Review of The Searchers (1956) by Ray H — 27 Sep 2011
A pretty good western movie. It is considered a classic by some. I was impressed by the beauty of the cinematography. Its outdoor scenes were shot in Monument Valley of Utah and northern Arizona.
The extra features of the DVD were worthwhile. There is a discussion of the racism against the Indians. There are subtleties of the story that are not readily apparent. One is the implied love interest between John Waynes character, Ethan, and his brothers wife, Martha. Another is the possibility that the kidnapped niece of Ethan, Debbie, is actually his daughter. And, that Ethan had given in to his romantic interest in his brothers wife, Dorothy. Debbie is about 8 years old, and Ethan has been away at war for 8 years as well.
The movie has sound stage scenes that contrast sharply with the actual outdoor footage. There are also comedy relief scenes thrown in. I liked them, some reviewers did not.
This 1956 film looks dated when compared to more recent westerns like THE UNFORGIVEN. I think they each have their place in the canon of American films.
This movie is worth a look.
This review of The Searchers (1956) was written by Ray H on 27 Sep 2011.
The Searchers has generally received very positive reviews.
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