Bancroft’s Dr. Cartwright in 7 Women15. Snapshots: Other Fine Female Roles and Performances in Ford Films16. Dare We Call Ford a Feminist? The Director’s Achievement in ContextConclusion: Electric Moments Recommended Resources for Further ReferenceChapter NotesBibliography Index

“well-written and well-researched”—Examiner.com; “wonderful...a truly delightful read...heartily recommend”—Classically Speaking.blogspot.com; “an intriguing and convincing study into John Ford’s most memorable female characters...Meuel is extremely convincing in his quest to prove that Ford should not be remembered primarily as a man’s director, but rather one that cared as much about his female characters as he did about his male...a fascinating read...outstanding...a wonderful piece of work”—moviecritical.net.

The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.

• Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Spotlighting Women in John Ford’s Films1. The Dark Side of Mother Love: Henrietta Crosman’s Hannah Jessop in Pilgrimage2. Fearless Free Spirit: Jean Arthur’s Wilhelmina Clark in The Whole Town’s Talking 3. “Swamp Gal”: Anne Shirley’s Fleety Belle in Steamboat Round the Bend4. The Innocent Turned Imperialist: Shirley Temple’s Priscilla in Wee Willie Winkie and Philadelphia in Fort Apache 5. All About Attitude: Claire Trevor’s Dallas in Stagecoach and Joanne Dru’s Denver in Wagon Master6. Colonial Spunk: Claudette Colbert’s Lana and Edna May Oliver’s Mrs. McKlennar in Drums Along the Mohawk7. Family First: Jane Darwell’s Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Sara Allgood’s Beth Morgan in How Green Was My Valley8. More Than the Sum of Her Parts: Mildred Natwick’s Four Small Gems for John Ford9. “On the very edge of eternity”: Donna Reed’s Sandy Davyss in They Were Expendable 10. Ford’s Wild Irish Rose: Maureen O’Hara’s Kathleen in Rio Grande and Mary Kate in The Quiet Man 11. Female Supremacy: Ava Gardner’s Honey Bear and Grace Kelly’s Linda in Mogambo12. “Way out on a limb”: The Women Who Trigger Ethan’s Quest in The Searchers and the Women Who Must Face Its Consequences 13. Reconnection and Regret: Vera Miles’ Hallie in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance14. No Other Way Out: Anne Bancroft’s Dr. Cartwright in 7 Women15. Snapshots: Other Fine Female Roles and Performances in Ford Films16. Dare We Call Ford a Feminist? The Director’s Achievement in ContextConclusion: Electric Moments Recommended Resources for Further ReferenceChapter NotesBibliography Index

“well-written and well-researched”—Examiner.com; “wonderful...a truly delightful read...heartily recommend”—Classically Speaking.blogspot.com; “an intriguing and convincing study into John Ford’s most memorable female characters...Meuel is extremely convincing in his quest to prove that Ford should not be remembered primarily as a man’s director, but rather one that cared as much about his female characters as he did about his male...a fascinating read...outstanding...a wonderful piece of work”—moviecritical.net.

The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.

• Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Spotlighting Women in John Ford’s Films1. The Dark Side of Mother Love: Henrietta Crosman’s Hannah Jessop in Pilgrimage2. Fearless Free Spirit: Jean Arthur’s Wilhelmina Clark in The Whole Town’s Talking 3. “Swamp Gal”: Anne Shirley’s Fleety Belle in Steamboat Round the Bend4. The Innocent Turned Imperialist: Shirley Temple’s Priscilla in Wee Willie Winkie and Philadelphia in Fort Apache 5. All About Attitude: Claire Trevor’s Dallas in Stagecoach and Joanne Dru’s Denver in Wagon Master6. Colonial Spunk: Claudette Colbert’s Lana and Edna May Oliver’s Mrs. McKlennar in Drums Along the Mohawk7. Family First: Jane Darwell’s Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Sara Allgood’s Beth Morgan in How Green Was My Valley8. More Than the Sum of Her Parts: Mildred Natwick’s Four Small Gems for John Ford9. “On the very edge of eternity”: Donna Reed’s Sandy Davyss in They Were Expendable 10. Ford’s Wild Irish Rose: Maureen O’Hara’s Kathleen in Rio Grande and Mary Kate in The Quiet Man 11. Female Supremacy: Ava Gardner’s Honey Bear and Grace Kelly’s Linda in Mogambo12. “Way out on a limb”: The Women Who Trigger Ethan’s Quest in The Searchers and the Women Who Must Face Its Consequences 13. Reconnection and Regret: Vera Miles’ Hallie in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance14. No Other Way Out: Anne Bancroft’s Dr. Cartwright in 7 Women15. Snapshots: Other Fine Female Roles and Performances in Ford Films16. Dare We Call Ford a Feminist? The Director’s Achievement in ContextConclusion: Electric Moments Recommended Resources for Further ReferenceChapter NotesBibliography Index

“well-written and well-researched”—Examiner.com; “wonderful...a truly delightful read...heartily recommend”—Classically Speaking.blogspot.com; “an intriguing and convincing study into John Ford’s most memorable female characters...Meuel is extremely convincing in his quest to prove that Ford should not be remembered primarily as a man’s director, but rather one that cared as much about his female characters as he did about his male...a fascinating read...outstanding...a wonderful piece of work”—moviecritical.net.