1976 - CHESTY: A TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND, John Ford's final film as a director

John Ford's tribute to the United States Marine's most decorated soldier is virtually unknown.  The production was a cheap one and the majority of the film is made up of combat footage from World War II and the Korean War.

Ford appears in the film interviewing General Puller, both of these old guys are as stiff as a couple of boards.  Narrated by John Wayne in his cowboy costume, the whole thing seems outdated and a little out of it.

When this documentary/tribute was filmed, the country was in the coma of the Vietnam War.  The general public probably wasn't in any mood for a tribute to tough marines.

Chesty:  A Tribute to a Legend, is interesting for the war footage that Ford incorporated.  The scenes of the Korean War, are more fascinating than the stuff Ford filmed for his terrible documentary This is Korea.

This film isn't particularly well made and with the exception of the marching bands and the usual military ritual stuff it would be impossible to tell that it was directed by Ford.

Serving in the navy during World War II had been the pivotal point in Ford's life, so it's not unexpected that Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend, is more about Ford's fascination with military life and ritual.

Edited into two different lengths, the short version doesn't seem much different than the long version.

27 minutes

47 minutes