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The Searchers
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The Searchers (1956) More at IMDbPro »

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Lawrence of Arabia (1962) -- AFI's 10 Top 10 - The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres
The Searchers (1956) -- As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
The Searchers (1956) -- As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
The Searchers (1956) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   27,556 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Ford
Writers:
Frank S. Nugent (screenplay)
Alan Le May (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Searchers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 March 1956 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Drama | Western more
Tagline:
The story that sweeps from the great Southwest to the Canadian border in VistaVision. more
Plot:
As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(35 articles)
Iconic Shots: Empire Captures 50 Picture Perfect Film Moments
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 16 November 2009, 5:39 AM, PST)
Pass notes No 2,683: Cinématon
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 15 November 2009, 4:05 PM, PST)
User Comments:
No one understands this movie more (344 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

John Wayne ... Ethan Edwards
Jeffrey Hunter ... Martin Pawley

Vera Miles ... Laurie Jorgensen
Ward Bond ... Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton

Natalie Wood ... Debbie Edwards (older)
John Qualen ... Lars Jorgensen
Olive Carey ... Mrs. Jorgensen
Henry Brandon ... Chief Cicatrice (Scar)
Ken Curtis ... Charlie McCorry
Harry Carey Jr. ... Brad Jorgensen
Antonio Moreno ... Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroa

Hank Worden ... Mose Harper
Beulah Archuletta ... Wild Goose Flying in the Night Sky (Look)
Walter Coy ... Aaron Edwards
Dorothy Jordan ... Martha Edwards

Pippa Scott ... Lucy Edwards
Patrick Wayne ... Lt. Greenhill (as Pat Wayne)
Lana Wood ... Debbie Edwards (younger)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pipe Line Begishe ... Comanche (uncredited)
Exactly Sonnie Betsuie ... Comanche (uncredited)
Danny Borzage ... Accordionist at Funeral (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford ... Deranged Woman at Fort (uncredited)
Tommy Doss ... Wedding Musician (uncredited)
Pete Grey Eyes ... Comanche (uncredited)
Feather Hat Jr. ... Comanche (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo ... Mexican Bartender (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward ... Man at Wedding (uncredited)
Jack Tin Horn ... Comanche (uncredited)
Harry Black Horse ... Comanche (uncredited)
Away Luna ... Comanche (uncredited)
Robert Lyden ... Ben Edwards (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons ... Col. Greenhill (uncredited)
Peter Mamakos ... Jerem Futterman (uncredited)

Mae Marsh ... Dark Cloaked Woman at Fort Guarding Deranged Woman (uncredited)
Frank McGrath ... (uncredited)
Bob Many Mules ... Comanche (uncredited)
Jack Pennick ... Sergeant at Fort (uncredited)
Lloyd Perryman ... Wedding Musician (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson ... Ranger at Wedding (uncredited)
Smile White Sheep ... Comanche (uncredited)
Many Mules Son ... Comanche (uncredited)
Percy Shooting Star ... Comanche (uncredited)
William Steele ... Nesby (uncredited)
Chief Thundercloud ... Comanche chief (uncredited)
Terry Wilson ... (uncredited)
Billy Yellow ... Comanche (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Ford 
 
Writing credits
Frank S. Nugent (screenplay)

Alan Le May (novel) (as Alan LeMay)

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper .... executive producer
Patrick Ford .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Max Steiner 
 
Cinematography by
Winton C. Hoch 
 
Film Editing by
Jack Murray 
 
Art Direction by
James Basevi 
Frank Hotaling 
 
Set Decoration by
Victor A. Gangelin  (as Victor Gangelin)
 
Costume Design by
Charles Arrico (uncredited)
 
Makeup Department
Web Overlander .... makeup artist
Fae M. Smith .... hair stylist (as Fae Smith)
 
Production Management
Lowell J. Farrell .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wingate Smith .... assistant director
Gary Nelson .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Dudley Holmes .... properties
 
Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr. .... sound (as Hugh McDowell)
Howard Wilson .... sound
 
Special Effects by
George Brown .... special effects
 
Stunts
Bill Cartledge .... stunts (uncredited)
Philip Crawford .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Dial .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
Bryan 'Slim' Hightower .... stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Kennedy .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunts (uncredited)
Frank McGrath .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills .... stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson .... stunts (uncredited)
Billy Yellow .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack N. Young .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Alfred Gilks .... photographer: second unit
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frank Beetson Jr. .... wardrobe: men (as Frank Beetson)
Ann Peck .... wardrobe: women
 
Music Department
Murray Cutter .... orchestrator
 
Other crew
Robert Gary .... script supervisor
James Gooch .... technicolor color consultant
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Cherokee | Spanish
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.75 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:G (Manitoba) | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #17787) | South Korea:12 (2003) | Brazil:12 | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U
Filming Locations:
Aspen, Colorado, USA more
Company:
C.V. Whitney Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Buddy Holly's famous song "That'll Be the Day" was inspired by John Wayne's frequent use of the phrase in this film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Just after the shooting at the river Ethan is sitting and putting new bullets in his rifle while talking to Clayton, then he walks up to the two by the horses behind with his rifle in his left hand. Just before the cut to a closeup on the three, he shifts the rifle to his right hand. But after the cut to the closeup he is still holding his rifle in his left hand. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[seeing a horseman in the distance]
Aaron Edwards: Ethan?
Debbie Edwards: Hush, Prince.
Lucy Edwards: That's your Uncle Ethan!
Martha Edwards: [he approaches] Welcome home, Ethan!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: Robert Duvall" (2006) more
Soundtrack:
The Searchers more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
134 out of 203 people found the following comment useful.
No one understands this movie, 13 July 2004
10/10
Author: rcjteng (rcjteng@yahoo.com) from New Jersey

The Searchers is perhaps John Ford's greatest film. The character studies are rich and complex and never too revealing, adding mystery and depth. The location in Utah's Monument Valley is magnificent. The Technicolor is simply stunning. And of course, the story set a standard for all action movies to come. The plot is simple and engaging and the subplot allows us to take a break from the relentless search. John Wayne's portrayal of Ethan Edwards is memorable. The dark, anti-hero persona gives the movie an edge not seen in those days. Jeffrey Hunter (Martin Pauly) and the rest of the cast give solid performances that are very natural and spirited. All of this is credited to the brilliant directing of John Ford. It is a great movie to watch. It is a great outdoor movie that should be seen on a big screen.

People say that this movie is very racist and stereotype Indians. I disagree. I think this movie is about racism, period. Both races are ruthless and barbaric in this movie. Let's take a look:

1. The calvary massacres an Indian village.

2. Ethan's hatred of Indians consumes him. But his hatred has a reason. And he is not naturally racist.

3. Ethan is a loner, hated and feared by his own people.

4. When Ethan and Marty are hiding out in the canyons, they shoot the Indians in the back as they retreat. Not very noble, is it?

5. Ethan shoots three white men in the back during a shootout. I guess Ethan can do it to his own people as well!

6. When Ethan sees a group of tortured white women who were rescued from the hands of "savage" Indians, he fears for the worst. But when Lucy is found, she looks well and cared for. Ethan, upset with this unexpected result, decides to kill Lucy because she has turned 'injun.'

7. Marty accidentally marries an Indian woman. Although ridiculed by Ethan, the Indian woman is portrayed favorably throughout the film.

8. Marty and a friend fight for Laurie's love (Marty's fiancée). It is a civilized fight among gentlemen. Ethan and Marty meet with Scar, the Indian chief who abducted Lucy. Scar realizes who they are but does not kill them on the spot. Why? It is a Commanche code of honor not to kill someone when he is at a disadvantage.

9. Both races are good and evil in this movie. Ethan and Scar are both driven by revenge. One dies in the end, the other continues to live a life of a loner, dead in the eye of society.

There are many reasons why I love The Searchers. It is a very simple story, yet says a lot. It is very entertaining and never boring. Unless you are a meat-head who cannot handle anything except mindless action sequences, this is the movie that stands the test of time, up there with Citizen Kane, Vertigo and The Godfather.

Enjoy! Watch it on the big screen if possible. The special edition 2-Disc DVD set from Warner Brothers is an absolute must. If you are a fan, you will not believe your eyes when you see the new transfer. The film has been restored to its original VistaVision widescreen, color by Technicolor!

On a final note, the last scene is pure poetry. Truly one of the greatest moment in film's history. John Ford really struck gold with this one.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Some questions I don't get? MJB784
best western or maybe movie ever. ciaran122-1
What is the medal that Ethan gave Debbie? Conchord_26
Who Else Thinks This Film is 'Overblown'? JohnWelles
Is the Blu-Ray worth it? Christopher_Robin_1955
The greatest movies of all time smoothiedudie
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