Best-known for directing Westerns and silent movies, John Ford is one of the most prominent filmmakers of all time. Through his career covering nearly 50 years, he directed over 140 films, many of which were nominated for top honors including Academy Awards. The 40's and 50's proved to be a crucial period in his career, as some of his best works including Grapes of Wrath (1940), Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and The Quiet Man were released. From westerns to classics and romance, he has experimented with a wide range of genres. His trademark style was directing long shots with his protagonists set in rocky, natural topographies.