100 All-Time Films (To see the entire list, click here)
John Ford’s The Searchers (1956)
Arguably the greatest western ever made from the greatest director of the western genre, John Ford. This is a big screen adventure which showcases fantastic scenery (in typical Ford fashion), the iconic John Wayne in his best role, and exploring complex themes that we wouldn’t see so commonly in the cinema until the 1970’s.
In my opinion, only Sergio Leone matches John Ford in their visual style of the west. I prefer Leone to Ford (I like the Italian style) but Ford makes everything so BIG. Look at the picture showcasing this post. Its absolutely unbelievable. I only wish that I could see this on the big screen. Leone focuses on the sweaty faces of his characters while Ford looks to focus on the beauty of Monument Valley.
When watching it, some of the acting feels dated and the dialogue can feel out of place and awkward but the characters and their intentions are stamped in your mind forever. John Wayne, playing Ethan Edwards as a blatant racist making him a borderline antihero, is fabulous. His demeanor, swagger, and determination make him really tough to root against but his character is pretty detestable. Ethan’s journey to find and rescue Debbie (Natalie Wood) is so powerful that he refuses to give up even after five years. He doesn’t even consider giving in. These two ends of the spectrum make him a difficult character to root for or against.
In my mind, The Searchers will be remembered for its great storytelling, characters, and visuals. The ending is absolutely breathtaking in that it is one of the greatest ending sequences you will see in any genre. No one can deny its impact on the pantheon of film history and no one should try to.
