Rating: 
Summary: Essential genre piece
Review: I don't know why the Frenchman was so critical of this DVD. The movie is, after all, 44 years old. The picture is awesome (when compared to anything on VHS) and the scenery is unequaled in any movie. I prefer Clint Eastwood in my westerns, but still consider myself enough of a Duke fan to recommend you put this one on your short list of westerns.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of Ford
Review: As "The Searchers" approaches the half-century mark, this 1956 film may fail to conect with modern viewers. Indeed, the old fashioned acting styles are jarring and the film's racial themes seem like old business. Nonetheless, when seen in the context of its time and to other films around it, it stands tall. As much as any Ford film, "The Searchers" is a story about a family reunited, a theme to which Ford returned time and again. But in no other Ford film is that theme played out at such a tremendous emotional and spiritual cost. The implication that Debbie is Ethan's daughter and not his niece comes from Ford and not Alan LeMay's original story. By giving us a date--1868--in the opening fade, then belaboring the exposition of Debbie's age, Ethan's long absence, the barely suppressed tenderness Ethan displays toward Martha and his guilty uneasiness with his brother, it is not hard to do the math. Debbie is Ethan's daughter. As the theme of family plays out, there is repeated discussion about what constitutes blood kin, especially regarding Marty, who was once "saved" by Ethan, just as Ethan will "save" Debbie. Ethan discounts Marty's entire existence because Marty is one-eighth Cherokee. Conversely, Ethan endures an epic search for Debbie because she is not only kin and perhaps his last remaining relative, but in fact his daughter. The thought both motivates and crazes Ethan. Whether Ford decided to hide this dramatic construct because 1950's morality would have disapproved the overt depiction of an illegitimate child (especially in a horse opera!) or because the idea simply served to motivate Ford through the movie is unimportant. What is as important to this film as the scenery in Monument Valley or the chaotic corniness of a pre-massacre breakfast at the Edwards place or a rough and tumble wedding sequence is that Ford could submerge information and still make it resonate through every frame of the film. Perhaps the agonized Ethan Edwards speaks for Ford when he says, "What do you want me to do? Draw you a picture?" Ford is as important for what he doesn't show us as for what he does.
Rating:
Summary: Highway Robbery!
Review: That John Wayne was not even nominated for Best Actor for his work in "The Searchers" was outright highway robbery. Hollywood politics probably played a role in the snub- the Duke had been outspoken in support of blacklisting suspected or former communists. Hollywood eventually had to give something to the man who become such an icon that he could no longer be ignored. The Oscar the Duke received for his good work in "True Grit" was more a belated award for his fantastic work in "Red River," "The Quiet Man", "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon," and most of all, "The Searchers." Of course, Hollywood later ignored his fine work in "The Cowboys" and "The Shootist." I first saw "The Searchers" when I was 11 early in 1982 and absolutly fell in love with it. I've since watched it an uncountable number of times. It is my favorite western and my favorite John Wayne film. Personally, the most wonderful parts of Wayne's performance do not even contain any dialogue. He is the outsider on the porch looking at a life he could have had, as he watches Martha and his brother get ready for bed. The look of sorrow and concern when he realizes that he and the Rangers had been duped by the Comanches. The expression of pure horror and anger that covers his face when he sees the burning homestead. The entire scene when he is framed by the door in the burning house and finds Martha's dress. Martha, the woman Ethan loved, was not just murdered; she was raped. When Ethan finally confronts the man he holds responsible for that deed- is without a doubt one of the greatest scenes John Wayne ever did. The look of pure HATE on his face as he meets Scar is just awesome to behold. A terrific movie! A horse opera? Tell that to Speilberg and Scorsese who rank it among their favorites too.
Rating: 
Summary: A Better than average Horse Opera
Review: I saw The Searchers all the way through for the first time just recently and I don't see why it's supposed to be so great. I have read many of the reviews of those who loved this film and while I understand their enthusiasm, I don't share it. It's all too unnatural and theatrical. I never felt the main characters really developed and secondary characters were often goofy. The Indians didn't look like Indians and Monument Valley doesn't look like Texas. For a film ostensiblty about bigotry and intolerance I didn't see anybody really change or learn anything. The premise was intriguing but the payoff was predictably Hollywood. Did anyone expect John Wayne's standard character (he's almost always either mildly bemused or angry in every film) to do other than what he did? At any time did he ever behave differently toward Indians or anyone else? The whole ending with the coincidental timing of their return to the ranch seemed very forced and silly. Only in the movies is a fight at a wedding a fun time. This, for me, was a pretty good horse opera but nothing special.
Rating:
Summary: Just Another Horse Opera
Review: Warning: some key plot point are mentioned I saw the Searchers all the way through for the first time just recently and it's a pretty typical Hollywood western. Almost no one spoke like a normal person, very stagy especially the attempts at humour. John Wayne is exactly the same in every movie I've seen him in and this was no exception. He's either mildly bemused or angry. I'll never understand what the fuss is about. We are taken through one set piece after another until the end when Wayne realizes in an instant he was wrong all along. The thing is, he never seemed to learn anything about racism at all. Did anyone really think he would shoot the girl? It ends with an unbelievable coincidence of arriving home at the moment of the wedding and a typical fun brawl (We all know how much fun a good beating at a wedding is), and they all live happily ever after and don't worry about shooting 3 men in the back. I was expecting alot and for the most part it was fairly ordinary. It's not even that interesting. I think John Ford is good but over-rated.
Rating:
Summary: about the widescreen format preserving the aspect ratio¿
Review: The searchers is one of the most important movie never made but i'm verry desapointed. This dvd present a standard version and wildescreen version. But it's not the unbelievibal original theatrical exhibition (the largest scope you can imagine, more or less 2,5: 1. You can see it on CD Video). This present DVD's Wildscreenn version is just a standard version including two black lines... An incrédible letter box presentation... Un film comme ça méritait plus de respect (in french !) and I'm always waiting for a real good dvd edition of this great part of american art ! (Excuse my very bad english... I'm french !)
Rating:
Summary: packs a whallop
Review: First John Ford introduces us to the Edwards family and we warm up to them directly. Then within the first half hour they are all slaughtered by Indians except a little girl who is captured. The audience is roped in. Invested. Yes I was surprised to see John Wayne being free with his emotions. I was more impressed with the deep and heartfelt performances of Jeffrey Hunter and Harry Carey, Jr. as well as Ken Curtis' mastery of comedy and Ward Bond's deftness at both. But no one swaggers like the Duke. No one directs like Ford. And no place is as beautiful as Monument Valley. I originally watched this because Roger Ebert and Steven Speilberg both raved about it. Boy were they right!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: One of the best and most powerful westerns ever made. Anyone who would rate this movie 1 star and say that The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was the greatest western ever made oughta' lay off the fire water and get a grip! This movie is one of the finest.
Rating:
Summary: not all it's cracked up to be.
Review: i just saw this movie for the first time, and i have to say that i was disappointed. not that its a bad movie, the cinematography is beautiful and the direction good, but the character development is quite weak. also the score sounds inappropriatly comedic in many places. the searchers is not even close to other great westerns-high noon, shane, unforgiven, my darling clementine,and of cousre the greatest of them all, the good the bad and the ugly.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece from Ford and Wayne
Review: Just received from Amazon the eagerly awaited DVD The Searchers my ALL TIME favourite western movie. Fantastic the quality of the actors the sceenery of Monument Valley is breathtaking.This was my first DVD region 1 code.Many will follow.
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