The Searchers Reviews

Worthy of classic status?

The Searchers is one of those films regularly quoted in the critics 'best films of all time' and is one of those films that I feel that I ought to have seen. The good thing about being part of this DVD rental scheme is that it allows one the chance to fill the gaps in film knowledge.

So is the Searchers worthy of its classic status? Well, kind of. It is certainly a complex story and works on many levels. There are a number of emotionally distressing scenes that are all the more affecting because film makers of the 1950's were not permitted to be as explicit as they are today. But the era in which the film was made does led to drawbacks - the declamatory acting style, the melodramatic music interfere with rather than enhance character and narrative.

For me the real flaw is with John Wayne - film star sure - but not character actor and the central performance lets the film down badly.

It looks superb and when compared with most of the tosh produced by Hollywood today and is well worth renting, however, this is probably one of those classic films that would benefit from a remake.

By Stephen Metcalf , http://www.slate.com

The Searchers, John Ford's epic 1956 Western, is a film geek's paradise: It is preposterous in its plotting, spasmodic in its pacing, unfunny in its hijinks, bipolar in its politics, alternately sodden and convulsive in its acting, not to mention boring. Impossible to enjoy, and yet not as obviously medicinal as, say, The Spirit of the Beehive, The Searchers segregates the initiated from the uninitiated; and so it is widely considered, by the initiated, at least, to be among the four or five best movies of all time. At his maiden screening, a young Cahiers du Cinema critic named Jean-Luc Godard wept, later adding, 'How can I hate John Wayne … and yet love him tenderly … in the last reel of The Searchers?' Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader routinely name The Searchers as one of their favorite films, adding, 'I see it once or even twice a year' (Scorsese), or, 'I make sure to see The Searchers at least once a year' (Schrader), though such encomia have the curious effect of making the movie sound dutiful and unpleasant, like a prostate exam. Maybe the analogy isn't so outlandish as it seems.

Searching the heart and soul

Like Charles Laughton’s brilliant 'Night Of The Hunter', John Ford’s 'The Searchers' was sadly neglected on initial release in 1956. Over the years its reputation has enlarged, so much that now it is considered one of the very finest films ever made. Ethan(Wayne) returns home from the war and his niece Debbie(Wood) is stolen by Comanche. And so follows an epic journey to rescue the missing girl and return her back to the family.

In his 6th film he collaborated on with Ford, John Wayne gives the performance of his career, the only possible equal being his work in Hawks’ Red River. Without relying on screen presence alone, he gives Ethan several shades to a man who quite simply is a racist. Wayne turns this character into a tender human being, this being one of the elements that makes this film superb. Ford’s direction never had been and never was better, juxtaposing Ethan’s loner persona against the wide-open spaces of Monument Valley. The astonishing final shot is one you will have heard of and is deservedly lauded.

Everything from Taxi Driver to Star Wars to Finding Nemo have borrowed heavily in terms of themes and plot from The Searchers. It’s a poetic, lyrical film and one that has rarely been matched in terms of influence and power.

A masterpiece and truly one of the greatest films of all time.

Hate, Revenge, Love

Probably John Ford's best film, 'The Searchers' is the saga of an ex-Confederate soldier, Ethan Edwards, who embarks on a long, obsessive search for his niece Debbie, who was kidnapped by Comanche Indians.

John Wayne should have won an Oscar for this film and not 'True Grit'. Perhaps 'The Shootist' is equally great?

Anyway, John Wayne goes through the wringer emotionally. From revenge to the Comanches for what they did, to hate he shows for his niece becoming a squaw and finally love and forgiveness.

However, watch the ending and you'll see that not all is well.

He should have got the Oscar for this film rather than for True Grit - this film is brilliant with a poignant and sometimes tense storyline, dramatic scenery and beautiful cinematography. And last, but certainly not least, incredibly well acted. This film is so watchable, it is my favourite film of all time.

A Ground Breaking Western

This is surely one of the best westerns ever made, and certainly John Wayne and John Ford's best film.

Made in the 1956, it is as close to a realistic portrayal of life on the Indian frontier, as that time's society would allow. It is darker than any previous western and few, even by today?s standards, are as hard hitting.

Wayne plays an Indian-hating racist, on the five year trail of the tribe who brutally murdered his brother, sister in-law and nephew, raping his older niece before killing her too and carrying off his younger niece as a prize, to live in bondage. This is ostensibly a rescue mission, with Wayne accompanied by his half nephew (Jeffrey Hunter), a more moderate character, who has Indian blood in his veins. As the years draw on it is obvious that Wayne is after revenge, and that he feels that his niece (who is now a squaw), would be better off dead than rescued. Hunter, who cares only for the rescue of his little sister, must try to stop him from killing her as they close in on the renegade tribe. The tension between the older and younger man is a large part of the story and provides Ford with the opportunity to display Wayne?s character?s racist tendencies in his attitude to his companion.

It is a brilliantly realised story of revenge and racial hatred (told from several perspectives). The love story, which runs in parallel, provides a welcome contrast of humour and romance to the intense quest of the two men, but this remains a serious film.

Put this one up there with other great Westerns: - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Bad Company, Unforgiven, Open Range, The Outlaw Josey Whales, Once Upon a Time in the West ? It should be somewhere in the top three!

That'll be the day

Even though this film is often cited as one of the greatest westerns ever made, I?ve never, until now, seen it. So, I guess it was no surprise that I was a little disappointed. The darkness of John Wayne?s character is still very strong, but there?s an almost comic sub plot involving his companion, played by Jeffrey Hunter and his long suffering fianc?, Vera Miles, that detracts from the power and obsession of the central theme. Nevertheless, this is John Wayne?s movie. Anyone, who claims that he was a one-dimensional actor, in the same mould as Arnie or Sylvester Stallone, needs to watch this film. He dominates every scene he appears in. This is a man who is driven by inner demons, tormented by things that he has experienced both in the Civil War and in the Indian conflicts. Throughout the film, he commits acts of callous brutality and even in the classic closing scene he is still isolated and alone. Highlighted against the stark and frightening beauty of Monument Valley, you can see why Wayne was one of the iconic figures of motion pictures.

Wayne is the flaw

I'm not a fan of Westerns but felt obliged to watch this because of its revered status. The set - the Monument NP in Arizona/Utah - is astonishing and the ultimate setting for a western. It's also difficult to fault the direction. The story is a brave one to tackle with its undertones of racism (presumably not such a big issue in the time the story is set) and you're left guessing until the end whether the uncompromising stance taken by Ethan through the film carries through. Ultimately though, for me, the weakness of the film is Wayne himself. He just seems unable to show any real humanity and comes across as just a nasty piece of macho, reactionary work. Clint Eastwood regularly played the hard man but there was never any doubt that he was decent underneath it all. No such subtlety from Big John. When, at last, the story has him show some compassion - you just can't believe him.

[Highly rated reviewer]

the searchers

ok but not great. my husband liked it more

The Searchers

Although John Wayne is heralded as a great actor, I can't help feeling he is very wooden in his acting - though times have changed. This is apparently one of the great Westerns. The scenery is a major protagonist.