Review of The Searchers (1956) by Dr M — 03 May 2010

This was the movie that introduced me to Natalie Wood. I was 15, and sat through this movie five times in one sitting just to see her again and again. Of course, I would never admit that to anyone, so keep it a secret. Natalie Wood only appears in this movie for a very short interval at the very end, so it was a long wait for each session of the movie.

This actually is a well done movie about the prejudice of white settlers and indians against each other. Set in the 1800's, a very young white girl, Debbie, gets captured by the Comanche, who raise her. After many years of searching for her, Ethan (John Wayne) and Debbie's older adopted brother, Martin (Jeffery Hunter) finally find her in the Indian's temporary encampment. She is grown up, and possibly the wife (squaw) of the Indian chief,.

Ethan wants to kill Debbie, because she is now "ruined" by the savages. However, Martin wants to save her and bring her home.

Martin is allowed to creep into the Indian encampment to search for Debbie. He finds Debbie, but is discovered by the chief, who Martin kills. At the sound of the gunshot, Ethan, with a party of rangers and soldiers, attack.

In the battle, the Indian encampment is overcome. But in the confusion of battle, Debbie wanders away. Ethan spots Debbie and pursues her with the intent to kill her. In fear of Ethan's murderous gaze, Debbie runs as fast as she can, but Ethan cathches up to her. He picks her up from the ground where she has fallen, lifts her up high, but instead of killing her, he cradles her in his arms and says, "lets go home.".

It is a moment of truth, well played in the movie, that brings a tear to my eye.