The Searchers: Finding Meaning in the Wild Frontier

When it comes to storytelling, The Searchers has it all: drama, adventure, romance, comedy, well-developed characters, beautiful music composition, incredible cinematography and, of course, some of the most iconic and breathtakingly epic backdrops in cinematic history. In "The Searchers: Finding Meaning in the Wild Frontier," we look at the vast and monumental landscape and how it contributed to the creation of what is known as the best western film of all time.

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MUSIC:
_Cooper Cannell: Amazing Grace
_Sir Cubworth: A Fallen Cowboy
_Wes Hutchinson: One Down Dog
_The Westerlies: Burden Laid Down

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SOURCES, IMAGES AND ADDITIONAL CLIPS:

Note: All works appearing are the property of their respective owners.

[brandonthomas]

Watched this film for the first time yesterday and haven't been able to stop thinking about it, Wayne's character is incredibly interesting. I had to go into the film with the knowledge that Wayne was an out-and-out white supremacist, and I was expecting depictions of racism all throughout the film(which there certainly is in there) but what I was not expecting was to find the most visually beautiful film I have ever seen in my life, unbelievably gorgeous shots of the American landscape, and the films heroes travelling through it. To me, Wayne's character is emblematic of the ugliest parts of American history and culture, Ethan is racist, a former confederate, and a criminal of some sort or other, and yet we know of his flaws, his story is still an exciting one, when Ethan walks off at the end, I think he understands that his hatred has no place in the lives of Debbie or Martin, and that he should not expect domestic people to abide by his beliefs, and so he leaves, understanding it would be better for him to wander, and search for something else. Excellent video here, probably the best I have found on this film.

[josephhutton]

I grew up watching the trailer for The Searchers in line for The Great Movie Ride at Disney's MGM Studios. I thought it was a fun-looking movie. When I was about 6, my dad brought home The Searchers on DVD. It might've been the first or second DVD we owned at the time. I probably watched this movie once or twice a year through my childhood years. It was a fun, little cowboy movie. Nothing more.

Recently, in adulthood, I rewatched it. And, man, lemme tell ya that it is a different experience. There were several times I choked up. When Martin and Ethan FINALLY find Debbie, and Ethan says, "Stand aside, Martin, " my heart dropped. I had seen that clip a hundred times while standing in line for The Great Movie Ride, but only then did I understand the weight of the scene. And when Martin says, "No, you don't, Ethan. Ethan, no you don't!" I can feel his anger, his determination to protect his sister.

What an incredible movie. They don't make 'em like they used to.

[ghostlightning]

I just finished watching the film, and my hands are kind of shaking. I'm so deeply impressed. I love westerns, but for some reason I ended up deeply admiring the nihilistic spaghetti Leone Eastwood Bronson ones because I paid attention to them first (I've seen westerns since I was a child but enjoyed them as a child would: cowboys vs indians). Now having seen Wyler's Big Country, and now this... I feel that there's such a muscular Americana here worth so much love and admiration. It's a stunning, dark film. I'm so happy I've seen it.

[jc]

Arguably the Greatest Western of all Time! Definitely one of my favorites.

[johnpatterson]

I always felt that John Wayne should got the Oscar for The Searchers.

[mustangmann]

Greatest western ever . Wayne should have won an Oscar ! Cheers !1

[SgtPogieBait]

The closing scene were John Wayne is standing in the doorway holding his right elbow, was supposedly a silent gesture to the memory of Harry Carey, who mentored him in his early career & starred together in 4 movies. It was a pose Carey used in several of his movies. His son, Carey Jr, starred in 9 movies with Wayne.

[leonardoacevedo]

Great video! I really enjoy this movie, not only impressed by the landscape of monument valley but also touched by the nuanced characters. I'm an Asian, in which the topic of racism is not so sensitive as in America. But the theme of the war between the white and the Indians really let me think hard. I've watched the film over and over for a month since i first saw it and for each time i could find new details and i always want to tear when seeing Ethan lift Debbie in the end. Really masterpiece and one of my favorite movies

[Damon-pu]

This is a brilliant assessment of the film, whoever you are. So perceptive. Good to see the Duke as a Confederate for once. "A misplaced man in a world that's moving on without me about it. "We are all

[wyrdwik]

Watched it last night for the first time. Great film and while ill always favour sergio leone westerns this is probably the best american western and wayne is just fantastic in this.

[franklulatowskijr.]

I grew up watching this movie on VHS in the 80s. It is John Wayne and John Ford’s best film, and it’s about as Shakespearean as you can get for a western. There aren’t many films like this throughout all cinematic history. Spielberg and Scorsese both post is as a favorite for a reason.

[tballstaedt]

The Searchers has always been my favorite western movie ever since my childhood. It troubles me that before we are permitted to admire Fords wonderful work of cinema are, we must first pay homage to the woke gods by apologizing for the racist overtones of the characters. In modern times it is easy to cast judgment on those who settled in the west. But the reality is that this hatred of the Native American was rooted in a back and forth struggle for existence. The Comanches were especially brutal to the settlers. And the settlers responded in kind. All of this is is perfectly understandable under those circumstances. We have risen above all that today but we should unapologetically admire our ancestors both red and white for the tenacity and skill without condemning them through the lense of the 21st century.

[droidx]

Good observations. One of my favorite movies...

[joe]

Thanks for an excellent video. Marvelous insights. I've seen this magnificent film many times, but never knew the fascinating detail of Nugent's description in the script of the medal Ethan gave to Debbie!

[frankbibby]

Yep the best EVER was 10 yrs old when I first watched it I chocked up at times and still do 66 yrs later the film has powerful emotion ingrained in its fabric

[Atpost]

Definitely agree that it’s both Wayne’s and Ford’s best film and the best Western ever made.

[robbush]

I love this movie so much. It is my second favorite movie of all-time.

[alvaropelayo]

Duke-land in his highest moment with John Wayne at his peak. God bless him for all the joy he gave us. He should have won the Oscar here.

[campchairhistorian]

A few movies are feasts for the perceptions but too many are famines. Whenever I'm left close to starvation, it's time to gorge on The Searchers.

[MrNostalGuy]

After having gone over some of the negative comments, I suddenly have a sort of Ethan feeling that I am uncomfortable in a world who doesn’t see the magnificence of this work of art and I want to wander… Overrated ? Disappointing ? Annoying music ? I surely agree with the ironic remark of Gordon… « Everyone has the right to be wrong »…