I . Ford Madox Ford
(1873–1939)
an English writer. He wrote many novels, poems and critical studies (= books judging the qualities of works of literature, etc.), and worked with Joseph Conrad on two novels, The Inheritors (1901) and Romance (1903). His best-known novels, The Good Soldier (1915) and the series of four World War I novels together called Parade’s End (1924–8), give a picture of the English upper classes in changing times.
II . Gerald Ford
(1913– )
the 38th US President . He was a Republican (1) who was Vice-president under Richard Nixon and replaced him in 1974, after Watergate . Ford was criticized for giving Nixon a pardon (= official notice forgiving somebody) for Watergate. Ford could not change the poor economic condition of the US at that time, and he lost the next election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter .
III . Harrison Ford
(1942– )
a US actor whose films have earned more money (almost $6 billion) than those of any other actor. The National Association of Theater Owners named him ‘Star of the Century’ in 1994, and in 1997 readers of Empire film magazine voted him Britain’s favourite film star of all time. Ford often plays strong, calm characters, especially in adventure films. He first became well known as Han Solo in the Star Wars films and as Indiana Jones . His other films have included Witness (1985), The Fugitive (1993) and Air Force One (1997), in which he played a US president.
IV . Henry Ford
(1863–1947)
the American who created the Ford car and changed the motor industry by introducing new ways of making cars in great numbers. He began the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and five years later produced the first Model T and Ford is often quoted as saying that the customer could have it painted ‘in any colour so long as it is black’. He became very rich and successful, and established the international Ford Foundation . He is also famous for having said that ‘history is bunk’, meaning that it is not a true summary of what actually happened.
V . John Ford
(1586– c. 1639)
an English writer of plays and poems. His writing is well known for its strong descriptions of sadness and despair (= loss of hope). His best-known play is ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore (1633).
VI . John Ford
(1895–1973)
a US film director, especially of westerns . He received four Oscars , for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green was my Valley (1941) and The Quiet Man (1953). Ford made about 125 films, many of them with his favourite actor John Wayne .