That'll Be The Day...

The Searchers is a beautifully-shot, influential film which has resulted in some interesting inspirations, most notably that of Taxi Driver according to director Martin Scorcese and writer Paul Schrader.

Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) returns to his brother's Texas ranch three years after the Civil War has ended. Much like Travis Bickle of Taxi Driver, Ethan is a man caught between desire and violence. In some ways, Ethan is a man of passion; it is inferred that he was at one time in love with his brother's wife Martha (Dorothy Jordan). At time same time, he is also consumed with his hatred of Native Americans. Indeed, his strong hatred is reflected by his vast knowledge of Indian (especially Commanche) ways in what seems to be a case of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Perhaps his enemies are so close because he is also a lonely man without a family or a wife, unlike his brother.

Ethan leaves his brother's ranch with a group of troopers after learning that cattle have been run off the Jorgenson's ranch. Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), Ethan's adopted part-Indian nephew, goes with the troopers. Ethan figures out that the cattle were chased off so the Commanche tribe can raid one of the farms. He goes back to his brother's ranch to find it burning. He yells Martha's name, but he finds her dress removed and her body hidden in a shack, implying she was raped. He then discovers that his brother Aaron and nephew Ben were killed, and that his nieces Lucy and Debbie were taken by the Commanche tribe.

Ethan, Martin, and Lucy's love interest Brad Jorgenson (Harry Carey, Jr.) set out with the troopers to find the tribe and the girls. The troopers give up, yet the three continue on. It is after that point that Ethan discovers Lucy's body and buries here with his own hands.

Martin and Ethan set out on a long quest which leads from Texas to Canada to find Debbie. Martin leaves behind his love interest, Laurie Jorgenson (Vera Miles), who must decide whether she can wait for Martin to return to to marry (which might have paralleled a decision Martha Edwards had to face in waiting for Ethan or marrying).

While I wish not to say much more about the ending of the film, I will say that in many ways, Ethan is able to conquer the hatred that consumes him. However, in other ways, he remains a lonely wanderer.

While composer Max Steiner wrote an acceptable score for the film, it doesn't stand out in any way that such contemporaries as Bernard Herrmann or Henry Mancini might have. However, imagining either of those composers scoring the film seems somewhat implausible given their more urban themes.

The backdrop of Monument Valley makes for beautiful cinematography with rich, vibrant color, especially that of the bright blue skies and red sand and ground. The Canadian scenes are also quite exquisite. John Ford showed himself as a director in touch with natural settings.

The Searchers remains, much as it was in 1956, an underrated classic. With beautiful natural backdrops, and with what may have been John Wayne's best performance, The Searchers went on to inspire numerous filmmakers and earns its title as on of the best American westerns, if not one of the best American films, of all-time.

***Video Notes***
I have the most recent Widescreen VHS edition of this film. The color is breathtaking and makes this film aesthetically among the best I've ever seen. The video also includes a making-of documentary, the original theatrical trailer, and an introduction to the film by Patrick Wayne (who at age 16 played Lt. Greenhill in the film)