Review of The Searchers (1956) by Tamsin P — 24 May 2017

Although Ford doesn't condone the main character's hatred of Native Americans, he abstains enough humanity from them. Look at the double standard. The attack on the family at the beginning is portrayed as a horrific massacre. When the white men storm the Comanche camp at the end, it's a heroic cavalry charge.

Strangely enough, although the main character is shown to hate Comanches, and laughs at them at best, he knows their language and their culture. That's hardly brought up.

The film tries to be fair to Native Americans and women, but can be shockingly offensive to Native American women. Jacqueline Voorhees from 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' is politically correct by comparison.

Ethan's acts of revenge are horrific- savage, even, and it's meant to make us feel uncomfortable, but he never considers his actions, never realizes the effect of white violence on Native Americans, only realizes his own "whiteness" that he needs to bring his niece back home, and the film peters out afterwards.

I can't entirely hate 'The Searchers'. It's really well made. The cinematography is beautiful and the search itself is captivating.