Rating: 
Summary: The greatest western ever filmed!
Review: I first viewed The Searchers as a film major in college. In the last twenty years I have seen this film at least forty times. "How can you watch the same movie over and over" my wife always ask. My reply is simple...this is the greatest western ever made.What makes it so great is of course John Ford's direction and his signature as an auteur. His economy of frame space, the majesty of Monument Valley and the internal struggle of a man's racism and his inability to become a viable member of the Ford definition of family. The family is a centerpiece in many of Ford's films. The Grapes of Wrath and How Green is My Valley are two that come to mind. The Joabs and the Morgans struggled as a family. Although the struggle in The Searchers is for Ethan to find his daughter (I know it says his niece, but take it from someone who has seen this film as many times as I have--she's his daughter...I can prove it, write me). This is a portrait of a dysfunctional Ford family. I urge everyone to read this movie. Yes, I said read. One of the first lessons in film school is that we do not watch a film, we read it. You must remember that time and space of any film only exists as the film is being projected. Every piece of furniture, every prop is all in the frame for a reason--placed there by the director to add to the untold story and to the characters' personality. Look beyond the dialogue; look at that picture on the wall; look at the custumes that the characters are wearing-- then ask yourself why are they here and what are they trying to tell me. When you do this, you have graduated from watching a film to reading a film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Classic Westerns
Review: As we approach the end of the century and films are ranked, this classic, definitive Western is deservedly appearing near the top of most every list. Even the "politically sensitive" and "revisionist" reviewers are compelled to do handsprings (usually _ad hominem_ attacks on Wayne)to try make their agenda in the face of this epic work. Central to this film is the brilliant performance of John Wayne as the tormented anti-hero Ethan Edwards. His cynical, hard-bitten character embodies the full range of racial hatred for the Commanche and dread at the sexual violation and torture of white women captives that one can find in the chronicles of early Texas. Sorry revisionists! This is the way it _was_. _The Searchers_ is one of the first films that takes up this subject, and it acknowledges the Victorian view that once defiled a white woman would not be accepted back into society. Watch the scene with Edward's reaction to the female captives brought in by the Seventh Cavalry. That Edwards barely resolves the question of survival in favor of his niece is a function only of that most human side of his character-- his devotion even beyond the grave to the girl's mother whom he loved, but who married Edward's brother. John Ford's trademark humor barely relieves what is one of his darkest films. The much written about conclusion is one of the iconographic moments of the American Western. With outstanding cinematography, a rousing soundtrack, and wonderful characterizations (see Ward Bond as the Preacher and Ranger Captain), this is a great film. But it is Wayne's performance that makes it a Classic.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Duke's Best
Review: A memorable quote when the Duke is asked at various times: I thought that you were Dead? The Duke always responds: "That'll be the day"
Rating:
Summary: Greatest movie ever!
Review: Greatest movie ever made. Could Ford have wanted us to conclude that Debbie was Edwards daughter and not niece? If you assume that, it makes the movie even more powerful.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Special Presentation of a Masterpiece!
Review: Besides the joy of seeing John Ford's masterpiece in the DVD format, this is a 'must' for film buffs because of the two documentaries included with the film. First is a 'Making-of' featurette, with color 'home movies' shot on location; it's followed by a brief commentary by Pat Wayne, Duke's actor son, who has a small role in the film. If you are planning to buy any John Wayne movie on DVD, this is the edition to start with!
Rating:
Summary: The best of both Wayne and Ford
Review: Brilliant evocation of time and place contributes to gripping story in an American original. If any movie deserves its legendary status, it is this one.
Rating:
Summary: Finest western ever made, with a superb background piece.
Review: The Searchers will always remain in the private Hall of Fame of many a western fan for many reasons. The scenery, the writing, the incredible acting power seen and felt from John Wayne and the supporting cast. For these reasons and many others, this movie is a must-see for any film buff. This special edition carries with it an thrilling look behind the scenes and into the minds and hearts of the two Hollywood legends, John Wayne and John Ford. It gives the viewer a peek at what went in to the creation of a masterpiece, and what physical and emotional punishment is endured. The special edition gives more than half an hour of extra footage and information. Its worth your time and the few extra dollars to give this a look. The downside to this special edition is the spoiler. The background piece is actually shown before the feature, and gives away the ending of the movie. If you have never seen The Searchers before, please, please fast forward to 40 minutes on the tape and enjoy the movie before you watch the special. This is simply a poorly thought-out packaging job by the manufacturer, and perhaps assumes everyone who buys this just wants it for their video library.
Rating:
Summary: Still the best
Review: Not only the best Western of all time,but also one of the greatest movies of all time.It has it all,it has drama,it has suspense,but most importantly...it has Wayne,the Duke delivers(probably)his greatest performance of his long, outstanding career,and it has John Ford's beautifull romantic direction.Even non fans of the genre will enjoy this movie. END
Rating:
Summary: Searchers!!
Review: Ethan Edwards, (John Wayne), finds his way home after the civil war to his brothers homestead. Some cattle are rustled and he and a few men track them only to discover it's a Comanche trick to lure them away while they kill out the folks left behind which is Ethan's brother, wife, and kids. They arrive back too late, all are dead except Ethan's niece who was taken captive. Ethan sets out to find his niece accompanied by Martin Pauley, (Jeffrey Hunter), who Ethan found as a baby years earlier after another Indian raid. Ethan loved his brother's wife which is clear in the book by Lemay but very lightly alluded to in the film. This helps to explain his rage because everything he cared for in the world is gone. He will pursue the Comanche that have his niece until hell freezes over. Along the way he finds that he is still a human being. This film is widely considered the greatest western of all time and a favorite film of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg if that means anything to you, I thought I would toss it in anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Average Transfer of A True John Ford Classic!
Review: John Ford was a master craftsman of the American cinema. Though he dabbled in melodrama and action during his directorial career, his everlasting contribution to the movies remains in those galvanic distillations of the old west put forth by an unparalleled series of legendary films. "The Searchers" ranks among his most finely wrought and meticulously hand crafted projects. Indeed it seems to be the film in which the culmination of Ford's own commitment to the power, beauty and frailty of the western frontier tragically come together in a revisionist perspective that exposes both its grandeur and its flaws. The film stars the iconic John Wayne as Ethan Edwards - a strangely majestic antihero who vows bloody revenge after his cousin and family are slaughtered by marauding Comanches. But Ethan's search for his surviving niece (Natalie Wood) becomes a sinister and all-consuming obsession when he learns that she - having been abducted while still a child - has now adopted the ways of her captors and, at least in Ethan's mind, has become one of them. The film tackles racism in the form of Ethan's distrust of one time family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is part Cherokee and the sweep and spectacle of Death Valley has never been quite so poignantly captured on film. THE TRANSFER: While Warner Home Video has made "The Searchers" available in anamorphic widescreen in a print that is light years ahead of anything the film has looked like before for the home film enthusiast, compared to more current DVD releases, the visual splendor of the transfer falls short of expectations. Though colors are rich there's something of a muddiness and lack of balance to them in many of the indoor scenes. Also, several scenes appear to be suffering slightly from color shrinkage, creating a slightly out of focus image quality that is distracting. Age related artifacts are present but do not distract so much as the digital anomalies of pixelization and edge enhancement which greatly plague the background information in most of the long shots. A slight shimmering is inherent in all of the scenes. Black and contrast levels can be solid at times, while sometimes appearing slightly pasty. Ditto for the unnatural flesh tones which are either overly pink or a ruddy orange. The audio has been remastered and delivers a nice expansive presentation which is in keeping with the vintage of the original sound elements.
EXTRAS: Not this time around. Sadly, this film deserves a documentary. BOTTOM LINE: "The Searchers" is a masterful western, on par with "Stagecoach" and "High Noon". Definitely one to add to your film library.
| 
