Review of The Searchers (1956) by Reagan B — 09 Feb 2011

The movie The Searchers by Frank S. Nugent is a western movie made in 1956, though it is based in the late 1800's. The movie is set in Texas but is shot in Arizona and Canada. It was shot in color which was very good quality for a movie of its time. Also, its 119 minutes long.

A man, Ethan, and his brother are asked to come with the sheriff and his police friends to investigate a cow murdering. The brother turns down the offer but Ethan goes. They soon find out that the cow was just a diversion made by the Indians that usually occupy that area. When Ethan returns to his brother's home he finds that it has been burned down and that his brother, his brother's wife and son are dead, and that his brother's two daughters are missing. They search throughout most of Texas following and attempting to encounter the Indians that took the two girls. They find one of the two girls dead in a canyon just before they leave to go to the panhandle of Texas. They finally find the last girl, Debby, she is alive but she is living with the Indians. She betrayed them and helps the Indians to try to kill them.

The camera work was something new. Instead of having close-ups every five minutes they have the cameras positioned at different angles in the room so that you always see the people in third person never in first person, unless it's a main and serious part. For example, in one of the first scenes of the movie they are in the house of Ethans brother and as the characters move the cameras move and change with them, but the camera never focuses on one persons face or reaction it always focuses on every ones, it also focuses with the people whole body not just the face. Also, when they are in Scar's, the Indian leader who took Debby, teepee, you are able to see everyone in there most of the time. This is very good camera work for the estimated size of the teepees that were on set.

Racism in this movie is one good, yet bothering, characteristic of the movie. It is surprising that something so horrible is such a huge feature of this movie. But it adds to the history of the movie and the time period that it is based in. Considering the time and place, the language is probably mildly accurate for how a native of the setting would speak. For example in one seen the Indians are selling blankets so they call them blanket heads. The most racist person in this movie would most likely be Ethan, he hates the Indians with all his heart, every little bit of it. He constantly talks about how he hates them and how they are horrible people. The Indians taking Debby also adds on to everyone's hatred and racisim.

Overall the Searchers is an enjoyable movie if you're in to westerns and stories about adventure and family, though I wouldn't say it is for kids of all ages. The camera work and the racism where the two things and aspects of this movie that stood out to me the most because of how well/much they were incorporated into the movie.