Amazon.com Essentials:
A favorite film of some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including
Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, John Ford's The Searchers has
earned its place in the legacy of great American films for a variety of
reasons. Perhaps most notably, it's the definitive role for John Wayne as
an icon of the classic Western--the hero (or antihero) who must stand
alone according to the unwritten code of the West. The story takes place in
Texas in 1868; Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran who visits
his brother and sister-in-law at their ranch and is horrified when they
are killed by marauding Comanches. Ethan's search for a surviving niece
(played by young Natalie Wood) becomes an all-consuming obsession. With the
help of a family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is himself part Cherokee,
Ethan hits the trail on a five-year quest for revenge. At the peak of his
masterful talent, director Ford crafts this classic tale as an embittered
examination of racism and blind hatred, provoking Wayne to give one of the
best performances of his career. As with many of Ford's classic Westerns,
The Searchers must contend with revisionism in its stereotypical
treatment of "savage" Native Americans, and the film's visual beauty (the
final shot is one of the great images in all of Western culture) is
compromised by some uneven performances and stilted dialogue. Still, this
is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com Essentials:
A favorite film of some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including
Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, John Ford's The Searchers has
earned its place in the legacy of great American films for a variety of
reasons. Perhaps most notably, it's the definitive role for John Wayne as
an icon of the classic Western--the hero (or antihero) who must stand
alone according to the unwritten code of the West. The story takes place in
Texas in 1868; Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran who visits
his brother and sister-in-law at their ranch and is horrified when they
are killed by marauding Comanches. Ethan's search for a surviving niece
(played by young Natalie Wood) becomes an all-consuming obsession. With the
help of a family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is himself part Cherokee,
Ethan hits the trail on a five-year quest for revenge. At the peak of his
masterful talent, director Ford crafts this classic tale as an embittered
examination of racism and blind hatred, provoking Wayne to give one of the
best performances of his career. As with many of Ford's classic Westerns,
The Searchers must contend with revisionism in its stereotypical
treatment of "savage" Native Americans, and the film's visual beauty (the
final shot is one of the great images in all of Western culture) is
compromised by some uneven performances and stilted dialogue. Still, this
is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com Essentials:
For fans of The Searchers, this special edition features not only
a
stunning widescreen transfer of this pivotal 1958 Western but an
informative
new 30-minute documentary by Nick Redman (best known for his impressive
film
music series with Varèse Sarabande). A Turning of the Earth: John
Ford,
John
Wayne and "The Searchers" provides a rare glimpse into the making of this
very
special Ford/Wayne collaboration. It juxtaposes important clips with
never-before-seen outtakes and home movies. For instance, the Indians of
Monument Valley, Ford's favorite location, revered the director for his
friendship and for keeping them gainfully employed in film after film.
Also,
there's one shot of Wayne and Ford relaxing over a couple of beers that
says
it all about their father-son relationship. But the MTV-like style won't
please everyone. The new footage tends to be repetitive and jarring, though
the rhythm somehow seems in keeping with the bitter tone of this film about
hatred and obsession. At least the Ken Burns-inspired voice-overs offer
some
first-hand insight and historical perspective (mostly by director John
Milius, an eloquent Ford enthusiast). However, all you have to do is watch
The Searchers to see how inspiring it was for its director and star.
It's as
if they discovered the very essence of the Western in this story about one
man's quest to rescue his niece from her Comanche captors. Because at the
heart of that quest is the poignant struggle between the needs of the
individual and the needs of the family. --Bill Desowitz
