grantss A classic from possibly the greatest actor-director combination in the history of westerns: John Wayne and John Ford.An epic western. Epic in its timespan, its vistas, in its sheer grandeur.Entertaining story, with a plot that feels just right - complete, circular and doesn't overstay its welcome.Pacing is just right. Movie doesn't get bogged down at any stage. However, there are some silly detours that threaten to derail the progress.Incredible cinematography and scenery. Fantastic soundtrack too.Moreover, you get a feeling that this is how the west really was: untamed, where everyone had to be resourceful and also rely on their fellow settlers for survival.Solid performance by John Wayne in the lead role. His sheer presence carries the film. Good support from Jeffrey Hunter and Vera Miles. Natalie Wood (aged 17 at the time) does well as (the older) Debbie. Henry Brandon is suitably menacing as Scar.However, it is some of the other performances, or characters, that let the movie down and prevent it from being an absolute masterpiece. I found the Reverend, played by Ward Bond, incredibly irritating. So too Lars Jorgenson (played by John Qualen), Charlie McCorry (played by Ken Curtis) and Mose Harper (played by Hank Worden). All these characters just don't seem real: they're either overly stereotypical or extreme. It feels like every single one of those actors is over-acting.

Tweekums Ethan Edwards returns to his brother's home in Texas some years after leaving to fight for the Confederacy. Shortly afterwards there is a report that Comanches have stolen the cattle from a neighbouring farm. Ethan, along with his step nephew Martin Pawley, join the posse leaving Ethan's brother, his wife, son and two daughters behind. It becomes apparent that the theft was a distraction. By the time they get back it is too late; Ethan's nieces. Lucy and Debbie, have been kidnapped and the rest of the family massacred. Ethan, Martin, Lucy's fiancé Brad, and a posse of rangers set off after them but opinions on what how to proceed soon differ. Eventually the posse turns back leaving Ethan, Martin and Brad following on their own. After Lucy's body is found Brad charges headlong into the Comanche camp and is killed. Years pass but Ethan and Martin refuse to give up and Martin starts to worry about what Ethan plans to do when he finds Debbie.This is rightly considered one of the greatest examples of the Western genre. The story is relatively simple but that is not a problem. It is very much about the characters, particularly that of Ethan Edwards. As the film progresses his resolve to find Debbie never diminishes but as time passes it becomes apparent that he would rather see her dead than living with the Comanche and ultimately believes that she will have become a Comanche herself. The story is presented in a very effective way; the two most disturbing moments occur off screen, these are the aftermath of the massacre at the family home and the details of Lucy's death. The latter is particularly effective; as at first we just know that Ethan has seen something that shocked him to the core as he travelled alone through a canyon; it is only later that we learn that he discovered Lucy's body and then it is strongly implied that she was also raped. While there are quite a few dark moments there are also plenty of moments of good unforced humour. John Wayne is on top form as Ethan Edwards; the character is in many ways unsympathetic, he certainly has racist attitudes towards the native population even before the events at the start of the film, but Wayne's performance stops him being unlikable. Jeffrey Hunter also impresses as Martin Pawley, a far less cynical character. Director John Ford does a brilliant job capturing the vast almost uninhabited American West with much of the action shot in the spectacular Monument Valley. Overall I'd certainly recommend this; if you are a fan of westerns or classic cinema then it is a must see.

Harry T. Yung Watching, for the first time, the 1956 Ford/Wayne classic that many hailed as the best western ever , I missed out on the most-praised aspect. On DVD, even with a modest flat TV screen, the splendour of the panoramic Texan landscape was lost.Before and after watching this movie, I gleaned two scores of "prolific author" reviews. Almost all, in addition to the cinematography, talk about the simple plot: the odyssey of a retired Texas ranger (Wayne), together with his 1/8 Apache nephew (Jeffrey Hunter), searching for two nieces kidnapped by Comanches that massacred his brother's family. Almost all talk about the racist aspect (real or perceived) and the good performances. One points out that the nieces are actually daughters from licentious activities with sister-in-law, and Wayne's real motivation is not to rescue them but rather to kill them, to be rid of the haunting memory. Be that as it may.I have only two specific observations and one general comment.The scene depicting the lull before the storm, the approach of the Comanches to the almost defenceless household (just one man with a rifle), is absolutely masterful. The suffocating suspense is almost good enough to give "High Noon" a run for its money. The violence is never shown, just implied.The other scene, or sequence rather, is the depiction of a good part of the odyssey via a letter from Hunter to his childhood sweetheart played by Vera Miles. Various scenes unfold as she reads the letter to her family. Without this technique in the midpoint, the two plus hours of narrative would feel too long.In general, I find this movie enjoyable but not exactly the best western ever. One setback is the rather inconsistent mix of pathos and comedy. Hitchcock and Kurosawa are masters of injecting a pinch of sense of humour when needed. Ford, unfortunately, has not accomplished the desired result in this movie.

jcjacob-37009 The Searchers (1956), is perhaps the darkest of western films that John Ford has ever made. His intention was to not only make a film that is dynamic in scale, but to create an example about a character who is deeply and personally conflicted with his views on culture. John Wayne named his Son after the character Ethan. The film was a bit of a challenge for the filmmakers, especially when it came to shooting the movie in the land of Utah. Ford was careful with his subject matter, but was still the master when it came down to the films art.I've seen some of John Ford's Films, one of them would have to be, "The Quiet Man". Akira Kurosawa, Orson Welles, John Milius and Steven Spielberg have considered Ford as one of the Greatest Directors of all time. Some (if most) critics were disappointed when the film did no win any awards back in 1957. The film has stood the test as being an achievement, capturing the beauty of Utah and becoming an inspiration among many filmmakers from around the globe. John Wayne was nothing without Ford's advice or direction in the film industry.I was never fond of many westerns, but this film was a huge exception. It should be considered as a study of great Cinematography and Direction. Its' subject is deep, so you've been warned.