Review of The Searchers (1956) by Philippe D — 04 May 2009

My first pre-Leone western experience leave me awed with my mouth wide open. You can be sure of one thing: I intend to see many more John Fordâ??s movies. I should also say that, well, there is a reason why Mr Wayne is so iconic in the western universe and The Searchers is a solid-proof that he was a great actor. Almost a decade before Eastwood would play the legendary Man with no name, Wayne would take the role of Ethan Edwards. This buddy is probably the first achetype of the western antihero, clearly bearing a dark secret (among them, he seems to have had a love affair with his sister-in-law) and an unspeakable hatred of all things Indians.

Thatâ??s one of the main force of the movie: Ethan is a driving character, one that you canâ??t love, but you really appreciate. With great subtlety, Ford explore racism in American history and western genre, making a thinking-man movie that will haunt you long after the last frame (a now iconic scene of Wayne going into the desert instead of joining civilisation).

Ford had a knack of picturing life on the frontier, with its hard times and joys; his use of the wide frame is nothing short of beautiful. The West is an open and wild land in Fordâ??s eyes.

Those movie aficiaonados among you will probably be able to recognize a scene reprise by Lucas in Star Wars Episode IV...

Do yourself a favor: see this oneâ?¦.