Maybe not considered the sexiest director nowadays,but no one commands more respect.
The Grapes Of Wrath:arguably his best film from what's inarguably his peak period,1939 to 1941.Few,if any,had a winning streak like that.

I've only seen a couple of them. Drums Along the Mohawk and The Searchers. I'm not really a fan of Westerns, so his work doesn't especially appeal to me. Drums was a must see because Claudette Colbert is one of my favorites. The Searchers, I was told, is supposed to be THE John Wayne movie that you have to see to "get" him. I got that I didn't like him.

I picked VALLEY.

Our mayor has an office full of John Wayne memorabilia. When I had a conference with him regarding a controversy at the library that involved the local newspaper, he quoted from "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." It was the quote about printing the legend instead of the facts. He'd had experience....