The Searchers (1956)

Written by Frank S. Nugent

Directed by John Ford

1998 List Ranking: 96

2007 List Ranking: 12

As we sat down to watch The Searchers, and discovered that, yet again, it was a Western, we wondered just why there were so many Westerns on this list. On reflection, I suppose it’s because it’s the Great American Genre: the Old West is a quintessentially American period (although, on a tangent, I think there’s some interesting thought to be had behind how much the movies have impacted how “quintessential” it really is; is there a semi-symbiotic relationship there?). It makes sense, then, that on a list of films compiled by the AMERICAN Film Institute that there would be a good dose of Westerns in there.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT.

John Wayne, looking as if he’s aged 50 years in less than 20 (since we’ve seen him in 1939’s Stagecoach) (but I suppose basically shooting Westerns outside for almost 20 years would turn anyone into a leather handbag), plays Ethan, plays a former officer of the American Civil War (GUESS WHICH SIDE HE FOUGHT FOR) who comes home to his brother’s homestead. Plot happens, Native Americans kill the family and abduct the two daughters (Ethan’s nieces), and then Ethan spends FIVE YEARS trying to track them down.

John Wayne

As Ethan, John Wayne is…well, John Wayne. I never once had the thought of “This is not John Wayne” to the point that I wonder if you can consider him an actor at all. I admit that I haven’t seen any footage of Wayne in a public life, but every film clip of his I’ve seen all looked like this film: gruff, no nonsense, and with a healthy dose of racism (to be clear, I have no idea if Wayne actually was racist or not, but…*gestures at genre and Wayne’s filmography*). Starring alongside Wayne is Jeffrey Hunter as Martin, the adopted brother of the missing girls. I enjoyed Hunter’s performance a great deal, although I also wouldn’t exactly call it memorable. He does some good work, but it’s not enough to hold interest in the film as a whole.

Natalie Wood

And then there is, once again, Natalie Wood. I am growing to really dislike her as an actress. Thankfully, in this film, she appears for maybe a total of about 5 minutes of screen time, but that 5 minutes is really not great. As one of the kidnapped girls, she initially balks at Ethan and Martin wanting to take her back (I suppose a type of Stockholm Syndrome); when Martin goes back for her a second time, she is desperate to leave with him, although there is never any sort of explanation as to WHY she’s 180’d on her initial decision. I know, I know: that’s probably not entirely her fault, but more of the writing, but even a good actress would be able to non-verbally communicate SOMETHING. All Wood does is look wide-eyed and excited/terrified.

Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) confronts his girl’s fiancé

The writing in this film IS, admittedly, pretty awful. Characters just say and do things that make no sense, if only because those nonsensical events have to keep the plot moving somehow. For instance, during the initial raid on the homestead, Debbie’s mother sends her out to hide in a makeshift cemetery alone, which makes very little sense in its own right, but then this girl goes to the cemetery and sits right out in the open against a tombstone; it really is no surprise when, not 5 seconds later, we see the shadow of a Native American fall across her.  Later in the film, after locating Debbie (Natalie Wood) and her refusal to accompany them back home, Ethan and Martin return home to discover that Martin’s quasi-girlfriend is about to get married to somebody else (after all, it’s been FIVE YEARS that they’ve been out looking for Debbie), and then there’s a big fist-fight over her, and it all just goes on and on and I’m just sitting here like WHAT ABOUT DEBBIE WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING GO BACK AND GET. HER.

The film is also, as I’ve mentioned, chock full of the stereotypical racism and stereotypes that I’ve come to expect from this genre. The Native Americans are of course treated, and referred to, as “savages”, and John Wayne is the biggest culprit of all. He hates Native Americans so much that, not only does he desecrate a Native American corpse (knowing full well that, according to their beliefs, this will curse the man to wander blindly over the Earth for all eternity), but, when seeing that Debbie has assimilated into the tribe, he decides to SHOOT HER because “it’s better than being an Indian”. Oof.

I will admit that that is gorgeous

One positive about the film that I do want to point out is that director John Ford, who basically just makes Westerns by this point in Hollywood history, really does know how to capture the beauty of the American West. The framing of his shots allows for the majesty of the landscape to shine without overpowering the action. I prefer forests or the coast, but even I have to admit just how gorgeous the setting looks.

I was really interested in this film because between the two versions of the AFI List, from 1998 to 2007, this film has the highest jump up the list, a whopping 84 spots. After seeing it, I really don’t understand just what makes this film so amazing. It’s a poorly constructed plot with an awful leading character. There clearly has to be some redeeming value, but obviously, I’m still searching for it.

FINAL GRADE: C-