IMDb > The Searchers (1956)
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) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
The Searchers (1956) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   27,442 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% 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:
(33 articles)
Orci and Kurtzman Talk ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ and ‘View-Master’
 (From Screen Rant. 14 October 2009, 11:35 AM, PDT)
Wagon Master - DVD Review
 (From Monsters and Critics. 11 October 2009, 10:02 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Forgotten theme more (343 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:
The eccentric character of Mose Harper, played by Hank Worden, is loosely based on an actual historical personage called Mad Mose, a legendary half-crazy Indian fighter of the American southwest with a fondness for rocking chairs. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Ethan and Marty are in the cantina in New Mexico drinking with Mose at the bar the bottle is round. When Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroa joins them and pours, the bottle changes to a rectangular bottle, wide with flat sides. 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 Lawrence of Arabia (1962) more
Soundtrack:
The Searchers more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
52 out of 81 people found the following comment useful.
Forgotten theme, 17 March 2005
10/10
Author: flaxies7 from United States

Whenever I read critic's reviews of "The Searchers," I'm continually astounded by how they beat into the ground the racial aspect of the movie. Yes, it is undeniably an important theme in the plot, but no one ever touches on its more simple and beautiful qualities: the harshness of life in the Old West; the pioneer spirit so eloquently described by Ma Jorgensen. And most importantly, the fierce dedication to family shown by Ethan and even more so by the true hero of the film, Martin Pawley. As for the allegedly racist views of Ethan Edwards, go read the book, as Amos (the Ethan character in the book) had very real reasons to despise the Indians. People do ugly things to each other. Life is complex and viewpoints are often the results of one man's experience.

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best western or maybe movie ever. ciaran122-1
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Who Else Thinks This Film is 'Overblown'? JohnWelles
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Is the Blu-Ray worth it? Christopher_Robin_1955
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