A Civil War veteran and his young partner embark on a journey
to find a little girl who's been kidnapped by Comanche warriors. WESTERN
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The Searchers (1956)Directed by John Ford
Written by Frank S. Nugent Starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Henry Brandon, Ken Curtis, Hank Worden Based on the novel by Alan Le May |
The Searchers was a phenomenal western that changed my entire view on American westerns. I'd always considered Italian westerns to be one step beyond the idealized American version, but after seeing this movie I realize my mistake. This film is a visually stunning and performance heavy masterwork that is far darker than most of the Italian westerns I've seen.
Nearly every major plot point is fraught with horrible implications, especially the first attack in which little Debbie is stolen. John Wayne plays the gruff, experience-heavy ex-Confederate on his last legs to perfection and continues to remind us all why he's the undisputed king of the American western film. With a wonderfully crafted story and the continuous thought that maybe their quest could be for nothing, The Searchers will tug at your heartstrings and make you wonder how far you would go to save someone you loved. |
The Searchers is the one film I think of as the perfect representation of Cowboys versus Indians. I have seen this film so many times in my life and every time I watch it I notice something new. This film is soaked in hidden metaphors and symbolism along with enough entertainment for everyone in the family. If you think this is just a stereotypical western film you are mistaken. John Ford took great care of this film and the main character Ethan Edwards.
The only fault of this movie in my opinion is the representation of the Native Americans. This is also in my opinion John Wayne’s best acting performance of his career. Some may think John Wayne can’t play a character beyond the typical cowboy and that is nothing but wrong and this film proves it. If I were to make a greatest films of all time list I would put this film in the top 20 greatest films. This film deserves respect and deserves your viewing. I will show this film to my children one day. |