The Searchers (1956)

 The Searchers (1956)

Many filmmakers today owe gratitude for John Ford’s magnus opus western The Searchers. It is considered one of the best Western of all times and still influences filmmakers of the modern world. George Lucas used the film as a basis for one of his plotlines in Star Wars. The film’s hero, Ethan Edwards, is considered a loner and that lifestyle presses him into a life of violence. Martin Scorsese emulated that character trope with Travis Bickle in his masterpiece Taxi Driver. The director makes clear that this western is one of his favorite movies. The story itself is relatively straightforward and daresay simple, but Ford gives depth to his characters. His son-in-law Frank Nugent wrote the script and together they created a simple story that is anything but. There is the loneliness, the racism, and the harsh life of the frontier that can be taken apart to figure out exactly what Ford is trying to say. In terms of quality, it may not be his very best film. But it is a film that has his most interpretive messages. Still, this is John Wayne’s best, most compelling performance. Like all of his Westerns, Ford uses his signature shots of Monument Valley and the barren Western landscape to create exquisite sweeping shots. The director is the master of landscaping and certainly influenced future filmmakers. Add these sweeping shots with Max Steiner’s powerful score, you get magic!

The film was adapted from Alan Le May’s novel. However, some film critics believed the story is based on true events. A nine-year-old was kidnapped by the Comanche tribe in 1836 and was married into the tribe. More than two decades has passed when she was finally found and forced to leave the tribe. There are incidents during the 1800’s that could be used as a basis for this story. Regardless, it is truly captivating material. Over the years, different people interpreted the themes differently in all aspects. There are people who call the film blatantly racist ala Birth of a Nation. I do not think that is the case. Wayne’s character himself is certainly openly racist. His open hatred of the Comanches is the reason why he is pursuing Debbie, the kidnapped girl, not the fact that the girl was kidnapped. In fact, he planned to kill her. His companion, Martin is one-eighth Cherokee. When Martin mentioned that, Ethan delivered a dark look. Ethan uses his hatred to push the narrative forward, but Ford has ideas about this character. He reveals the darkness of the American frontier hero. There is not only glory, but darker character traits such as lust, etc. I believe Ford pushed across what he wanted to say in a decent manner. I did dock a few points because this film is two films folded into one if you will. The other half plays out like a screwball comedy especially from the Swedish neighbor. Not bad but felt jarring at times. Especially after intense character moments with John Wayne.

Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) spent three years away from home after fighting for the Confederates in the Civil War. It has been indicated that he was fighting for money in Mexico. But now he is back with his brother Aaron and his family. Cattle has been stolen from the nearby Jorgensen ranch and Deputy (and reverend) Samuel Clayton (Ward Bond) creates a team to find the thieves and bring them to justice. It turns out to be a ruse with the men gone, it allows the Comanche to destroy the family and kidnap the teenage girls in an act of retaliation. Ethan now vows to find his two nieces including the eldest Debbie (Natalie Wood). Ethan is frustrated that he is accompanied by Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), the adopted son of Aaron. Their remaining tie to home is Martin’s relationship with the Jorgensens’s daughter, Laurie (Vera Miles). But as time progresses, the question must be answered for Ethan whether this is a quest for revenge…or something more?

People seem to agree that this is John Wayne’s best performance. I have not seen many of his performances but those that I have seen, I would say this is his most committed performance. His character is not a traditional hero as you would expect from a normal Western. He gets bogged down in his hatred and you see him slipping towards the dark side. A question needs to be asked? Can he be redeemed? He also played the part of the loner very well which may be an attribute to his questionable personality. The usual stock characters in a Ford western are here (Ward Bond, Harry Carey Jr, etc) and all play their parts well. I liked Jeffrey Hunter’s character. There is nuance to him, and he was a fleshed-out character. He more than the guy who was “one-eighth Cherokee.” Natalie Wood did not get lots of screentime, but she was representable. She was still a high school student and she still had to go to school between takes.

The Searchers is a movie that is designed to make you think. That is something you do not see every day especially in a Western. There is more than the settlers versus the native story. John Ford directed this film as if it was his last film. Every detail is important to the story. The story can be interpreted in so many ways, and that is what I believe Ford was going for. He did the same for earlier films like The Grapes of Wrath, so it comes as no surprise. Even if you were underwhelmed by the story, you should at least agree that the lush cinematography with Steiner’s score in the background is a major strength. As I mentioned at the onset of the review, creating stunning cinematography with landscapes is one of Ford’s many strengths. This is a provocative, character-driven Western that influenced many filmmakers of today, so give it a watch!

My Grade: A-