The Searchers 1956 Review

I'd heard a lot about the film The Searchers over the years and finally got to see it. Made in 1956 by legendary director John Ford, The Searchers is a tale of dogged persistance by an otherwise hard-to-like character.

Beautifully shot in Monument Valley, Arizona, The Searchers features all the western scenery you could want. Throw in bad indians, a torched homestead, horses, colorful characters and a couple of pretty women, and you have all the fixings of a fine western. And The Searchers is a fine western, just not a likeable as it could be.

Indians lure the men of the Edwards family away from the desolate homestead. While the men are away, the indians attack and kill the remaining people, except that one child -- Debbie -- is carried off. When Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) learns this, he scours the country for the next five years looking for Debbie. With Ethan for most of the search is Debbie's half-brother Martin (Jeffrey Hunter). Back at a neighboring ranch, pretty Laurie (Vera Miles) has the cuddlies for Martin but the dumb oaf is none too quick about stating his intentions. In the meantime, there are indians who are up to no good and townsfolk with information who try to capitalize on the situation.

The cinematography is beautiful and the story is a fine western tale. What almost spoiled it for me was the grouchiness of John Wayne's character, Ethan. If they're going to have a character this grouchy, then the filmmakers should give him a backstory to explain the grouchiness. All we know is that Ethan is a former Confederate soldier who apparently saw a lot of action in the Civil War. All things considered, he doesn't look too worse the wear for it. However, Ethan grumbles and grouches through every scene, scarcely stating what's on his mind and what his plans are. He's a hard character to like.

The other characters are mostly lightweight, particularly Jeffrey Hunter as Martin and Hank Warden as Mose. The character of Mose is so annoying that at least a couple of the scenes with him would have been better off cut.

In addition to the lovely cinematography, there are a couple of well-done comedy scenes that were surprisingly pleasant. And there is a lot to be said for John Wayne's portrayal of the perpetually grouchy Ethan. Add to that the lovely-to-look-at Vera Miles and the all-grown-up Natalie Wood (as Debbie, the carried off child), and this is an easy-to-watch movie. I just wish it was a little less grouchy on the part of Ethan.

One final note: This film highlights the change in racial and sexual attitudes since the time of the old west -- and probably since the time the film was made in 1956. If The Searchers was made this way today, it might get picketed by both Native Americans and women, maybe deservedly so. However, we can't judge a time capsule's contents on the attitudes of the people who prepared it.

The Searchers is rated PG and anyone over 12 should be fine with it. There is an adult scene or two, as well as some fairly violent cowboys and indians scenes. There's not too much blood but it is clear what is being left to the imagination.

I recommend The Searchers. I found it a little disappointing but still a good movie. Perhaps I was expecting too much.