Turner Classic Movies' award-winning podcast, The Plot Thickens, is ready to take on the Manifest Destiny of filmmaker John Ford.
The new season 5, titled “Decoding John Ford,” centers on the legendary writer, best known for his Westerns such as “The Searchers.” Host Ben Mankiewicz dives into the mythology behind Ford's filmography.
The seven-part podcast also features a shelved World War II film made by Ford for the U.S. military in 1944. Host Ben Mankiewicz travels to Europe to investigate the mystery of whether a D-Day movie even exists. The season he will open on June 6, 1980.th D-Day anniversary.
This season features never-before-heard archival interviews with stars such as John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Woody Strode, and Ford himself.
“John Ford is a volatile person, which makes sense given his stature, but stereotypes about Ford are incomplete,” TCM host Ben Mankiewicz said in a release. “He was a man defined by contradictions. He respected the military and envied those who served but defied authority. Ford became known as one of Hollywood's leading conservatives. However, one of his best films was 1940's The Grapes of Wrath, one of the most progressive films in classic Hollywood. He scolded and belittled actors, especially his most famous lead actor, John Wayne.
Mankiewicz continued: “Despite all of that, Ford was also thoughtful, playful and a true artist. This season of 'The Plot Thickens' reveals what's true and what's not true about John Ford.” has been spent doing. Getting to the bottom of John Ford wasn't easy, but as you can hear, it was worth the journey. ”
“Decoding John Ford” is co-produced with Novel.
To celebrate the release of the podcast, Turner Classic Movies will air four Ford movies on June 5th, co-hosted by Ford's grandson Dan Ford, followed by a second installment on June 6th. A 24-hour marathon of movies inspired by World Wars.
Additionally, Ford's The Searchers (1956) will be shown in 70mm at this weekend's TCM Classic Film Festival, thanks to a world premiere restoration completed by Warner Bros. in collaboration with the Film Foundation.
“The Plot Thickens” was first released in May 2020 and focused on Peter Bogdanovich. Season 2, titled “Devil's Candy,” began in June 2021 and chronicled the turbulent production process of the 1990 film “Bonfire of the Vanities.” Season 3 revealed new insights into the life and times of the iconic Lucille Ball and debuted in October 2021. Season 4 explored the life and work of trailblazing actor Pam Grier in fall 2022.
“The Plot Thickens” returns on June 6th with “Decoding John Ford.” Watch the trailer below.
