The Searchers

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest films ever made!
Review: Along with Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Vertigo, and Singin' in the Rain, John Ford's masterpiece, The Searchers, remains one of the best films american cinema has to offer. The DVD is adequate, but the movie so good it hardly matters, in fact the discs greatest asset is that you get to see the film the way it was meant to be with the widescreen transfer. A must buy.

Rating:
Summary: For what we're about to receive, we thank Thee O Lord.
Review: These are the famous words prayed by Hank Worden, as he, John Wayne, Ward Bond, and Jeffery Hunter prepare for an Indian attack. My favorite of all of the John Wayne movies. This is a story of a man who has a fericous hatred of Indians that put General Sherman to shame. General Sherman believes that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. Wayne's character Ethan beleives that a dead niece is better than a live niece turned squaw. His neice, Debbie, is kidnapped by by a Commanche Chief named Scar.
Scar isn't the typical sterotype Indian. Like Ethan, he is full of hatred and vengence from his dealings in war. Ethan is a man who dearly loves his neice and gives her a civil war medal. However, he is also a man who dislike Marty (Hunter) because he is quarter Cherokee whom he regrets rescuing as a baby. Ethan also has a mysterious past. He's been missing since the end of the Civil War, shows up with a lot of money freshly minted, and matches quite a few descriptions.
To ease the tension, John Ford wisely includes some comedy. Mose Harper (Worden) provides the best as an idoit who's the Texas Ranger's mascot. Cpt Rev Johnson (Bond)is fire and brimstone whom gets the best of by Wayne and Lt. Greenfield (Pat Wayne!). Marty accidently marries a squaw and later fight a Seven brides for Seven brother fight with Charlie (Curtis).
If there's any flaws is that the beautiful Vera Miles doesn't use her natural voice. And that fight could have been improved upon. Netherless, these are minor infractiions. The picture quality could be improved, but the beauty of the Monument Valley is timeless.
The main theme is the theme of whether love can conquer vengence: to a certain extent yes. The ending says it all. Wayne picks up Debbie and sees her not as a squaw, but as a lost child. Then when everyone goes in the house except Wayne who walks off and the doors shut.
Nice features, nothing extra as in a documentary. The reason for buying this DVD is for John Wayne's performance and John Ford's directing.

Rating:
Summary: majestic
Review: One of my favourite films.This is a magnificent movie from director John Ford which I've seen so many times yet I never get tired of.John Wayne is superb in possibly his finest role as Ethan Edwards.Wonderful cinematography,a stirring score and fine performances all round make this film a joy to watch.

Rating:
Summary: A must!
Review: "The Searchers" is an absolute must for John Wayne fans. In a tie with "High Noon" for first place (in my book)...this movie is at the top of the heap for must see westerns. Get the good popcorn out...turn the phone off...put the DVD in and get ready for one of the absolute best (if not the best) westerns ever made. While the story is set in Texas...they actually shot the movie in Monument Valley. The cinematography is outstanding. They'll never top this one.

Rating:
Summary: discrepant vision
Review: The photography is breathtaking at times, and the movie itself, emotionally powerful -- regardless of your feelings towards the film's attitude towards Native Americans. The number of divergent reviews suggest that Ford intended John Wayne to be read simultaneously as the monomaniacal racist mindlessly shooting buffalo in order that the "Commanche" not have a source of food for the winter, and as towering figure who relentlessly searches (hunts?) for his niece. In either case, Ethan is the exceptional figure who never quite fits in civilized society. Ford's brilliance was to dramatize the ambiguity with which we view such characters, at once a threat to the order of things and its savior. As for the film's treatment of Native Americans, I think that it stretches one's credulity to claim that their treatment was "realistic" and devoid of racist stereotypes. What is true, though, is that Ford quite consciously calls into question the validity of the stereotypes used in the genre. Which is to say, that while the movie is not free of some disturbing representations, it certainly recognizes the injustice of some of the representations. This recognition of sorts, coupled with the complexity of Ethan's character (I've always wondered how aware Wayne was of the "dark side" of Ethan), is why I consider it to be Ford's greatest work (certainly a debatable claim).

Rating:
Summary: Easily one of the great Westerns ever made
Review: There are moments in this film that are just about as perfect as anything as you will find in cinema, moments that display John Ford functioning at his highest level as a filmmaker. For instance, there is a precious moment in which a woman is affectionately stroking the coat of her brother-in-law, who has just turned up after a long absence. She is unaware that someone else, played by Ward Bond, can and at first does see her. But the moment is far too personal, and Bond resolutely averts his eyes and refuses to see what ought not to be seen by anyone. Another such instance is the final shot of the film (which I can't describe in detail without giving away the plot). As the family retreats into the house, another character is framed outside the house (as if to exclude him), isolated from the family. It is a heartbreaking shot. The shot was also a homage to the late Harry Carey, in that the character in the frame holds his arm across his chest to hold the top of his opposite arm above the elbow, a gesture that anyone from that time period would associate with Carey.

This great John Ford film comes very close to being the greatest Western ever made. In fact, with two slight alterations, it almost certainly would have been. For some reason, Ford in some of his films suffered from unaccountable lapses in casting. In this one, in the crucial role of Martin Pawley, he cast Jeffrey Hunter. In many ways, Hunter mars the film with his often-grating performance. One can only lament what the film could have been with someone like Montgomery Cliff in the same role. The other odd decision was the elevation of Ken Curtis's role as Vera Miles other suitor. Curtis, a former big band crooner who was later best known as "Festus" on GUNSMOKE, has several scenes that tend to bring down the overall quality of the film, especially a fight scene at a wedding with Jeffrey Hunter.

But these are aberrations in what is otherwise a masterpiece of the highest order. I am not a big John Wayne fan, but Wayne was not just never better than he was in this film: it is impossible to imagine anyone playing the central role of Ethan Edwards better than Wayne does. He brings a grimness and tenacity and monomania that gives the movie much of its force and tension. And although Hunter and Curtis both mar the film, most of the cast is spectacular. Sometimes it seems as if Ward Bond were in every other film made in the thirties, forties, and fifties, but he was never better than he was in the role of Reverend Captain Samuel Johnson Clayton, both minister and police depending upon the need at the time. And Hank Worden is memorable as "Old Mose," the more than a little crazed old fool who provides some of the films more memorable moments. For instance, with the Rangers entrenched on one side of a river, bracing to meet an onrushing group of Indians, Mose suddenly shouts out, "Oh Lord, for what we are about to receive, we thank thee."

They key to the film, however, apart from Ford, lies in the performance of John Wayne. This is not the simplistic Indian killer or fighter you see in most of Wayne's films. In this one, he is a man who has seen and suffered too much. Ironically, he is chasing a rogue Indian chief named Scar, so-called because of a scar running down the side of his face. But Ethan is far more scarred than the Indian is. And as his hunt for Debbie, who has been abducted by Indians, turns from weeks into months into years, he correspondingly becomes more and more obsessed, to the point of near insanity. Indeed, much of the tension of the last part of the film comes from the distrust of Ethan's sanity on the part of Martin (Jeffrey Hunter). The scene where Ethan finally determines the fate of Debbie is one of the great moments in cinema.

This is just a great film by one of the great masters of the American cinema with the greatest performance by one of our most famous stars. If that isn't enough to make someone unfamiliar with this film to see it, I don't know what would be.

Rating:
Summary: Ford and Wayne's best
Review: The Searchers is one of the best movies Ford and Wayne made. Cinematically, it is a beautiful show (and you'll see homages to it everywhere, including Star Wars). It is one of Wayne's darker roles, and one he plays well. It's not John Wayne on the screen, it's more like he was able to find the character. Jefferey Hunter and Ward Bond do a wonderful job. My only fault with the movie is that Ford wraps it up too easily. He didn't explore the dark character Wayne played enough. But the years of searching and vengence make the trip worthwhile, even if it does end a little too 'neatly.'

The dvd is a bit of a dissapointment. One side is a full-screen version, and if you flip it over you can watch the wide-screen version. As with most dvds where the director and stars are dead, there is no commentary. (And I can't help but think of how great it would be to hear Ford and Wayne talk about this movie). There are some production notes that are interesting. There are 4 short 'Warner Bros. Presents' Shorts, two on one side, two on the other. They don't even touch the movie. It is a shame that there is no documentary. Ford shot seven reels of a 'Making Of', one of the first of its kind. If that had been added to this dvd, then this would be a spectacular dvd. As it is, it's still a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: John Fords' Best!
Review: I saw this picture 14 times at the old Mayfair Theatre on a double bill with The Parent Trap,(a great Hayley Mills Flic!)Back in the days when it cost 25 cents. (Twice a day for 7 days that is!) I have it on VHS, and plan to upgrade to DVD. You can't go wrong owning this film,as it may be John Waynes' best acting role in a western. The paring of the Duke with Jeffrey Hunter was genius,and the cinematography,(Monument Valley),is breathtaking! After Ethan (the Duke),returns home from the Civil War,he finds his closest family members wiped out in a renegade indian raid,except for Lucy,(a young Natalie Wood),whom the Commanches have taken for their own. The relentless hunt is on,through the four brutal seasons,and over years,Ethan is obsessed with finding 'Scar' the chief of the Commanches,and avenging his families death. Excellent action,and and excellent plot,with a surprise ending. The savageness and desperation that faced the early western pioneers is well-portrayed by FORD,in what I believe is his best collaberation with John Wayne. Great supporting cast,with the likes of Vera Miles and Ward Bond. It was my priviledge to review this great epic,and I recommend it most highly. - Ron Larocque

Rating:
Summary: The Searchers, the dukes best
Review: This is by far the best westeren to date. John fords attention to deatil, and awesome locations, (Monument Valley) blend beautifully with the color film. The story is original, and John Wayne does such a superb job in his chararcter of "Ethan".
The supporting cast such as Jeffery Hunter, and Ward Bond add further to the mix of making this film a all time classic then, now, and for decades to come. I recommend this film highly, espeacially if you are a John Wayne fan, and or a true westeren buff.

Rating:
Summary: American Classic
Review: If you only see one western in your life this is it !! A true classic in every form, from the script to the directing. John Wayne should have received an oscar for his portrayl of Ethan Edwards. John Ford's use of lighting and the opening scene blends so well with the closing scene, true art at it's finest. I would love to see this re-released in the theaters, a story that not only is compelling, but one that you become a part of. A film that you can watch with the entire family.