The Iron Horse



John Ford's epic Western  established his reputation as one of Hollywood's most accomplished directors. Intended by Fox studios to rival Paramount's 1923 epic The Covered Wagon, Ford's film employed more than 5,000 extras, advertised authenticity in its attention to realistic detail, and provided him with the opportunity to create iconic visual images of the Old West, inspired by such master painters as Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

A tale of national unity achieved after the Civil War through the construction of the transcontinental railroad,  celebrated the contributions of Irish, Italian and Chinese immigrants although the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country legally was severely restricted at the time of its production. A classic silent film,  introduced to American and world audiences a reverential, elegiac mythology that has influenced many subsequent Westerns.

 was added to the National Film Registry in 2011.