2008 VIP
GeorgeChabot
Conyers, GA
That'll be the day!
5 star rating

DVD Collector, movie guru, movie connoisseur, Action film aficionado, cult film connoisseur, Fan of Superb Productions
Pros

    John Wayne, John Ford's direction, Winton Hoch's photography

Cons
    This is as good as it gets

APR
15
2008

The Searchers 1956  — 

The Searchers (1956)

John Ford teamed up with John Wayne to make one of the greatest westerns in history, the story of a man who would not stop searching for his lost niece, no matter what.

John Wayne stars as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who returns to his Texas home on the eve of an Indian massacre. While the men are drawn off by a ruse following supposed cattle rustlers, the Comanches swoop down and kill all the kin folks Ethan has. There are indications the Indians have taken the two young daughters captive and Ethan resolves to track them down.

At first the neighbors and local peace officer (Ward Bond) help Ethan search, but eventually they tire and return home leaving Ethan with his half-breed nephew (Jeffrey Hunter) and the neighbor boy, who is sweet on one of the girls, to gamely follow the dim trail. Soon the grim faced Ethan informs the two boys he has found what was left of Lucy, the older girl, in a side canyon.  This drives the Jorgenson boy crazy and he charges into the Indian camp later that evening, guns blazing. A heavy silence falls after a definitive fusilade responds.  That leaves Ethan and Martin alone on the trail.

The search continues for five long years, summer and winter, with Ethan and Martin returning to Texas once in time to see the wedding of Martin's sweetheart (Vera Miles) and for Ethan to be charged with murder of a trader who tried to bushwhack him. Many interludes are explained by a letter that Martin sends back to the Jorgensons and director Ford shows his grasp of storytelling and humor in his handling of the vignettes.

The Searchers is a mature story, full of symbolism; one of which are the many times doorways are shown.  Ethan is an outsider from the very beginning and even at the end the door swings shut barring him from the family circle.  Ethan will always be alone.

The Warner Bros DVD is presented in restored 1.66:1 theatrical format in color with a running time of 119 minutes.  One of the best westerns you'll ever see, as sure as the turning of the earth.



I_thumb_up The Searchers 1956 is recommended by GeorgeChabot

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about GeorgeChabot’s Review

 


GeorgeChabot wrote on Apr 17, 2008 at 3:50AM

In response to MikeMaroon's comment from Apr 17, 2008 at 12:55AM:

Thank you much, Mike! :>

GeorgeChabot wrote on Apr 17, 2008 at 3:49AM

In response to Fardreamer's comment from Apr 16, 2008 at 9:54PM:

That's right. He and one of his band mates saw the Searchers just before their fabled recording session in Clovis NM.

MikeMaroon wrote on Apr 17, 2008 at 12:55AM

Can't go wrong with John Wayne! Great job!

kid-kansas wrote on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:49PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Apr 16, 2008 at 5:10PM:

Yep I agree! ;)

Fardreamer wrote on Apr 16, 2008 at 9:54PM

Isn't "That'll be the day!" a line that was borrowed by the late great Buddy Holly for a song of the same name?

Great review, by the way, George!

GeorgeChabot wrote on Apr 16, 2008 at 5:11PM

In response to RachaelsView's comment from Apr 16, 2008 at 11:16AM:

Hi Rachael - welcome to Viewpoints! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! :>

GeorgeChabot wrote on Apr 16, 2008 at 5:10PM

In response to kid-kansas's comment from Apr 15, 2008 at 9:19PM:

Yeah, like a motorcycle, it just gets better with age. ;>

RachaelsView wrote on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:16AM

Hi! G-Dawg! I didn't know you were here too! :) Good to see you and as always, a great review!!!!!!!!!

kid-kansas wrote on Apr 15, 2008 at 9:19PM

Saw this for the first time 20 odd years ago and it is a gripping story. Was flipping channels about 6 months ago and caught it about a 1/3 of the way through. It was still just as good as the first time, gotta love cable! ;)

gitbean wrote on Apr 15, 2008 at 6:42PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Apr 15, 2008 at 6:25PM:

:~)!

GeorgeChabot wrote on Apr 15, 2008 at 6:25PM

In response to gitbean's comment from Apr 15, 2008 at 4:04PM:

You betcha, Gitman! Thanks for stopping by! ;>

gitbean wrote on Apr 15, 2008 at 4:04PM

Now that I am a Western beleiver I will have to be on lookout Gman...thanks!

5 star rating
"Monument Valley Technicolor John Wayne Great Film # 15"
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4 star rating
"Beautiful western with a grouchy John Wayne"



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