Written by: Frank S. Nugent
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood
Rating: [4/5]
Common enemies have the tendency to bring those who may not stand each other’s presence under the same banner. As improbable as it may be and even with one calling another a half-breed. This ultimately sums up this arduous journey through the hot sun in search of an individual much as the title indicates. Through the anger existent, The Searchers reminds us what makes John Ford a spectacular director of this genre.
Following the death of the brutal murder of her family, Debbie Edwards (Natalie Wood) gets taken by a Comanche tribe. Now in search to get his niece back, former Confederate soldier Ethan (John Wayne) goes out into the desert to find her along with the pesky Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), The only question that remains is what will occur when they finally find her.
Enjoying the merits of The Searchers has proven to be quite the journey for me as a lover of film. It began as one of the first films I watched when initially trying to take in Old Hollywood, which left me inadequately prepared for how to process it. On one hand, you have a racist Confederate soldier who seemingly gets postured as the good guy when he does not let his dehumanizing ideals sit by the wayside when conversing with others. This perspective soured me on why I should enjoy this film, but it was not until becoming a more seasoned observer of cinema that I understood everything happening here. Something many will struggle with but ultimately allows for a second viewing to have that much more of an enriching experience.
Holding Ethan up as the protagonist of this feature does not seek to necessarily prove his way of thinking holds superior to others but rather a clash between one generation and another. The way he thinks certainly gets questioned by others in the film thus creating this divide but the film seeks to demonstrate how everything can be put aside for the sake of this common goal and how rescuing Debbie from this terrible situation she has found herself in takes precedent over any prejudice or other issue taking root on the fringes of this story. It allows someone like Ethan the opportunity to work with someone he considers a half-breed and do it somewhat willingly
A mix of love for Debbie and hatred of indigenous people keeps the fire going for Ethan going throughout this film which turns into a journey of many years and this film does such a great job at showing just how tired these two become. Each day they trot out trying to get information and any morsel of assistance in ascertaining the location of Debbie even when paths lead dry. Barters, deals, and handshakes for anything that will assist them to allow for quite the hot and arduous journey, but we get sucked in through all of it as well. We bake along with them in the hot sun of the American West as they must combat the elements as well as the imminent threat of enemy forces both known and unknown lingering on the periphery waiting to strike.
As arduous as it gets, this feature still knows how to ensure some fun gets instilled through the narrative with several instances of genuine humor allowing for some levity. Whether it be the interaction of Martin with the woman he loves and then with another woman he cannot believe he has married, the young man serves as both the heart and humor of this feature leaving Ethan to stand as this stoic figure continually difficult to read and fully nail down on an emotional level. These lighter moments come at just the right time to benefit the narrative.
However, with all that being said, the greatness of this feature comes from its technical elements with its score and cinematography creating something so euphoric to experience. The theme brimming throughout the feature brings sprinklings of joy in even the darkest moments while allowing for the finale to bring this sense of poignancy helped along by the cinematography. The final shot alone says so much with the way it frames the characters respective to everyone else. Visually, it allows for the grand landscape behind them to not swallow up the whole frame but also accentuates just how small they are in eh grand scheme of things. Some shots of this feature deservedly should be framed and put up on a wall as it offers some of the best moments the Western genre has to offer.
While prickly in moments, The Searchers assuredly deserves its place as one of the best Westerns as it exudes brilliance in so many frames. It pieces together a fairly simple story into something worth watching for the complexity of emotions following the journey of the lead character. The many obstacles in their way only continue to display the reality of what these men represent and it all makes for a formative viewing experience.
Films with Josh 
