Philip Ford

Philip Ford

History

Philip Ford (16 October 1900 – 12 January 1976), was an American film director and actor. He directed 43 films between 1945 and 1964. He also appeared 16 in films between 1916 and 1926. He was the son of actor/director Francis Ford and the nephew of director John Ford. He was born in Portland, Maine and died in Los Angeles, California.

Profile

Philip Ford

Movies

Beware of the Dog
Director
Serial in 6 episodes. Dogs and children adventures showing how one very determined boy gets the very large pet he wants and unmasks two dog-thieves.
The Fugitives
Director
On arrival at their new country home the Woodleys find it guarded by the former owner's Great Dane, Junia. All attempts to remove her fail until Major Craddock arrives claiming ownership of the dog. Junia has saved David's life but the Woodleys cannot pay the high price ask ed by Major Craddock. The children, together with two others whose own dog has b een stolen, make their way to Major Craddock's kennels where they find both dogs and an incriminating newspaper cutt ing. After a fight they are caught and locked up but David has sent Junia home w ith newspaper. Mr. Woodley arrives in time to prevent Craddock's flight and to rescue the children
Desperadoes' Outpost
Director
Nugget Clark has been having his stagecoaches wrecked and Marshal Rocky Lane arrives to investigate. The foreman of a nearby mine is stealing part of the mecury output and selling it in Mexico. Nugget's house has a direct pipeline from the mine and they are trying to drive him into bankruptcy to obtain his ranch. Rocky is quickly aware that the Foremen is behind Nugget's holdups but they are also onto Rocky when he accidently drops his badge during a fight.
Bal Tabarin
Director
Story of a girl who witnesses murder of notorious international jewel thief. Afraid that the gang will attack her, she flees to Paris.
Utah Wagon Train
Director
Rancher Rex Allen receives a summons from his uncle. an old time frontiersman, that he is in trouble. The uncle has been hired to lead a modern-day band of adventurers on a wagon train retracing the route taken by their ancestors 100 years ago. Before Rex can talk to his uncle, the uncle is murdered, and Rex sets out to find the killer and the motive by taking his uncle's place as the leader of the wagon train.
Rodeo King and the Senorita
Director
Lacey is after the profits of the Foster and Morales rodeo show. He has Morales killed during a stunt and then forces Foster to take him on as a silent partner. When Rex Allen joins the show, Lacey tries to get rid of him also. But Rex survives and now believes Morales' accident may have been murder.
The Dakota Kid
Director
Dakota Kid is a young outlaw who joins a gang headed by Ace Crandall. Crandall's aim is to unseat Sheriff Tom White and then use his power to enrich himself at the community's expense. Dakota impersonates a long-lost nephew of the sheriff, and is made a marshal. Through his association with the sheriff's grandson, Red White and his friend Judy, plus falling in love with Mary Lewis, the Kid gradually reforms.
Wells Fargo Gunmaster
Director
Rocky Lane, Special Investigator for Wells Fargo, shows up just in time to save the stage from being robbed. Unable to find the mastermind, or even the outlaws who rob the stage, Rocky goes undercover as an outlaw.
Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas
Director
At the end of the Civil War, Sam White returns home to his ranch in the Texas ranch -The Panhandle - to find it in the hands of a gang of outlaws
Missing Women
Director
A woman becomes desperate to find a pair of car thieves after her husband -- while on their honeymoon -- is killed during a robbery.
Pride of Maryland
Director
Frankie, a young jockey with a new style of riding that brings him acclaim, is barred from the track when he starts betting on himself. Since he's been donating his winnings to an old flame and her father to help them raise a colt, the forced retirement is quite a blow.
Prisoners in Petticoats
Director
Joan Grey is a young pianist that falls for the good manners and nice clothes of a gang of mobsters. She is warned by Mark Hampton, an investigator, that she is associating with gangsters and she is heading for trouble. She refuses to believe him and becomes innocently involved in some robberies and killings.
Redwood Forest Trail
Director
Forest Ranger and singing cowboy, Rex Allen, attempts to save a camp for underprivileged boys with the help of "Alfalfa " Switzer who plays one of the boys.
The Old Frontier
Director
Monte Hale is cast as town marshal Barney Regan. It is Barney's formidable task to round up a gang of bank robbers and expose the "Mr. Big" behind all the robberies.
Trial Without Jury
Director
A homicide detective suspects a playwright who bases his play on a murder.
The Vanishing Westerner
Director
Posing as wanted men, Chris and Waldorf get hired by Sanderson. He sends them to kill the Sheriff but puts blanks in their guns. When they arrive someone else shoots the Sheriff and Chris is blamed and jailed. The Sheriff's brother then incites the mob to hang Chris.
Powder River Rustlers
Director
Powder River Rustlers is a western film directed by Philip Ford in 1949. The railroad is coming and to get the townspeople's money. Shears Williams brings in a fake Agent who tells them they must raise $50,000 as their share of a railroad bridge. Railroad Agent Rocky Lane arrives and immediately spots the fake. A phony telegram assures Rocky his friend is still alive and he sets out to find him and his abductor.
Pioneer Marshal
Director
Monte Hale is cast as Ted Post, a Texas marshal who's on the trail of embezzler Larry Forester (Myron Healey). His search takes him to a remote frontier town that serves as an outlaw hideaway. All previous lawmen have been disposed of by town boss Bruce Burnett (Damian O'Flynn), who demands a hefty price for his services.
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
Director
Having been framed for murder, the half-breed Joe Bearclaws (Douglas Kennedy) escapes from jail and Ranger Steve Howard (Monte Hale) goes after him. He catches up with him in the Cherokee Strip where he has no authority. Joe is then framed for another murder and this time Steve knows he is innocent and goes after the real killer.
San Antone Ambush
Director
Just after the Civil War a Texan and his men are fighting a ruthless Commissioner and his excessive taxes. After a Lieutenant is falsely accused of a pay wagon massacre by the Commissioner's men, he deserts the Army and tries to clear himself. At first he belives the Texan was behind the massacre but then learns it was the Commissioner and joins the Texan in his fight.
South of Rio
Director
The town of Rio Blanco is the center of a fight over the statehood issue and is a perfect setup for Lon Bryson and Chuck Bowers, who organize a couple of phony protection associations. Opposing them is Henry Waterman, publisher of the Rio Blanco Herald. He and his assistant, Andrew Jackson Weems, send for the help of the Territorial Rangers. One of the dispatched Rangers is Jeff Lanning who, unknown to him, has a brother as a member of the gang under an assumed name of Bob Mitchell. Jeff is so shocked at seeing his brother gun down Waterman that he is unable to act in time to prevent it. Unable to explain the cause of is inaction, he is suspended by the governor. Unable to persuade his brother to quit the gang, Jeff, with the aid of Weems and Waterman's daughter Carol, begins his quest to bring the outlaws to justice.
The Wyoming Bandit
Director
Wyoming Dan (Trevor Bardette) returns home after 20 years evading the law for a crime he didn't commit, only to find his son on his deathbed. Seeking revenge for his son's murder, Dan enlists the help of Rocky Lane (Allan Lane), who poses as an outlaw to try to uncover the truth. When the duo manage to track down the killer, they find him armed to the teeth.
Outcasts of the Trail
Director
Legendary lawman Pat Garrett wins the Fourth of July buckboard race in a small Nevada town against the unscrupulous Fred Smith and pretty Lavinia White. Lavinia blames Garrett for sending her father Ivory White to jail for robbing 100,000 dollars. White, who has stashed the loot away someplace, is about to be released and plans to return the money to the express office for the sake of his children, Lavinia and Chad. Nasty Jim Judd forces Lavinia to help him rob the coach carrying Ivory and the money, counting on the fact that White will keep quiet for his daughter's sake.
Law of the Golden West
Director
Young Buffalo Bill Cody goes after the murderer of his father and uncovers a land-grab conspiracy.
Prince of the Plains
Director
Banker Ned Owens refuses to call in the many unpaid loans made to the local ranchers as he knows they are being terrorized by a gang of crooks and unable to pay. But the secret leader of the gang is James Taylor large stockholder of the bank.....
Hideout
Director
Philip Ford's crime thriller stars Lloyd Bridges as a city attorney who comes to the dawning realization that a jewelry heist may be behind the discovery of a dead body in the park -- and that the culprit may be one of the town's leading citizens (Ray Collins). Unfortunately, his investigation is hampered by his girlfriend and ex-secretary (Lorna Gray), who could very well be in cahoots with the bad guys.
Angel in Exile
Director
An ex-convict on his way to make his fortune in a gold mine in Arizona has his trip interrupted when the residents of a small Mexican village believe him to be a sacred religious figure.
The Denver Kid
Director
When Border Patrol Lieutenant Roberts is killed, it appears that his brother Tim was the killer. To clear the Robert's name for his boss, Lieutenant Rocky Lane heads south of the border posing as an outlaw. He hopes to get in with the gang and find Tim who is using an assumed name. As always, Nugget is there to help.
Desperadoes of Dodge City
Director
Rocky and the Land agent riders need to get an important message to the Army post. The message is stolen but Rocky knows one of the four men on the stagecoach has it. When Rocky and the four get trapped in a shack by the outlaw gang, he learns that one of the four is the gang leader. Rocky has to learn his identity and retrieve the message.
Marshal of Amarillo
Director
Nugget, Underwood and Short walk to the Half-Way House after the driver purposely wrecks the stage. They arrive late at night and it is so spooky that Nugget leaves for Amarillo. Unknown to him, the dead body of Short is in the wagon. When Sheriff Lane comes upon Nugget and the body, he goes to investigate and finds no trace of Underwood at all. But he soon finds that Underwood was carrying $50,000 in cash and he believes the story Nugget is telling.
Train to Alcatraz
Director
Criminals aboard a train to the infamous penitentiary plot an escape, and receive outside help in their attempt.
The Timber Trail
Director
Monte Hale is a stagecoach driver for Jed Baker's stage-line. Jed believes his brother, Ralph, is behind the many hold-ups of his stagecoaches but has no proof. Ralph, in turn, blames Jed for the attacks on the linemen of his pioneer telegraph company. Big Bart, a ruthless gunman and outlaw-gang leader working for crooked banker Jordan Weatherbee, is actually behind the troubles of both companies. Bart plans to frame Jed for a double-murder and then kill him. Monte saves his life and, together, they devise a plan of their own to bring an end to the reign of lawlessness along the timber trail.
The Bold Frontiersman
Director
Rocky Lane and his horse Black Jack must protect the gold which drought bedeviled ranchers have raised to build a dam from bad guy Smiling Jim.
California Firebrand
Director
Directed by Philip Ford in 1948. When cowboy Monte Hale (Monte Hale) returns home to investigate his uncle's murder, he's mistaken for a fierce outlaw and is hired by the town's corrupt mayor, Lance Dawson (Douglas Evans), as the new sheriff. But Monte secretly works to undermine Dawson's land-grabbing schemes. Monte defends the feisty owner (Lorna Gray) of a gold mine that Dawson covets, although she is suspicious of the cowpoke's loyalties and demands that he prove himself.
Bandits of Dark Canyon
Director
As prisoner Ed Archer is being transferred, the stage is attacked and crashes. Archer escapes the attackers but Ranger Rocky Lane catches up with him. As Rocky is bringing him in, Archer is attacked again. Somebody wants Archer killed and Rocky, now suspecting Archer is innocent, decides to find out who and why.
The Wild Frontier
Director
Outlaws are in control of the land so the town of Clayton City writes the governor for an honest marshal. That marshal is Frank Lane, who brings his son Rocky with him.
Web of Danger
Director
Ernie Reardon, the superintendent, and Bill O'Hara, the foreman, of a construction company crew working on a bridge to a remote valley, are constantly quarreling over small and minor matter, especially when it comes to Peg Mallory, whom both men are romancing and Peg enjoys the attention. Thed work is suspended when a worker is killed, but a flood is approaching and the valley citizens are in dire straits unless the bridge is completed - in a hurry.
The Mysterious Mr. Valentine
Director
Janet Spencer is driving down a country road when one of her tires blows out. This seemingly innocuous, everyday occurrence leads Linda into a labyrinth of murder, blackmail and intrigue.
The Invisible Informer
Director
An aristocratic but destitute southern family attempts to swindle an insurance company by faking the theft of a valuable emerald necklace. The company assigns operatives Eve Rogers and Mike Regan to the case.
The Last Crooked Mile
Director
A mystery grows after a bank robbery car leads investigators to a carnival sideshow.
The Inner Circle
Director
A fresh-faced young detective gets set up, framed for murder, and alibied by a smart blonde.
Valley of the Zombies
Director
A woman falls under the hypnotic spell of a resurrected madman.
Crime of the Century
Director
Ex-convict Hank Rogers is searching for his brother Jim, a newspaperman, and becomes involved with a group of people trying to conceal the death of the president of a large corporation so they can profit financially. With the aid of the dead man's daughter, Audrey Brandon, Hank exposes the crooks.
The Tiger Woman
Director
Murder mystery programmer from Republic pictures
Mountain Rhythm
Assistant Director
Cavanaugh and McCauley are after the ranchers land. When the Government announces the land will be put up for auction, the ranchers pool their money only to have it stolen by Cavanaugh's men. They then plan to sell their cattle but Cavanaugh announces a fake gold strike and the cowhands all leave. But Gene's hobo friend the Judge says he will get the cattle to market and he sends out a signal to his hobo friends.
Blue Montana Skies
Assistant Director
Gene Autry follows a clue written on a rock by his murdered partner and discovers a fur smuggling operation near the Canadian border.
Mexicali Rose
Assistant Director
Gene Autry and his sidekick Frog look into a phony oil scam being perpetrated on a mission orphanage.
The Mandarin Mystery
Director
Ellery Queen solves a mystery involving a valuable stamp.
Riley the Cop
Assistant Director
In this early comedy from John Ford, Riley is a New York Irish cop sent to Germany to track down a young man who stole money from a local bakery.
Hangman's House
Assistant Director
Forced by her mean-spirited father, Lord Chief Justice James O'Brien, to marry a man she doesn't love, Connaught O'Brien gives up hope of ever with her true love, Dermot McDermot. After her father dies and a hunted rebel leader returns to town, however, Connaught finds a renewed hope that the tides of oppression will shift and she might again find happiness. This silent romantic drama, set in Ireland, is the first film in which a then-unknown John Wayne is clearly visible.
The Blue Eagle
Limpy Darcy
Waterfront rivals George Darcy and Big Tim Ryan are both in love with Rose Kelly, and continue their feud when they join the Navy. After the war, they call a temporary truce to take on dope peddlers who are destroying their neighborhood.
Officer '444'
Haverly's Son (as Phil Ford)
Heroic Officer 444 battles The Frog and his criminal gang for possession of Haverlyte, a powerful formula that, if it fell into the wrong hands, would give its owner enough power to control the world. And, taking no chances, The Frog sends his chief henchwoman, a seductive vamp named The Vulture, to tempt Officer 444 to stray from his sworn duty to save the world from The Frog's nefarious plans.
Heroes of the Street
(as Phil Ford)
When a smart-alec street kid's father, a policeman, is killed in the line of duty, the boy turns over a new leaf and goes to work to support his mother, brothers, and sisters. He gets a job as an usher in a theater but really wants to become a policeman to avenge the death of his father. He soon finds himself involved in a fake kidnapping, real gangsters and a tip on the identity of the man who killed his dad.
Thundering Hoofs
Jack - Bill's Nephew (as Phil Ford)
A young woman returns to Kentucky after several years in boarding school, and discovers that a very valuable horse that is to be entered in the Derby is about to be forfeited due to the machinations of a rival. She determines to ride the horse in the Derby and win the race.
According to Hoyle
Jim Mead
"'Boxcar' Simmons, a tramp, represents himself as a mining millionaire in a small town. The population accepts him at his own valuation, and two of the town's 'slickers' make desperate efforts to 'take him for his roll.' One of their schemes is to sell him a worthless ranch, but he turns the tables on them by making them believe that the ranch is a veritable bed of silver ore, and then, after they buy it, he presents the major part of the proceeds to the girl who owns the place and with whom he had fallen in love." (Moving Picture World, 24 Jun 1922, p. 736.)
The Mystery Of 13
Butts
A man comes by a map that shows the location of a secret treasure, but runs afoul of a criminal organization known as the "13". Chapter ten, eleven and twelve are still missing from this 15 episode serial.
The Silent Mystery
Chick
While visiting Egypt, Mrs. Graham steals a famous jewel called "The Eye of the World" from a mummy's sarcophagus and returns to the United States, planning to use the gem as collateral for a loan. Kah, the priestess in charge of protecting the tombs of Egyptian nobility, is soon on her trail , determined to retrieve the gem. Mrs. Graham's lovely daughter, Betty, agrees to marry a suitor for money to prop up her father's failing business. When the bridegroom is murdered on the couple's wedding night, and the body disappears, Phil Kelly decides to lend a hand in solving the crimes.