The Searchers (Ultimate Collector's Edition)

This movie shows up on just about every "top 100" list you'll find anywhere - and for valid reasons. It continues to be timeless in its examination of one man's personal moral/ethical struggles as he deals with his deep seated hatred of Native Americans...… and in many aspects one of "The Duke's" most sensitive performances.It had to be made clear that his character was - and had always been - in love with his brother's wife..... and which had been reciprocated, (yet always undeclared) between the two of them. This was beautifully accomplished with absolutely no referenced dialogue and restricted to only the employment of nuance via brief facial expressions and body language between the two characters.It was imperative to Wayne's character being able to suddenly achieve a 180 degree change in attitude at the very end, with his long delayed understanding and acceptance that the girl for whom they had been searching was, after all, the child of the woman he had so profoundly loved..... and which overcame his hatred and caused him to spare her life.Wayne's characters were, as a rule, usually not particularly subtle; however, he managed to pull this one off extremely well - causing me to speculate what he might have been able to accomplish had audiences demanded him in some more serious roles rather the often overly macho parts with which he was normally associated.In any event, this film remains a generally acknowledged classic world-wide - and one of the finest within John Wayne's body of work.

I have been using the stay at home time resulting from the pandemic to watch several classic American westerns. The genre was highly popular through the 1950s, fell out of favor in the 1960s, and have experienced a renewal of interest of late. The best of these films, together with novels in the western genre, may help Americans think about and learn something of their country during these difficult times."The Searchers" is a 1956 film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran, a loner, and a wanderer who returns to the west Texas home of his brother and family in 1868. The film was successful upon its release and in the following years it achieved near-iconic stature. It is routinely included on lists of best westerns and best films. I don't remember seeing the film before watching it during the pandemic.The film immediately makes clear the abrasive, harsh character of Ethan Edwards. The Confederate veteran is unrepentant, ornery, quick with his fists and with insults, and most apparently, a racist in his attitude towards Indians. Immediately upon his return home, a group of Comanche Indians burn his brother's home to the ground killing the family with the exception of the two daughters, Lucie and Debbie (played by Natalie Wood) who are abducted. Edwards and a young man, Martin Pawley, (Jeffrey Hunter) are away at the time as the Indians have attempted to divert attention from their planned homestead burning by stealing a neighbor's cattle. Pawley has been raised by Edwards' family and has Indian blood. He becomes subject to Ethan's prejudice and ridicule. When Ethan and Pawley return, they and others in the community organize a search party to punish the Indians and to recover the young girls, if possible.The rest of the film focuses on the search, which becomes a five-year quest throughout the southwest by Edwards and Pawley. Edwards is more than willing to go on the search alone but reluctantly accepts Pawley's company. Pawley feels responsible for his adopted sisters and, more importantly, fears that Edwards will harm the girls when he finds them. Strong feelings of rape and of white women keeping company with Indian men pervade the film.The cinematography of the film is extraordinary in showing the expanse and beauty of the American West and in encouraging a love for the land. The story of the search has an immediacy to it over the long years and is easy to follow. The film is highly problematic in the questions it raises about racism and in the relationship between the settlers and the Indians. Ethan Edwards is in many respects shown throughout much of the movie as a highly flawed, biased individual.I was first puzzled and intrigued and then moved by this film. With the stature "The Searchers" has come to enjoy, the film has provoked a great deal of commentary. I took the opportunity to read some of the accessible comments to supplement watching the film. Many viewers still critique the film for what they see as its overt racism towards the Comanche. Other acknowledge the racism but find that the film itself critiques it and that Ethan Edwards gradually changes during the five year search shown in the film.The high regard in which the film is held should not blind the viewer to its ambiguities. Especially at the outset, the film may be disturbing in the attitudes of Ethan Edwards and, to a degree, of most of the other settlers. I found the movie worked for me in part because it is ethically problematic and encourages reflection by its viewers. In addition to the relationship between the settlers and the Indians, the film explores the life of a loner and probably an outlaw in the settlement of the west, as exemplified by John Wayne's character, and juxtaposes it with the path towards settlement and community. The story of the development of a common life, as compared to the life of a wandering loner, is a strong theme of the film. The cinematography and the ever-present music add to the passion this film encourages for the country.Lists of the best films, or the best of anything, have little significance. "The Searchers" both moved and troubled me. For those at home during the pandemic, watching "The Searchers" is an excellent use of time.Robin Friedman

I first saw The Searchers when I was a kid. This movie never gets old! It has everything from drama, to action, to humor. In my opinion it's one of the best westerns ever made.John Wayne's performance in this movie is outstanding! Shows he has acting range.That'll be the day!

After a belated return from fighting for the Confederates, John Wayne (Ethan Edwards in the film) returned to his brother's home in Texas. If you think there's never been a photo of The Duke looking mean to the core, go to your favorite browser and look up "Photos of John Wayne in 'The Searchers'". I don't know of a contemporary actor that can produce the Bad Guy pose that I found in a particular B&W photo I saw there. I tried to convert the image so I could load it on my review and share it with you folks, but my computer ineptness is legendary.Shortly after his return, some renegade Comanches, led by Chief Scar, tricked the Texas Rangers (all of the ranchers and farmers in the area) into pursuing them. Realizing they had been buffaloed, they quickly returned to their homes. Ethan's brother's house still had flames flickering upon his and his adopted nephew Martin's (played by Jeffrey Hunter) return. They found everyone dead, except for two young girls who had been kidnapped.This led Ethan and Martin on a 15-year search to find the girls. Shortly after they began, another diversion split the posse, leaving Ethan to find how the older niece had died. Revenge was boiled to his surface. Long story short: The younger niece Debbie (now Natalie Wood) was alive, but one of Scar's wives. At first sight, Martin had to get in front of Debbie to keep Ethan from shooting her, but by the time they were home, Uncle Ethan was lifting his niece high into the air - just as he had done when she was a 3-year old.The movie is a super addition to the collection I'm saving for my grandkids, so they can see why folks went to the movies once or twice a week. While The Duke won his Oscar for True Grit, the critics really ate up "The Searchers". Quoting Roger Ebert, he found Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards to be "one of the most compelling characters Ford and Wayne ever created". I'm not a critic, just a lowly movie-watcher, but I think so too. CLM

There is not much I can add to all that's been written & said about this classic Ford & Wayne western, with strong supporting cast & crew but I can say the 2 disc(2006) Warner Brothers edition(usually with red cover & Wayne + Monument Valley image) is well worth obtaining.On disc1 is the film in a stunning ,digital restoration of the Technicolor /Vistavision print, film ratio 1.85:1 widescreen.The audio is in mono but sounds clear. The film also has German & Spanish language versions with subtitles available in the 3 available languages +6 others. Theres an option to have the film introduced by Patrick Wayne who at fifteen played the slightly comic cavalryman in this film(& does it well).Disc1 also has a trailer & most importantly a good commentary by director/actor/John Ford biographer/all round 'film expert' ,Peter Bogdanovich.Disc2 has 4 short black & white 'behind the cameras' promotional features (available on some single disc issues)that were shown on U.S. TV when the film was released & are fascinating glimpses of that era & contain some good footage. There are two very good documentaries on the film (31 & 33mins) which have plenty of relevant information on the book, the filming, Wayne & Ford + much more & include unseen footage & all extras are also subtitled in a dozen languages.These docs' have input from directors Martin Scorcese,Curtis Hanson & John Milius.When this was released there were also single disc issues that had these extras listed on the misprinted cover, the disc actually just had the 'behind the scenes' segments & was was playable on both sides: 'widescreen' on one,4:3 ratio on the other .So will you regret spending those few extra pennies to get this 2disc edition?,as Wayne might say: "The hell you will".

One of the most iconic films ever. Watch out for camera work undertaken in this film that crop up time and again across all film genres. The most notable being the open and closing door shot - Spielberg used exactly the same shot for one of the most evocative elements in "Saving Pte Ryan", when the mother is informed of the loss of her sons and collapses on the front porch.Da Duke is excellent, indeed not bettered until "The Shootist". Elements may be slightly dated but pale into insignificance against the broad paintbrush effect of this film.A "must have" in any real man's film collection! Question - in the film - is Debbie actually Da Duke's secret daughter by his brother's wife?

liked this film first saw it many years ago like seeing the old stars again

Bought for the wifeShe loves all westerns

John Ford, and John Wayne at their best! The film that inspired a generation, many bands followed the Buddy Holly song named "That'll be the Day" from Wayne's quote!