The Searchers




That'll be the day.

Perhaps one of the most vaulted and famous Westerns, The Searchers is an undeniable magnum opus from legendary director John Ford.

Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) has just returned to his brother's homestead out in Texas when he's sent off to investigate some disappearing cattle. When he and his "adopted" nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) return, they find that Comanche Indians (not stormtroopers in this case) have burned the homestead, killed the family and carried off the two daughters. Ethan's hatred of the Comanche isn't well disguised, and he and Marty begin a long journey that covers years and reaches to the far edges of the West. They hope to find and rescue Debby (Natalie Wood), the youngest daughter; meanwhile, Martin's travels don't make Laurie (Vera Miles), his childhood girlfriend, too happy.

This isn't an overly complicated film, but there are a few underlying issues that Ford subtly hints at (including Ethan's "fondness" for his brother's wife). For the most part the plot follows Ethan and Martin as they track down the responsible tribe, leading to dead ends and double crosses. Most of the attention invariably is directed at Ethan's issues with the Indians. The dilemma eventually surfaces that if he does find Debbie, he just may just kil her because she's been tainted by the Comanche. After seeing him in Howard Hawks' Red River, Ford became aware that Wayne could do more than just play the archetypical hero. Ethan is hardly of that mold, and the measures he takes against the Indians are hardly noble. In this, Ford addresses the issue of racism against the Indians, as he portrays Ethan no better than the worst of those he hates, and even the Indians he hunts aren't all that savage.

The settings range from near Canada to New Mexico and back again to Texas. The cinematography is nothing short of beautiful, courtesy of Winton C. Hoch, Ford and his favorite locale, Monument Valley. The imagery is the kind that sticks with you. Atmosphere wise, there's an undeniable dark feeling that looms over all the proceedings, but it's frequently interrupted by the broad strokes of humor, usually coming in the form of Marty's escapades with love and Moses (Hank Worden), a friend with an affinity for rocking chairs. Overall this blend turns out to be an engaging final product, making this one movie that is thoroughly watchable throughout.

Being one of his best performances, John Wayne cited Ethan as his favorite role. He and Jeffrey Hunter work well together as the odd pair, Marty being part Indian and all. He sticks with the obsessive Ethan and earns his silent respect for it. A great job is done in conveying a lot of their relationship in short and perfectly natural scenes. Vera Miles is funny as the strong willed Laura and ditto for Hank Worden.

There's just something about this one that compels beyond the humble lines it sets for itself. This is a classic that has influenced more than just the Western.



-The Gnome