Few westerns have achieved the legendary status that John Wayne's The Searchers holds today. It is the story of a man named Ethan Edwards whose niece is captured by Indians and he spends years looking for her. As the search grows more and more desperate Ethan's motives become increasingly questionable. His own personal hatred for the Indians begins to engulf his heartbroken quest to save his niece creating what is a surprisingly dark tale for its time.
The Searchers influence has reached far and wide since its release in 1956. It is credited with influencing countless westerns after it and even many popular non westerns. For me it is one of those movies where I recognize the influence and respect that, but it isn't a movie that I personally love. The Searchers is a good movie, don't get me wrong, but it isn't completely my cup of tea. I love a good western but this movie is a little too innocent. It is dark but not dark enough. This is one of the few, if not the only time, John Wayne played a bad guy of sorts. He is a bitter and disgruntled man whose character is easily the most fascinating thing about the movie, but so much of his character is left to assume or figure out on your own that I didn't feel anything from this movie. I recognize everything this film puts across and respect that, but as a matter of personal taste I was left feeling a little empty.
However, one thing is for sure. John Ford knows how to make a movie. The Searchers is an excellent story and Ford tells it very well. The film has a consistent pacing and never gets truly boring. I found myself a little bored at times but only because of personal distaste for this style of film. The film is shot in vivid Technicolor and there are plenty of fantastic on location shots that capture a brilliant old west setting. The film has a strange sense of time and we are left with just the weather to determine how much time has passed. Characters will mention the passage of time but I always found it odd when a character would all of the sudden mention that five years had passed. But with limited technology and a story that must span many years I figure The Searchers does the best that it can.
The one place I really do have a problem with this film is the acting. John Wayne is fantastic. This might be one of his absolute greatest performances, but everyone else is awful. The acting is over the top and the dialogue is silly. The film feels like a melodrama at times, helped along by the score. This poor acting could easily have been a distraction to a deeper appreciation of this film, so this could be the ultimate reason I didn't love this film. Either way John Wayne outshines all of his co-actors, once again making him the most enticing and intriguing part of the film.
The Searchers isn't a movie that I am in love with but one that I do have undying respect towards. The films influence on the genre and film in general is something that can't go unnoticed. I'm sure I owe a lot more to The Searchers than what I give it credit for, but some things just keep me from loving this film. Whether you love it or hate it The Searchers is practically a required watch for anyone who respects film, even past the western genre. Plus it captures one of the many glorious moments of John Wayne's long career. This is a great movie that I personally don't love like others do, but still have steadfast respect for.
The Searchers influence has reached far and wide since its release in 1956. It is credited with influencing countless westerns after it and even many popular non westerns. For me it is one of those movies where I recognize the influence and respect that, but it isn't a movie that I personally love. The Searchers is a good movie, don't get me wrong, but it isn't completely my cup of tea. I love a good western but this movie is a little too innocent. It is dark but not dark enough. This is one of the few, if not the only time, John Wayne played a bad guy of sorts. He is a bitter and disgruntled man whose character is easily the most fascinating thing about the movie, but so much of his character is left to assume or figure out on your own that I didn't feel anything from this movie. I recognize everything this film puts across and respect that, but as a matter of personal taste I was left feeling a little empty.
However, one thing is for sure. John Ford knows how to make a movie. The Searchers is an excellent story and Ford tells it very well. The film has a consistent pacing and never gets truly boring. I found myself a little bored at times but only because of personal distaste for this style of film. The film is shot in vivid Technicolor and there are plenty of fantastic on location shots that capture a brilliant old west setting. The film has a strange sense of time and we are left with just the weather to determine how much time has passed. Characters will mention the passage of time but I always found it odd when a character would all of the sudden mention that five years had passed. But with limited technology and a story that must span many years I figure The Searchers does the best that it can.
The one place I really do have a problem with this film is the acting. John Wayne is fantastic. This might be one of his absolute greatest performances, but everyone else is awful. The acting is over the top and the dialogue is silly. The film feels like a melodrama at times, helped along by the score. This poor acting could easily have been a distraction to a deeper appreciation of this film, so this could be the ultimate reason I didn't love this film. Either way John Wayne outshines all of his co-actors, once again making him the most enticing and intriguing part of the film.
The Searchers isn't a movie that I am in love with but one that I do have undying respect towards. The films influence on the genre and film in general is something that can't go unnoticed. I'm sure I owe a lot more to The Searchers than what I give it credit for, but some things just keep me from loving this film. Whether you love it or hate it The Searchers is practically a required watch for anyone who respects film, even past the western genre. Plus it captures one of the many glorious moments of John Wayne's long career. This is a great movie that I personally don't love like others do, but still have steadfast respect for.