Review of The Searchers (1956) by Tristan P — 14 May 2015

Friday, July 9, 2010.

(1956) The Searchers.

ADULT WESTERN.

Untypical to see for a John Wayne Western, especially when much of his films are 'shoot 'em ups'. Labelling this one as an "adult Western" because of adult themes which cannot be enjoyed by anyone who crave for action than for storyline and dialogue! Anybody familar with much of Randolph Scott and director Budd Boetticher films should also enjoy this film very much which the story has the war has just been over, Ethan as a Yankee then comes back from the cavalry only to hit a chord with him when his young niece played by a very young Natalie Wood gets captured by a specific group of comanches and he turns it to an obsession.

I have to admit that I didn't like this film when I saw it at such a young age because I expected to see more 'action and less talk' but as I was getting older, I started to appreciate this film more and on my second viewing realized that the plot was only an excuse to showcase the gorgeous widescreen landscapes than the 'shoot em up' Westerns I was mostly accustomed of.

3/4.

At the opening, showcases Ethan while still wearing his Yankee uniform coming to visit his brother and his family. It's a big family which consists of two daughters and a son, and another one that's adopted, who happens to be half white, half Cheroke, named Martin (Jeffery Hunter). Now, anyone who's studied American history should automatically know that the Yankee cavalry always has a history with Native Americans (with General Custer), and John ford wisely doesn't give viewers a history lesson.