The Searchers
Texas 1868
Ethan Edwards returns to his brothers farm three years after the end of the civil war.
While Ethan and his adoptive nephew Martin Pawley join a company of Texas Rangers to track a Commanche raiding party, the renegades double back to attack and burn the Edwards ... Read review
With 'The Searchers' John Wayne and director John Ford forged an indelible saga of the ... more
frontier and the men and women who challenged it. Wayne plays Ethan Edwards an ex-Confederate who sets out to find his niece captured by Comanches who massacred ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
With 'The Searchers', John Wayne and director John Ford forged an indelible saga of the ... more
frontier and the men and women who challenged it. Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, an ex-Confederate who sets out to find his niece, captured by Comanches who massacred h...
John Ford's masterpiece "The Searchers" (1956) was rated fifth greatest film of all time ... more
in "Sight and Sound's" most recent poll of critics. Its influence on many of America's most distinguished contemporary filmmakers - among them Martin Scorsese Paul Schrader and John Milius - is enormous. Edward Buscombe provides a detailed commentary on all aspects of the film and makes full use of material in the John Ford archive in Indiana including Ford's own memos and the original script which differs in vital respects from the film he made.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Ethan Edwards returns to his brothers farm three years after the end of the civil war.
While Ethan and his adoptive nephew Martin Pawley join a company of Texas Rangers to track a Commanche raiding party, the renegades double back to attack and burn the Edwards homestead, kidnapping nine year old Debbie.
Then begins a five year odyssey. Ethan(John Wayne) and Martin ... ...season hunting the band that abducted the young girl. And all the long while Ethans obsessive hatred and lust for revenge grows ever more intense.
John Fords film journeys deep into the heart of Ethan Edwards darkness. He emerges from a personally unconceded war and a couple of years of highly questionable wanderings into a settled family home and a community thats moved on.
Throughout the film there are resonances from ... more
The Searchers
Texas 1868
Ethan Edwards returns to his brothers farm three years after the end of the civil war.
While Ethan and his adoptive nephew Martin Pawley join a company of Texas Rangers to track a Commanche raiding party, the renegades double back to attack and burn the Edwards homestead, kidnapping nine year old Debbie.
Then begins a five year odyssey. Ethan(John Wayne) and Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) journey from South to North from season to season hunting the band that abducted the young girl. And all the long while Ethans obsessive hatred and lust for revenge grows ever more intense.
John Fords film journeys deep into the heart of Ethan Edwards darkness. He emerges from a personally unconceded war and a couple of years of highly questionable wanderings into a settled family home and a community thats moved on.
Throughout the film there are resonances from a shared and sometimes secret past. Most poignantly the hopeless, impossible love between Ethan and his sister-in-law expressed in looks and longings;in how he passes her a lamp from the fireplace, in how she caresses his Johnny Reb greatcoat when alone in a room. And woven into Max Steiner's musical score is the song "Lorena" the most popular tune amongst the troops of the Civil War.
The interior cabin scenes are lit in tender shades that give a feeling of hearth and home to John Fords painterly composition, and in one crowded sequence when the rangers arrive at breakfast time the dialogue is seemingly random and overlapping with several conversations going off in different directions, but is so well orchestrated all ends up at the right point so naturally that its quite astonishing and makes you wonder how such a scene was rehearsed to such perfection.
Rich in its characters-Ward Bond as the Reverend Clayton fruity voiced preacher, ex-confederate soldier now a serving Texas Ranger.
Hank Warden-is Mose the half crazed frontier scout who (its never noted) does as much as any to find Debbie and is certainly one of "the Searchers".
The Jorgensons-Olive Carey, John Qualen, Harry Carey jnr, Vera Miles.
Most members of John Fords repertory company.
There are no bones to be made about it, this is a great film. Bracketed by an opening door at the begining and by one closing at the end, filled with unforgettable images and dialogue-Like Ethan in stormy outline unleashing his rifle, casting aside its buckskin scabbard with his arm outstretched when he sees his brothers burning farmhouse. Cavalry troopers in formation moving through winter snow. John Wayne so intense in his "Turnin'o the Earth" speech. Lucy's scream of terror before the Commanche attack. And so many more visions and sounds that will linger in the memory.
The centre of the film is John Wayne's performance Ethan is disruption Ethan is turbulence. But he is the bad man needed in a difficult time. Without him Debbie would remain the wife of Scar her abductor ready to bare him her own "savage brats" in Lori Jorgensons shocking outburst. But then is a feeling he's fighting against finer feelings-tenderness and concern. Wayne has never been better.
If you are going to buy "The Searchers" on DVD(and you should make an effort to)make sure you find the version restored from the original Vista Vision Prints. In an extras interview Martin Scorsese says its the best ever format for film, and if possible see it on a wide screen television.
I've seen this film many times over the years but I've never seen it look like this, its a revelation, never has Monument Valley looked more.., well.., Monumental.
The extra's are excellent especially an appreciation by Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hansen and John Milius who give intelligent studied opinions and clearly loved the film. As do many. As do I.
Advantages: Easily available on DVD and video Disadvantages: May be a bit long for some people
...great cowboy film? Is it the acting or the scenery or the music? In "The Searchers", it's the whole combination. This 1956 film is directed by John Ford and it is probably his best work. I don't normally like Westerns. I find them rather boring but this film is very different.
The basic plot is that Ethan Ewards (John Wayne) has returned from the Civil War to the Texas ranch where his brother Aaron, (Walter Coy), Aaron's wife Martha and their children ... ...an adult later on in the film) is kidnapped. Ethan sets out, along with adopted nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter), on a long journey to search for the niece kidnapped by the "Indians" under Chief "Scar". When they do eventually find her, they see she has been raised as a Native American. Martin, incidentally, is part white, part Native American.
The film starts with a song, "What Makes a Man to Wander?" and as you watch the film, you realise this is ...
Mel27 27.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Searchers (DVD)
Advantages: Entertaining, Challenging, Emotional, Exciting, Makes you see how dangerous the Western Fronteir Was Disadvantages: None
The Searchers is widely recognised as one of the best westerns ever made and rightly so. It is set in Texas in 1868 at the end of the Civil War, A war that John Wayne Known in the film as Ethan Edwards took part in, the Film opens with him returning to his brothers farm from the war.
The scenery at the start of the film is breathtaking and is seen from the opening of a door and it seems to be emphasising the harsh and dangerous environment of Texas ... ...story of the film is the search for Ethans neice Debbie who has been kipnapped by Indians under a Chief called Scar who also killed his brother and the rest of his family including Martha who it seemed Ethan had feelings for.
He is accompanied on the journey by a company of Texas Rangers but by the first year it is just Martin Pauley who is Ethans adopted nephew and Ethan that are left in the search as Brad was killed after charging into indians ...
irishlad20 23.07.2008 (25.07.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Searchers (DVD)
Advantages: A solid western with a good lead performance by John Wayne. Disadvantages: In many ways dated and showing its age in terms of techniques and attitudes.
Overview
The Searchers is a classic western starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford. It is regarded very highly both as an example of the Western genre and as a film in general attaining classic status in more recent times despite a less enthusiastic reception upon its initial release in1956.
Plot
This is very much a rescue and revenge tale. We follow the unconventional hero Ethan Edwards and his eventual companion Martin Pawley in a long ... ...group but they alone go the distance and are willing to see it through to the end, however long that takes. Martin Pawley leaves the woman he loves behind and their to-in and fro-ing though occaissionally irritating provides the emotional base of the film.
John Wayne
Not being a massive John Wayne film myself I am always somewhat perturbed by his presence in a film for it immediately becomes a John Wayne film almost, a seperate genre in itself. ...
thegoldencat 19.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Searchers (DVD)
Advantages: Packed with stars, impressive scenery and great music. Disadvantages: Perhaps a wee bit long in the middle
The title gives you the theme for this film. The film itself offers much more. A powerfully emotive story line, strong performances from a great cast and a film well worth watching.
John Wayne plays the title role, as Ethan Edwards, seemingly an unsympathetic, almost heartless, but interesting character who, along with Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley, a half breed, goes in search of his young niece Debbie, played by Natalie Woop, who has been taken ... ...with lots of action along the way.
Eventually she is returned to live with family friends and Wayne, the loner once more, ridaway.
John wayne had a wonderful supporting cast and the film was directed by John Ford who made many great westerns. Stunningly impressive scenery of monument valley and the beautiful theme music provided by Max Stenner sets the mood for this great film.
Action packed beginning and end, perhaps the search took to long but ...
yorkie2 07.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Searchers (DVD)
Advantages: A TRULY GREAT WESTERN AS GOOD AS SHANE AND THAT SAYS IT ALL. Disadvantages: NONE
...TIMES THAT I HAVE WATCHED THE SEARCHERS...DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD FROM AN ALAN LE MAY BOOK, THIS IS A STORY OF A CONFEDERATE WAR VETERAN WHO COMES TO LIVE WITH HIS BROTHERS FAMILY.
DURING THAT TIME THE INDIANS ARE ON THE WARPATH AND HE GOES TO HELP A LOCAL SETTLER ROUND UP SOME CATTLE THAT THE INDIANS HAVE STOLEN,LITTLE DOES HE KNOW THAT IT IS A TRAP AND WHILE HE IS AWAY THE INDIANS DOUBLE BACK AND KILL HIS BROTHERS FAMILY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS ... ...NIECE,IT TAKES MANY YEARS FOLLOWING THE DIFFERENT TRIBES TRYING TO FIND HER, WHEN HE DOES SHE IS THE WIFE OF THE CHIEF AND NOW HIS SEARCH TAKES ON A TWIST HE INTENDS TO KILL HER BEACUSE SHE HAS BECOME AN INDIAN...
THE STORY IS GREAT, THE ENDING IS GREAT, OF COURSE HE DOES'ENT KILL HER HE TAKES HER BACK WITH HIM, IN BETWEEN THE STORY IS SOME GREAT ACTING FROM JEFFERY HUNTER,NATALIE WOOD AND VERA MILES.
ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT WESTERNS IT HOLD UP ...
banco 09.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Searchers (DVD)
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Advantages: good story, good acting great music Disadvantages: John Wayne!
the characters of Old Moe?s was extremely good and he did bring an element of humour to the film and I thought he was by far the best in the film.
The film was set in Texas in 1886 and I thought that this was put across extremely well on film and all of the scenery and sets were well done and a lot of attention to detail was done with the costumes. I did however notice a few badly added back drops but as this film was made in 1956 then this can be forgiven. The music in the film was actually very good and I did find myself enjoying it. The music director deserves a lot of credit for what he produced for this film. The music which was played was able to add emotions to the film and also help to explain what was going on with the fighting and emotional side of the story.
The DVD which we have does have some bonus material which includes ...
This is not an expensive DVD and if a John Wayne fan or a western fan a must for your collection . The woman who watch the film have the hankies at the ready as you could shed a few tears over this film no matter how often you watch it. Why an Oscar was never given for the acting I do not know. It is a film that you will watch over and over again. It has the typical western backdrop but the way it is portrayed you are caught up in the action. Also if you have a family you can all watch it together. Special effects for the 50s they are excellent the sound quality on our DVD is good and nothing has been lost putting it onto the DVD. This is a DVD that will be used by all the family over and over again. ...
Advantages: Some excellent live performances Disadvantages: some dodgy 80's and 90's videos
', which is part of a melody when the Quo perform it live is followed by the video for 'Something About You Baby I Like' yet on the live Break The Rules you can hear the band start Something About You baby I Like. i find this odd.
You get the quirky 'Rockin All Over The World' video where Alan Lancaster is played by a puppet? 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men' from the 60's and some of the not so successful numbers from the 80's and 90's such as 'Fun Fun Fun' with the Beach Boys, 'When You Walk In The Room' of 'Searchers' fame. Not their finest hour.
All in all i think this DVD is a filler by the marketing/management of Quo and doesn't do them justice. It has a lazy feel about it, just a load of old videos put together to fill a space between studio albums releases? It has some gems and some nostalgic video but is not the best compilation ...
Classic western starring John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a case-hardened Civil War veteran returning to his brother Aaron's Texas home in 1868 to fight injustice.
2 Trailers, Setting Up Production, Cast Interviews, Monument Valley Featurette
Aspect Ratio
4:3 Full Frame, 1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Mono
Dubbing Sound
Mono English French Italian
Professional reviews
Review
"...Heads many a list of all-time cinematic favorites....Stunning..." (New York Times, p.C28, 14/05/1993)
"...An audience favorite from the beginning -- and a creative influence on a generation of filmmakers..." (USA Today, p.7E, 25/09/1998)
DVD Description
A classic Western regarded by many as the best of the genre, John Ford's THE SEARCHERS has been acknowledged by several directors who came into their own in the 1970s, including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Paul Schrader, and George Lucas, as a powerful influence on their work. The film stars John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a case-hardened Civil War veteran returning to his brother Aaron's (Walter Coy) Texas home in 1868. When Rev. Samuel Johnson Clayton (Ward Bond) arrives to raise a posse to run down the Comanche who have stolen the cattle of neighbor Lars Jorgenson (John Qualen), Ethan is among those who join him. They return to find the Edwards family slaughtered and the two girls, Lucy (Pippa Scott) and Debbie (Lana Wood, then Natalie Wood), missing. The posse continues to search for the girls but turns back as winter settles in. However, Ethan and his reluctantly accepted companion, Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), the girls' part-Cherokee stepbrother, press on for another seven years, with the Indian-hating veteran becoming ever more fanatical as the hard seasons pass. In his epic meditation on racism, obsession, paranoia, and the myth of the West, Ford explores the ugly underside of a genre that he had imbued with optimism in his early career. Wayne gives perhaps his most powerful performance as the embittered Edwards, but it's the visual poetry of what are possibly Ford's most carefully framed, lit, and composed images that shape this masterwork from beginning to end. As Wayne walks through the doorway at the film's end, he grabs his elbow in a tribute to his and Ford's close friend Harry Carey Sr., a Western film icon who had passed away a few years before.
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