Venice film fest to honor John Ford

VENICE, Italy, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The Venice Film Festival in Italy will honor the late John Ford with a premiere of his classic silent film "The Iron Horse" and a documentary.

A new copy of director Ford's 1924 film, centered around the construction of the transcontinental railroad, will be shown at the Lido Sept. 9, Variety reported Thursday. The feature-length documentary, "Becoming John Ford," which covers the years Ford spent at Fox studios. The documentary is directed by Nick Redman

The Venice film fest honored Ford with a Lifetime Achievement Golden Lion in 1971.

The festival will toast Hollywood westerns with a special event showing five restored 1950s oaters directed by Budd Boetticher and all starring Randolph Scott. Also, director Quentin Tarantino will participate in discussions on so-called spaghetti westerns.

The festival runs Aug. 29-Sept 8.