Review of The Searchers (1956) by Michael Y — 22 Dec 2010

Duke Wayne stars in one of his most complex and serious roles in his career. I have mixed feelings about this movie overall, but without a doubt this is a Western classic that's better than most.

An old confederate soldier and a young man go on a rescue mission to find his niece who was kidnapped by Indians. But this "rescue" mission turnes more and more into a kill em' all mission. The Searchers begins of with an intriguing start and follow up, but tends to drag as it caries on. The ending of the movie doesn't make much sence, but this movie pics itself up once and a while with some brutal scenes and story telling that was definitely out of it's time for a Western. The moral effect about the uglyness of racism between both the Red people and the White people really makes and impact as it's theme, and how strong and willing a man can be when his intentions are for love.

John Ford produces yet another solid Western, this one being in colour. It's hard to describe this movie as something that stands out from other John Ford Westerns because he's been doing then for so long they all seem to have the same look. But that's not necessary a bad thing because John Ford has a way of making Westerns that shows beauty and uglyness, mixed with hidden messages that reflects the story and it's characters. And you'll be sure to expect a brilliant use of cinematography in it's natural enviroment.

I might be giving this movie too low of a score, but frankly, I'm a big American Western fan. This movie is intriguing and fresh for it's time, but seems a little bit dated now. But there are some deep story elements that makes this movie and important classic for cinema.