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The term "Wild West" was a term coined to highlight the incontrollable and chaotic nature of the American frontier. Maybe because of the lawlessness of this newly "discovered" lands, or the aftermath of the genocidal violence against Native Americans. This setting became fertile ground for thousands of tales, stories, and with time, films and TV series, where the West is depicted as unforgiving and ruthless. and populated by people just as much. John Ford is one of many directors that made a career by directing these stories, with his westerns going as far back as the early 20th Century.
The Searchers, however, comes at the final stretch of his career. Starring John Wayne, it follows a Civil War veteran that sets out to find his young niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) after a tragic "Indian" attack results in her being kidnapped. So Ethan Edwards (Wayne) decides to brave this unforgiving and ruthless setting, along with his nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) to find her at any cost. Half of the tension is outward, as it comes from the natural obstacles they face during their search, but the other half is inward, as it comes from the relationship between Ethan and Martin, who is initially dismissed by him as a "half-breed", as well as Ethan's fighting his own inner demons.
Both Ford and Wayne have been vastly criticized for their depiction and attitude towards Native Americans, as well as blacks and Mexicans. In the case of Ford, mostly for how these three minorities were portrayed in his films. In the case of Wayne, for God knows how many reasons. However, whereas Wayne generally refused to change and budge with the passage of time, Ford's films and portrayals became grayer as we move forward in his filmography, which you can see in films like Sergeant Rutledge.
The Searchers isn't fully there yet, but it hints at a Ford that's trying to figure things out. From some positive depictions of some tribes and Native American characters to the way Ethan comes to acknowledge Martin (the "half-breed") as a worthy companion. Wayne's portrayal isn't very different to what we've seen in other films of his, but his tough persona suits the character well. He does manage to stretch his emotions a bit at some points and the climatic conflict with Martin and Debbie is well staged. Vera Miles rounds out the cast as Laurie, Martin's love interest, and she's pretty good in it.
Unfortunately, much like Wayne, there are some moments where Ford lets himself be overcome by the demons of the past in how some Native American characters are portrayed and treated. There is also a subplot between Martin and Laurie that I felt took too long, and devolved into a comical fist-fight that felt like it belonged to a different film. Things do pick up in the end with a battle that suffers from the usual "Cowboys, good" and "Indians, bad" stereotypes, but it's thrilling nonetheless and however abrupt, manages to close with a changed Ethan, and maybe a changed Ford.
Ford continued with a more progressive perspective in his later films, while Wayne continued with his stubborn and hard-headed attitudes. Maybe, just like Ethan, he did change a bit as he approached his death. Things weren't easy in the "Wild West", and things haven't been easy this last century either. But maybe people can truly change, things can change. Maybe the above quote is right, and some day the country can be a fine, good place to be; even if it needs our bones in the ground first.
Grade:
THE SEARCHERS
(1956, Ford)
A western
(1956, Ford)
A western
"Some day this country's gonna be a fine, good place to be. Maybe it needs our bones in the ground before that time can come."
The term "Wild West" was a term coined to highlight the incontrollable and chaotic nature of the American frontier. Maybe because of the lawlessness of this newly "discovered" lands, or the aftermath of the genocidal violence against Native Americans. This setting became fertile ground for thousands of tales, stories, and with time, films and TV series, where the West is depicted as unforgiving and ruthless. and populated by people just as much. John Ford is one of many directors that made a career by directing these stories, with his westerns going as far back as the early 20th Century.
The Searchers, however, comes at the final stretch of his career. Starring John Wayne, it follows a Civil War veteran that sets out to find his young niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) after a tragic "Indian" attack results in her being kidnapped. So Ethan Edwards (Wayne) decides to brave this unforgiving and ruthless setting, along with his nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) to find her at any cost. Half of the tension is outward, as it comes from the natural obstacles they face during their search, but the other half is inward, as it comes from the relationship between Ethan and Martin, who is initially dismissed by him as a "half-breed", as well as Ethan's fighting his own inner demons.
Both Ford and Wayne have been vastly criticized for their depiction and attitude towards Native Americans, as well as blacks and Mexicans. In the case of Ford, mostly for how these three minorities were portrayed in his films. In the case of Wayne, for God knows how many reasons. However, whereas Wayne generally refused to change and budge with the passage of time, Ford's films and portrayals became grayer as we move forward in his filmography, which you can see in films like Sergeant Rutledge.
The Searchers isn't fully there yet, but it hints at a Ford that's trying to figure things out. From some positive depictions of some tribes and Native American characters to the way Ethan comes to acknowledge Martin (the "half-breed") as a worthy companion. Wayne's portrayal isn't very different to what we've seen in other films of his, but his tough persona suits the character well. He does manage to stretch his emotions a bit at some points and the climatic conflict with Martin and Debbie is well staged. Vera Miles rounds out the cast as Laurie, Martin's love interest, and she's pretty good in it.
Unfortunately, much like Wayne, there are some moments where Ford lets himself be overcome by the demons of the past in how some Native American characters are portrayed and treated. There is also a subplot between Martin and Laurie that I felt took too long, and devolved into a comical fist-fight that felt like it belonged to a different film. Things do pick up in the end with a battle that suffers from the usual "Cowboys, good" and "Indians, bad" stereotypes, but it's thrilling nonetheless and however abrupt, manages to close with a changed Ethan, and maybe a changed Ford.
Ford continued with a more progressive perspective in his later films, while Wayne continued with his stubborn and hard-headed attitudes. Maybe, just like Ethan, he did change a bit as he approached his death. Things weren't easy in the "Wild West", and things haven't been easy this last century either. But maybe people can truly change, things can change. Maybe the above quote is right, and some day the country can be a fine, good place to be; even if it needs our bones in the ground first.
Grade: