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Product Description

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/22/2007 Run time: 119 minutes Rating: Nr

A favorite film of some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, John Ford's The Searchers has earned its place in the legacy of great American films for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most notably, it's the definitive role for John Wayne as an icon of the classic Western--the hero (or antihero) who must stand alone according to the unwritten code of the West. The story takes place in Texas in 1868; Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran who visits his brother and sister-in-law at their ranch and is horrified when they are killed by marauding Comanches. Ethan's search for a surviving niece (played by young Natalie Wood) becomes an all-consuming obsession. With the help of a family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is himself part Cherokee, Ethan hits the trail on a five-year quest for revenge. At the peak of his masterful talent, director Ford crafts this classic tale as an embittered examination of racism and blind hatred, provoking Wayne to give one of the best performances of his career. As with many of Ford's classic Westerns, The Searchers must contend with revisionism in its stereotypical treatment of "savage" Native Americans, and the film's visual beauty (the final shot is one of the great images in all of Western culture) is compromised by some uneven performances and stilted dialogue. Still, this is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. --Jeff Shannon

A favorite film of some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, John Ford's The Searchers has earned its place in the legacy of great American films for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most notably, it's the definitive role for John Wayne as an icon of the classic Western--the hero (or antihero) who must stand alone according to the unwritten code of the West. The story takes place in Texas in 1868; Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran who visits his brother and sister-in-law at their ranch and is horrified when they are killed by marauding Comanches. Ethan's search for a surviving niece (played by young Natalie Wood) becomes an all-consuming obsession. With the help of a family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is himself part Cherokee, Ethan hits the trail on a five-year quest for revenge. At the peak of his masterful talent, director Ford crafts this classic tale as an embittered examination of racism and blind hatred, provoking Wayne to give one of the best performances of his career. As with many of Ford's classic Westerns, The Searchers must contend with revisionism in its stereotypical treatment of "savage" Native Americans, and the film's visual beauty (the final shot is one of the great images in all of Western culture) is compromised by some uneven performances and stilted dialogue. Still, this is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

• Masterpiece?
  Masterpiece? This appellation should be reserved for truly supreme artistic achievements.
  
  Psychologically complex? Compared to what?
  
  There is a whole corral of "Classic Westerns" that, if released today, would be branded as downers and butchered. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Fort Apache, The Alamo, Duel in the Sun, How the West was Won, Red River, Stagecoach, etc.
  The Searchers would be in this group. I know...most are given four stars.
  
  There have been few truly great westerns, which distresses me, as this is my favorite genre. The 3;10 to Yuma and The Appaloosa, the contemporaneous ungulates, are poor representatives of their heritage.
  
  
  ...more info
• Great Wayne
  Wayne at his greatest in this Ford directed epic. Get goosebumps every time I watch it. A must for western fans....more info
• Warrior Ethic
  I have viewed this movie many times and each time I come away from it a little richer. I recently watched an 'American Masters' biography of John Ford and the narrator gave the most exact description of the Ethan Edwards character that I think can be given: 'he was the kind of man that civilization must have but also the kind that can never live in civilization'.
  
  Society has always been faced with the need to decide whether or not it will acknowledge the honor that men like Ethan Edwards have earned. Sadly, for the past 40 years, we have been drifting away from them, preferring to think that our own politically correct 'moral rectitude' contains a self-defending mechanism. People who support this view are frequently heard warning us 'not to become like our enemies'. First and foremost, this is shameful because it necessarily devalues the sacrifice of the warrior. But it is also foolish. At some point our decadent society will need an Ethan Edwards for its very survival. The question remains as to whether we will then find him from within our midst....more info
• Wow
  What a beautiful restoration of a classic American film. What the Blu-Ray format is doing for classic films like this is not just visually jaw-dropping but important preservationist work! The price for this Blu-Ray is a steal. Those, including me, who have disparged John Wayne's acting will eat their words after viewing "The Searchers." No wonder this film is mandatory viewing in many film study classes....more info
• A Blu-ray demo disk you /have/ to own.
  The image quality of "The Searchers" is nothing short of startling. We'll get to that after I've lit into the film. Yes, I'm going to tear to pieces what is generaly considered one of /the/ great American films, and (by many people) the best Western ever made.
  
  John Ford was a great director, but I've never cared much for his Westerns. Maybe I'm tired of seeing Ward Bond play the same role again and again. Or perhaps it's just that I don't care for John Wayne, who is hardly my model of ideal manliness. (Jimmy Stewart was ten times the man John Wayne was.)
  
  "The Searchers" has two major problems, neither of which -- as far as I know -- has ever been pointed out. (After writing this, I browsed the Amazon reviews and found that other people have almost-identical reservations.) They render it a far poorer film than it could or should have been.
  
  The first is that it tries to tell two stories that have little to do with each other, and fail to mesh in any meaningful way. The primary story is Ethan and Martin's five-year search for Ethan's kidnapped niece. This is intercut with the broadly comic narrative of Laurie's frustration at trying to get Martin to come back and marry her. (Note Ken Curtis, later Festus on "Gunsmoke", as her dorky, guitar-strumming suitor.)
  
  It doesn't work. The search is morbidly dark, while Laurie's plight is silly beyond belief. Any possibility of dramatic unity -- this is, after all, a serious film about a serious subject -- is destroyed. (Aristotle would have heartily agreed.)
  
  Which brings us to the other problem. John Wayne was no actor. He was more than a decade from reaching the point where he could turn in a credible/creditable performance (Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit", for which he won an undeserved Oscar). In "The Searchers" he is still John Wayne, with a limited performance range that doesn't extend beyond what John Wayne, the man, is capable of.
  
  True, Wayne had a difficult job for any actor -- he had convey his hatred of Indians and desire to kill Debbie for 99% of the film -- then abruptly change his mind. The problem is that we see no motivation for the change. He picks her up, she looks frightened (she knows what he intends), and then, out of nowhere, "Let's go home, Debbie." *
  
  It just isn't believable. Ford should have shown us John Wayne's face, so that we could have gotten /some/ idea of what was going through his mind. Why he doesn't is anyone's guess. Did he think Wayne was incapable of believably revealing his change of heart? Or did it never cross Ford's mind? Regardless, the film lands with a dramatic "thud" -- Something Important happens, but we don't have the least idea /why/. The moment the story is building up to /never occurs/.
  
  "The Searchers" would have worked far better if it had stuck with the search, and ignored just about everything else. Yes, it would have been an even darker film, but it would have packed a far stronger punch.
  
  So why do people hold "The Searchers" in such high esteem? The reason appears to be that it was one of the first "deconstuctionist" Westerns. ** Ethan Edwards is bluntly racist, and is determined to find his niece so he can kill her. She's been polluted by her five-year contact with the "Comanch", and his no longer a "white" woman. *** She'd be better off dead, and Ethan is the man to do it. But however awful the Indians' behavior is, we are not on Ethan's side. Our broad sympathies lie with the Indians, not the Americans. ****
  
  Unfortunately, "The Searchers" doesn't achieve what it sets out to do. It's all hat and no cattle. You don't get points for trying to be profound -- you actually have to achieve it. In this, "The Searchers" fails quite badly. It's easy to imagine a remake that's far superior to the original.
  
  As for the transfer... Oh... my... God... I couldn't believe it. It appears to have been derived from the VistaVision camera negatives. I have never seen a more exquisitely sharp and detailed video image (and with zero apparent edge enhancement). Ford's use of multiple image planes, some in-focus, the others out -- is clearly displayed. *****
  
  Please note that in the supplemental material, someone describes "The Searchers" as having been filmed in three-strip Technicolor, which it almost certainly wasn't. And Martin Scorsese avers that VistaVision has greater depth of field than conventional 35mm movies. Wrong -- it has less. (It's hard to understand how someone who's been making films for four decades doesn't understand Photography 101.)
  
  If you're a fan of "The Searchers", do yourself a favor and get the Blu-ray. Even if you don't care for the film, buy it anyhow. It's a great demo disk. This was a film /made/ for VistaVision ("Motion Picture High Fidelity") -- the scenery alone is worth the price of admission.
  
  * One critic suggested that it's touching Debbie that causes his transformation. He can't bring himself to kill the flesh-and-blood being he knew as a child.
  
  ** It also appears to be one of the first to make a stab at proper cowboy attire. Note the dusters on several characters.
  
  *** Another minor problem... Kidnapped whites almost always preferred living with the Indians. Debbie's willingness to return is not implausible, but it is unlikely.
  
  **** According to the supplemental material, "The Searchers" was the first Western to show a lot of dead Indians lying around after having been massacred by whites.
  
  ***** This is common in Ford's films. Did it have anything to his being blind in one eye?...more info
• Can I comment on the Amazon review?
  Mr. Shannon: You are the one engaging in revisionism history! Farmers were burned out by Indians, young girls were taken captive, and the Noble Indian was not always so noble in his deeds. Study a little more deeply and you'll see that Western Civilization and war-like Indian tribes were never going to live side-by-side. Heck, the more war-like tribes didn't even live in peace between themselves. Mr. Ford's movie stands as a beautifully-filmed tribute to the courage of the American Western pioneers. 'Nuff said....more info
• Maybe the toughest film I've ever had to rate; an amazing movie saddled with an offensive script.
  The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
  
  It seems to be the consensus among reviewers that the climax of The Searchers says something about Ethan Edwards that I don't see. In order to address that, this review is going to be laden with spoilers; if you haven't seen the movie yet and plan to, stop reading. There is no way for me to express my deep dissatisfaction with this film without talking about it, so I'm going to.
  
  The story: Ethan Edwards (John Wayne), a somewhat mysterious figure, turns up at the house of his brother Aaron (Walter Coy) and sister-in-law Martha (Dorothy Jordan). Ford wastes no time in getting us understanding that this is not the John Wayne we know and love; he harbors feelings for his sister-in-law, he seems to still be fighting the Civil War, and, in what may be the most quoted line from the film (at least in the reviews I've read of it), the local law says Ethan "fits a lot of descriptions". Welcome, antihero. Ethan is not at all a likable man; aside from (probably) being lawless, he's also an inveterate racist who hates Indians so much that he shuns he nephew Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter) for being one-eighth Comanche-- this despite Ethan, as a child, having saved Martin from the attack that killed his family, and having left Martin with Aaron and Martha to raise when Ethan went off to war. Things get worse when, while Ethan and Martin are out pursuing a band of Cherokee raiders, those same raiders turn back and massacre Aaron and his family, with the exception of youngest daughter Debbie (played as a young woman by Natalie Wood), whom they kidnap. After a few days, the search party gives up; Ethan is determined to continue on alone, but Martin insists on going with him. Eventually, Martin stays on the trail with him not only to help him search, but because he's afraid that Ethan's hatred of the Comanche may also visit itself on Debbie.
  
  The crux of the film, obviously, is Ethan's racism. (To play devil's advocate, he does have some reason-- early in the film, it's revealed that Comanches killed Ethan's mother-- yet even this is undercut by a statement in the film, mentioned in passing, that there are many different bands of Comanche.) Much is made of the fact that Ethan, once Debbie's situation is fully revealed, considers Debbie alternately as a Comanche herself or, when he thinks of her as white, as "a Comanche buck's squaw"; the inference is obvious (and, in the fifties, when miscegenation was still illegal in many parts of the country, probably resounded with audiences). So what is it that happens in that climax? Is Ethan's decision to rescue Debbie instead of killing her indicative of a change of heart? Even Martin doesn't see it coming; when he loses track of Ethan in the big battle, his first priority is tracking Ethan down and protecting Debbie from him. Right up to the bitter end, Ethan has traded on his hatred of Indians. This "change of heart" comes out of the blue, and with the information we're given, it's roughly as believable as a flock of purple elephants charging in to save the day. Even worse, there's no evidence offered after the fact that Ethan has had a change of heart; the movie ends very soon after.
  
  There is no doubt, however, that both Ford and cinematographer Winton Hoch were consummate filmmakers. The movie has the same striking look of most of Ford's films; all this nastiness is quite beautifully, if starkly, presented. Insert commentary here on the landscape reflecting Ethan's outlook on things; it's dry, sparsely-furnished, almost entirely barren of life. Even the band of Comanche Ethan and Martin are tracking down are nomads; nothing can survive on that plain for a long period of time; that way lies madness (cf. Sjostrom's The Wind). From a purely technical point of view, this is, in fact, a great achievement in American film history, and I understand why so many people seem so anxious to make sure it stays well within the lists of the all-time great films. As well, it has been remarkably influential, with its basic plot cropping up in everything from Taxi Driver to Star Wars, and crossing media to furnish Buddy Holly with one of his most famous songs ("That'll be the Day", inspired by Ethan's repeated use of the phrase). And yet, despite all this, I can't get past such a basic deficiency in the script.
  
  As well, as Roger Ebert points out in his review, this does seem like two different films that were cobbled together; there's the obsessive, bleak movie about Ethan Edwards' tracking down the Comanche, and then there's a comedy/musical flick that seems to have gotten tossed in somewhere along the way, with a subplot involving Martin's fianc¨¦e Laurie Jorgensen (Vera Miles) and her scatterbrained family. The pieces of the two plots don't quite fit together, and what emerges from the cracks is a rather foul odor of decay. It has been opined in more than one review I've read that the comedic portions of the film may have been added in order to lighten the depressing main plot; problem is they just didn't mix in well, and this souffle ended up falling before it ever got out of the oven.
  
  An incredibly difficult film to rate, with some parts of it being so striking and others being so bad. Ultimately, I ended up looking more at the bad side, as I can't see myself watching this movie again any time soon. **
  ...more info
• Pure greatness with a gorgeous picture
  I just got my 1080p HDTV and Blu-ray player, and one of my first Blu-ray disc purchases was "The Searchers." All I can say is WOW! The picture looks stunning, especially all the shots in Monument Valley, with crystal clear detail.
  
  I had seen "The Searchers" many years ago, but it's a film you really have to see more than once to really appreciate. It's definitely not your typical 1950s western. What's striking about it is the level of implied violence that you don't seen in films even today. Perhaps the violence is so shocking just because the viewer doesn't see it on the screen. We do see the characters' reactions to it though. My thought was that if The Duke can't handle seeing it, then I don't want to either.
  
  There's a lot of different layers to "The Searchers," a lot of things going on in the subtext. There's the unspoken yearning between Ethan and Martha, questions about where Ethan went after the war, Ethan's racism and views on religion, etc. And for someone who supposedly wasn't a good actor, John Wayne gives a superb performance (he was always underrated as an actor). The look on his face when he saw his brother's farm burning was just heartbreaking. I wound up watching the movie three times, partly to marvel at the stunning 1080p picture, but also to catch little things that I missed on earlier viewings. ...more info
• Scar Face
  The Searchers in a great balance of entertainment, humour, and drama. The Comanche indian is protrayed as the villians, raiding white villiages, and killing all the inhabitants brutally. The cowboys are the heros and the indians the enemy. The movie has action: escape from the Comanche trap at the river, fist fights, knife fights, and a calvery rescue....more info
• Fast shipping
  Received my product fast, just in time for Valentine's day. One of the greatest John Wayne movies of all time!...more info
• Good Movie/Great Quality
  Very good movie but I was very impressed with the quality of the picture, especially considering the age of the movie. I plan to purchase more "classic" movies in HD-DVD because of the quality of the ones I've seen. (Note: you need an HD-DVD Player to view movie)...more info
• the searchers/john wayne
  i was very pleased with the service . i got the movie before the said date and enjoyed the movie very much. thank you.
  linda sullivan...more info
• First, they should have paid attention to the dog.
  The Searchers DVD
  
  This is John Wayne( the Duke) at his best in a John Ford film about a man whose niece ( Natalie Wood) was capture by the Comanch. It is based on the novel The Searchers, which I have not read.
  
  It , also , stars Ward Bond as a feisty preacher and head of the local Rangers. A couple of side comments.
  
  First, they should have paid attention to the dog.
  
  Second, do you really think the Indians were stupid enough to identify their chiefs with that elaborate headdress? The last army I can think of that did that ( identify their leaders ) was the British in the American Revolutionary War and they learned not to do that around American Sharpshooters
  
  Third, did you know that Texas hated the Indians so bad that they killed or drove out every last one of them? There are no Indian Reservations in Texas.
  
  I thought I was in Love with Nartalie Wood when I was growing up. Ain't she special?
  
  
  Highly recommended for fans of the Classic western, John Wayne , and Natalie wood.
  
  Gunner February 2,008
  ...more info
• Great Movie!
  This is a great movie. However this movie has a lot of age on it (1956) so the acting, like in all movies of this time, is simply carried out in a different approach. Once you get passed this you can really appreciate the movie.
  
  What really blows you away, is the picture quality of this BD...absolutely beautiful!! Hard to believe it debuted 52 years ago.
  
  Keith, Macon, GA...more info
• A classic western
  This has to be one of the best westerns ever filmed. The acting is excellent, and the scenery is some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Monument Valley is where this movie was filmed, and all thru this movie, the scenery is spectacular. Great story, and great film....more info
• Greatest Western Ever Made
  John Wayne should have been the unanimous OScar winner for his role as Ethan Edwards. It is John Wayne as you never ever see him and he delivers the best western performance ever. That stare as he whirls around to look at the white girl rescused by the cavalry is what acting is all about. Hands down my favorite Western ever made and easily one of the greatest films ever done. Great job by John Ford and the cast including great turns by Jeffrey Hunter, Ken Lucas and the great Ward Bond. Treat yourself and by the Special Edition boxed set....more info
• Seek & Destroy
  Considered by many to be the greatest western of all time, and even a contender for the greatest FILM of all time, I'm hesitant to rate this any lower than 5 Stars. However, there are some negative aspects of this film that need to be addressed.
  
  
  What Works:
  
  John Wayne's monumental performance as the racist, obsessive loner Ethan Edwards. Unable to make any connections with friends or family, Ethan devotes all his energy to finding his kidnapped niece. As time passes he slightly alters his mission to "Search and Destroy" because he figures she's been sleeping with the Commanches.
  
  
  The beautiful scenery of John Ford's favorite location- Monument Valley. Absolutely breathtaking.
  
  
  What Doesn't Work:
  
  Some of the supporting cast (Ford's normally dependable stock company) comes off as rather annoying. Ken Curtis being the biggest offender with his comic accent.
  
  
  The scene which involves Martin's temporary Indian bride whom both Ethan and Martin cruelly mistreat. When Martin kicks her down the hill for a laugh will probably not fly with modern audiences. [Like me]
  
  Another scene that I can't stand is the comic wedding fight between Martin and Charlie (Ken Curtis) On the one hand; I like Ford's use of dances to symbolize community and family. Having the two wandering men come home from the wilderness to the festive celebration is a nice contrast, but the emphasis on Ken Curtis and the ensuing fight is unfortunate for a film of this caliber. Infact that whole love triangle proved to be a major distraction.
  
  -----
  
  
  The Searchers is certainly a masterpiece, but there are uneven bits of comic relief that drag the film down. When i watch this film I always skip these scenes with the remote, which makes for a far more satisfying experience.
  
  
  Also I highly recommend the Ultimate Collector's Edition. Or for a few dollars more, just buy the John Ford/John Wayne boxset which includes the Searchers, Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and more.
  
  ...more info
• A True Classic
  Earlier reviewers have hit the nail on the head with this movie so there is not point in re-stating things. This is a wonderful movie, timeless classic. Any serious movie buff should have this one in their collection. ...more info
• Best western ever made
  John Ford's THE SEARCHERS is by far one of the best western films ever made. The style of the cinematography is awesome the way it shows the beauty of the the American southwest. Buy this movie, you will not be disappointed. ...more info
• Outstanding hi-def version of an outstanding film.
  "The Searchers" ranks with the finest films of the twentieth century, and of course with John Ford's very best westerns. This Blu-Ray disc is the best home video version yet. The hi-def transfer is extraordinary, and very close to the 35mm print version I saw when the film was restored and re-released in the early 90s. Color, sharpness, and picture stability are right on the money.
  
  If you love American film, don't miss this disc....more info
• WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  I am I glad I bought this on HD DVD even after owning the Standard DVD 4 disc set....more info
• Doesn't hold up with international competition (also RACIST)
  Throw your hands up and gnash your teeth all you want, sure I'm probably stupid to you, but to this 24 year old this seems like something old republicans sit around and enjoy, and only halfway pay attention to at that. Call me what you will but I don't think westerns ever got good until the Italians started making them, and Clint Eastwood got involved. I know this is one of the most influential films of all time, I can see and understand it when I watch it. Its almost like a real film is writhing under the plastic old timey Hollywood coating just wishing it was clever and free enough to break out. Its hard for me to appreciate old Hollywood westerns, especially when at the same time the Japanese were making far more realistic portrayals of human conflict and violence in their own western setting with the samurai film, completely free of any hokey cornball BS you'll find in this fossilized turd....more info
• An ambiguous classic
  This is one of John Ford's and one of John Wayne's best movies. It is a classic--but dark and ambiguous. It deserves to be rated as one of the top American movies of the past 100 years. Whenever I watch it, I end up having a different reaction to the movie and its characters. And that is one characteristic of a special movie.
  
  Others have commented on some of the symbolism--the doors. Ethan, John Wayne's character, always seems somehow "outside." And that is a part of the movie's power. At the outset, he visits his brother and family; he shows off money and it is not at all clear that it was legitimate. Ambiguity: The source of the money? Where he had been?
  
  His brother and wife are killed in a Comanche raid; the daughters are taken prisoner, one of whom is killed shortly thereafter. The other, played by Natalie Wood as a teenager, ends up living with the Comanche. And Ethan's attitude toward her is, as one might guess, ambiguous. If he finds her, what will he do? The scenery in this movie is awesome, filmed in Monument Valley, a discovery for location by John Ford (he filmed a number of his classic Westerns there).
  
  Ethan and Martin (played by Jeffrey Hunter) become searchers, looking for the surviving daughter. In the several years covered, we come to be familiar with the stock players in the John Ford industry (such as Ward Bond and Harry Carey, Junior) and find that Ethan and Martin are continually thwarted. Then, they receive information that suggests her location.
  
  The Texas Rangers under Ward Bond and the advance trooper from the cavalry contingent (well played for humor by Patrick Wayne, the Duke's son) make the effort to rescue Ethan's niece.
  
  And then the ambiguity toward the end. What will be Ethan's stance toward his niece? How will Martin respond? A powerful ending. And then, at the close, a door.
  
  In this movie, there is more complexity and ambiguity than one often finds in Westerns. Native Americans are less stereotyped here than in other Westerns (including Ford's movies); the hero (Ethan) isn't really a hero; there is no wonderful happy ending.
  
  Perhaps the ambiguity and the symbols of doors and so on are part of what makes this a special movie. While Native Americans are not as stereotyped as in other movies, they are still not portrayed particularly well. There is grimness to the movie that can wear on one. But that is also a part of the movie's strength.
  
  So, all in all, a classic Western, and one that is more subtle than most of its genre.
  ...more info
• Reference disc
  Not my favorite John Wayne/John Ford western, but visually (at least, as far as fine detail and wide scenery goes), this is unbeatable. Fantastic level of image detail due to excellent transfer and restoration of the large Vistavision film image. One can argue with the color choices in this transfer, but as far as focus even on distant objects, this is the one to beat. After the ho-hum looking titles, you will suddenly drop your jaw when the first shot comes up and the cabin door is open to reveal the breathtaking live action in the desert. The film that will make you glad you are into watching movies in High Definition....more info
• One of the greatest
  This is one of the greatest movies of all time. The scenery is absolutely fantastic...more info
• The Best
  This is simply John Wayne's best movie. Cinematically it's incredible and weaves a story of discrimination and forgiveness from the eyes of the legendary John Ford. ...more info
• The Searchers
  Another Classic from Wayne. Great portrayal of one of many former Confederates who alone, or with their units, never surrendered at the end of the War Between the States and in July 1865 crossed the Rio Grande into what then was the Second Mexican Empire. After the fall of that empire in 1868 a number of confederate veterans returned home only to find their homes under a hard occupation by US troops or under constant indian threat, as was the case in west Texas. You relive those times when watching this film. Its one that you can watch more than once....more info
• almost a waste of time
  Except for the scenery this outdated film and story is almost a waste of time to watch....more info
• amazing HD pictures for a great western
  I will never say "the searchers" is the best western movie ever but it belongs to the high end category.It is up to yr tastes.
  HD has made out of this 1956 movie something totaly amazing.it is a blast.
  This is realy a piece to own in yr HD DVD collection.
  The weakness and there is one depite the five star rating...the sound is excellent but is mono...so if you switch from Transformers or starwars you will feel something is missing in yr living room......more info
• Great Movie!
  Arguably, this is the best movie John Wayne ever made. The other candidates are "The Shootist" and "True Grit". Of course, Wayne got the Best Actor Award for "True Grit". He should have gotten one for this movie.
  
  Wayne is admirably supported by a number of Wayne-movie regulars, such as Ward Bond, who plays the leader of a band of Texas Rangers, and Harry Carey, Jr. Olive Carey, the mother of Harry Carey, Jr. and wife of famous western actor, Harry Carey, has a part in the movie. In fact, Wayne pays a tribute to Harry Carey in the final scene of the movie where he stands silhouetted in the front door holding his right forearm with his left hand. This was a common gesture of Harry Carey. Jeffery Hunter, Vera Miles, and a young Natalie Wood round out the cast. Hunter does a particular good job as Wayne's young sidekick. You also will be able to pick out a young Festus Haggen ("Gunsmoke") aka Ken Curtis. He plays the part of young guy who tries to woo Vera Miles away from Jefferey Hunter.
  
  Overall this is a great movie. The writing, directing, acting and cinematography are superb....more info
• The Searchers
  A classic film about human emotions regardless of genre and on the same footing as Casablanca....more info
• Wayne's acting is so wooden......
  I have never been a John Wayne fan and I am surprised that this movie has gotten so many high praise reviews. I think it runs too long and the actors in it led by Wayne are all pretty much wooden. There is no humanity here at all....more info
• Low on my list *** spoilers ***
  I wonder where this movie would stand in list of the best Westerns ever made -- if the voters were American Indians. I'm American Indian and I'm puzzled by the high regard that film is held in.
  
  Is it because Wayne's character undergoes some sort of transformation? From racist to what? He forgives his white niece for being forced to sleep with an Indian -- after slaughtering a bunch of them thar sperm producers. There's no sign of a conversion. No epiphany. There's no logic to it. It just happens. Just like the positive feelings towards this movie.
  
  With those ugly and demeaning scenes with the young man's Indian bride presented as comedy, I long for the days when Indians were just cardboard villians, trotted out to fill a role in a "good guys, bad guys" scenario. Those don't bother me half as much.
  
  I may watch the scene where Ken Curtis sings a few bars of "Skip to My Lou". I may respect the fine visuals. While I have almost always been bothered by Wayne's awkward way with a line of dialog, that hasn't put me off from his other movies. This one, tho, offends me. ...more info
• A high quality release of this incredible film
  The Searchers tells the story of Ethan Edwards's five-year search for his kidnapped niece. John Wayne gives a great performance (many people argue its his best) as Ethan Edwards, a tough, proud Civil War veteran who refused to give up and who is forced to spend years of his life searching for his niece, Debbie. The journey, mostly set in the beautiful Monument Valley of Southern Utah, is truly a quest of epic proportions.
  
  The story is intriguing, the plot fast-moving and unpredictable, and the action exciting. Wayne's performance as Edwards shows him in a darker, more unpredictable role than many of his other films, and that sun-baked, battle-hardened face covered with stubble is a visage that, in many ways, epitomizes the rough character of the American West.
  
  The movie contains a number of stereotypes, from European settlers to Comanche Indians, that would not be considered politically correct today. Despite this, however, this is a fine film by director John Ford, one that captivates from beginning to end. Every list of the greatest Westerns of all time should include "The Searchers."
  
  It's great to see a classic film like this one get an excellent re-release.
  ...more info
• The Searchers
  Monument Valley never looked as breathtakingly beautiful as it does in this exquisite, richly faceted Western, perhaps the most accomplished film in John Ford's oeuvre. Wayne gives the performance of a lifetime as the obsessed, enigmatic Ethan, while young Natalie Wood is indelible in a brief role as Debbie, the kidnapped girl caught between worlds. Ford described his ambitious masterwork as a "psychological epic," and this gut-twisting, high-lonesome tale certainly grows more nuanced with each viewing....more info
• A Blu-ray demo disk you /have/ to own.
  The image quality of "The Searchers" is nothing short of startling. We'll get to that after I've lit into the film. Yes, I'm going to tear to pieces what is generaly considered one of /the/ great American films, and (by many people) the best Western ever made.
  
  John Ford was a great director, but I've never cared much for his Westerns. Maybe I'm tired of seeing Ward Bond play the same role again and again. Or perhaps it's just that I don't care for John Wayne, who is hardly my model of ideal manliness. (Jimmy Stewart was ten times the man John Wayne was.)
  
  "The Searchers" has two major problems, neither of which -- as far as I know -- has ever been pointed out. (After writing this, I browsed the Amazon reviews and found that other people have almost-identical reservations.) They render it a far poorer film than it could or should have been.
  
  The first is that it tries to tell two stories that have little to do with each other, and fail to mesh in any meaningful way. The primary story is Ethan and Martin's five-year search for Ethan's kidnapped niece. This is intercut with the broadly comic narrative of Laurie's frustration at trying to get Martin to come back and marry her. (Note Ken Curtis, later Festus on "Gunsmoke", as her dorky, guitar-strumming suitor.)
  
  It doesn't work. The search is morbidly dark, while Laurie's plight is silly beyond belief. Any possibility of dramatic unity -- this is, after all, a serious film about a serious subject -- is destroyed. (Aristotle would have heartily agreed.)
  
  Which brings us to the other problem. John Wayne was no actor. He was more than a decade from reaching the point where he could turn in a credible/creditable performance (Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit", for which he won an undeserved Oscar). In "The Searchers" he is still John Wayne, with a limited performance range that doesn't extend beyond what John Wayne, the man, is capable of.
  
  True, Wayne had a difficult job for any actor -- he had convey his hatred of Indians and desire to kill Debbie for 99% of the film -- then abruptly change his mind. The problem is that we see no motivation for the change. He picks her up, she looks frightened (she knows what he intends), and then, out of nowhere, "Let's go home, Debbie." *
  
  It just isn't believable. Ford should have shown us John Wayne's face, so that we could have gotten /some/ idea of what was going through his mind. Why he doesn't is anyone's guess. Did he think Wayne was incapable of believably revealing his change of heart? Or did it never cross Ford's mind? Regardless, the film lands with a dramatic "thud" -- Something Important happens, but we don't have the least idea /why/. The moment the story is building up to /never occurs/.
  
  "The Searchers" would have worked far better if it had stuck with the search, and ignored just about everything else. Yes, it would have been an even darker film, but it would have packed a far stronger punch.
  
  So why do people hold "The Searchers" in such high esteem? The reason appears to be that it was one of the first "deconstuctionist" Westerns. ** Ethan Edwards is bluntly racist, and is determined to find his niece so he can kill her. She's been polluted by her five-year contact with the "Comanch", and his no longer a "white" woman. *** She'd be better off dead, and Ethan is the man to do it. But however awful the Indians' behavior is, we are not on Ethan's side. Our broad sympathies lie with the Indians, not the Americans. ****
  
  Unfortunately, "The Searchers" doesn't achieve what it sets out to do. It's all hat and no cattle. You don't get points for trying to be profound -- you actually have to achieve it. In this, "The Searchers" fails quite badly. It's easy to imagine a remake that's far superior to the original.
  
  As for the transfer... Oh... my... God... I couldn't believe it. It appears to have been derived from the VistaVision camera negatives. I have never seen a more exquisitely sharp and detailed video image (and with zero apparent edge enhancement). Ford's use of multiple image planes, some in-focus, the others out -- is clearly displayed. *****
  
  Please note that in the supplemental material, someone describes "The Searchers" as having been filmed in three-strip Technicolor, which it almost certainly wasn't. And Martin Scorsese avers that VistaVision has greater depth of field than conventional 35mm movies. Wrong -- it has less. (It's hard to understand how someone who's been making films for four decades doesn't understand Photography 101.)
  
  If you're a fan of "The Searchers", do yourself a favor and get the Blu-ray. Even if you don't care for the film, buy it anyhow. It's a great demo disk. This was a film /made/ for VistaVision ("Motion Picture High Fidelity") -- the scenery alone is worth the price of admission.
  
  * One critic suggested that it's touching Debbie that causes his transformation. He can't bring himself to kill the flesh-and-blood being he knew as a child.
  
  ** It also appears to be one of the first to make a stab at proper cowboy attire. Note the dusters on several characters.
  
  *** Another minor problem... Kidnapped whites almost always preferred living with the Indians. Debbie's willingness to return is not implausible, but it is unlikely.
  
  **** According to the supplemental material, "The Searchers" was the first Western to show a lot of dead Indians lying around after having been massacred by whites.
  
  ***** This is common in Ford's films. Did it have anything to his being blind in one eye?...more info
• A good excuse to get a blu-ray player
  I've read that you really haven't seen a John Ford movie unless it was on the big screen. Now, after looking at one of my favorites -- The Searchers -- on a hi-def widescreen monitor, I've come to understand why. I've seen the film maybe eight times in standard definition, and LOVED IT. But with this blu-ray presentation, I was able to perceive details and compositions I hadn't appreciated before. Stunning landscapes, beautiful photography, wonderfully staged action -- the American West never looked so good. And with this level of detail, I was able to actually see the expressions of the actors within a scene, and this gave the movie greater depth and meaning. (Why does Ethan do what he does? It's seen in the looks he gives to his brother and sister-in-law early in the picture.)
  
  It's old fashioned. People have complained to me about the stagey acting styles and the crustiness of John Wayne's character, but if you know what you're getting in to, this film is one of the great ones. Nowadays, it's virtually impossible to create a story with such epic, mythic themes.
  
  What also pleased me about this purchase were the extras that came with the film -- including a couple of documentaries about its production and lasting impact as well as a discussion of the film's perceived racism. Didn't expect that at this low price.
  
  If you love old westerns (or classic American filmmaking) this is a no-brainer purchase. A good excuse to get a blu-ray player....more info
• Redemption
  'The Searchers' is by no means a perfect movie but, at the same time, it IS a great movie. It is fascinating that John Wayne was at his best when he stepped out of his classic 'good guy' image. This is true of all his truly great movies whether it be 'The Searchers', 'True Grit', or his almost perfect, 'The Shootist.' Wayne was an actor acutely concerned about his image and I would love to know how he personally felt about roles in which he played flawed, complex characters.
  
  This movie seems to be a compilation of historical information and novelistic interpretation. Cynthia Parker was actually kidnapped by the Comanche and was only 'liberated' after 24 years. She had married and gave birth to Quanah Parker who became the Comanche's greatest warchief. This is only the bare bones of stories played out multiple times in the land that would become America. Settlers on the frontier are the victims of lightening raids by hostile war parties. All seems to be well when suddenly someone is crashing in your door. Families were slowly tortured and murdered...all to the amusement of the warriors. Children and women were sometimes taken captive. The children were oftentimes raised as their own by the tribe. Women captured were, generally speaking, regarded as the mutual property of the war party, and, in the vast majority of cases, the victims of mass rape. On arriving at the village, the raped women became the sole property of the capturing warrior and, again in most cases, was used as a slave for both work and sex.
  
  This is the context of the attitudes that the John Wayne character expresses so well. People living on the frontier lived in almost constant horrific fear...and hatred. For those who actually visit the scenes of the torture, rape and murder of friends and relatives the hatred could become consuming...as it nearly consumes Wayne's character. This is perhaps difficult to understand in these politically correct times but, let me suggest that those who condemn these attitudes search their own hearts, as well. For us, these things are primarily historical and bear no more relationship to us than, let's say, stories of a massacre in far off Africa or Asia, 500 years ago. At one time, however, the danger was personal and, you, me and virtually everyone else, had we lived under the danger of a scalping knife, would have felt very differently.
  
  This is not to justify the destruction of the native americans but it is to place it in a personal context, without which the destruction seems not only wrong but nonsensical. The Wayne character is idiosyncratic and prejudiced. He has survived a long war and refused to sign the Yankee 'Loyalty Oath'. He returns home three years after the War and, at one point, gives the child Debbie a military decoration...probably Maximillian/Mexican...as a bauble, so we suspect that Wayne didn't give up the fight in 1865 but only moved it to Mexico. He also knows a lot about the Plains Indians and even speaks Comanche....but it doesn't make him love them.
  
  Wayne's brother's family is slaughtered by the Comanche...and he views the horrific scene with grim hatred. Two girls...one in her late teens and the other, Debbie, a child...have been carried off by the war party. Wayne and others pursue. Wayne, by himself, discovers the body of the older girl...raped and mutilated...and covers her with his Confederate great coat and 'I buried her with my own hands', he tells the others in his grim but harrowing grief.
  
  The search for little Debbie goes on literally for years and, when Wayne discovers that she has 'been with a buck', and been thereby contaminated, his search becomes that of a strange vengeance. Debbie has been turned into one of the hated Comanche and must die. On attacking the village in which Debbie is kept, Wayne, true to himself, scalps 'Scar' the chief who is keeping Debbie as a wife. The last scenes of the movie are of both Debbie's and Wayne's redemption. A great movie.
  
  Ron Braithwaite author of novels...'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'...on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico ...more info
• The Searchers: a movie that defined the American West to the world.
  This movie is ranked the 7th best or 12th best movie of all time, depending on which list you read, and usually #1 in the Westerns category, even though it was not all that popular when released in 1956. Shot in northern Arizona's famous Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation, Director John Ford and actor John Wayne created a huge iconic movie that has now influenced Westerns and movies in general for over 50 years. In the movie, they pretend they are in Texas.
  This film shows John Wayne at his best: moody or friendly, a loner or a family man, angry but kind and gentle, hard and soft, and so on. He plays his character nearly perfectly, and the relentless search that goes on for years is an overpowering theme throughout the movie. The ending is very touching and worth watching over and over.
  Trivia: in the film, Wayne says THAT'LL BE THE DAY many times. After seeing the movie, Buddy Holley wrote the song with the same title. Also: at the end of the film, Wayne stands on the porch alone, holding his right elbow with his left arm across his stomach, a clear tribute to Harry Carey Sr., who was Wayne's favorite actor, and whose wife Olive, and son Harry Jr. (both are IN this film)were behind the camera watching. It was a trademark gesture of Carey Sr. in other films. And Debbie, played by Natalie Wood, is played by Natalie Woods younger sister as a little girl at the very beginning. The rest of the supporting cast is loaded up with stars that we all know and love.
  In America, we knew that all of the West did not look at all like this spectacular, grand scenery, but the rest of the world, particularly England, latched on to these images, and to this day they believe this is what the West is like. (see the cover on the Led Zeppelin DVD HOW THE WEST WAS WON, as an example.) If you go to Monument Valley for a tour, you can stand in numerous spots in the area, and realize this is exactly where they shot this scene in the movie from. Or a host of other movies, such as STAGECOACH, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, FORT APACHE...even 2001, A SPACE ODESSY was partly shot there.
  Overall, a great, iconic, spectacle of a Western and dramatic movie that has a well deserved high ranking in the minds of tens of millions of movie watchers worldwide. I have always given it 5 stars! ...more info
• A Superb Blu-Ray!
  One thing about blu-ray is that it will show how well OR how poorly a movie was originally made. In this case, it shows why THE SEARCHERS has such a well-deserved reputation. The filming of the scenery in Monument Valley is nothing short of wonderful. Get it....more info
• A Western with Thought-Provoking Themes and Ironies
  It is 1868 in Texas. The Civil War is over but Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) continues to identify as a Confederate. He visits his family after a long time away, and is greeted by his niece Debbie. Soon thereafter, the family is massacred by the Comanches, and Debbie is kidnapped and raised as a Comanche. [It must be remembered that the kidnapping and upbringing of foreign children was practiced not only by certain Indian tribes, but also by many different peoples, and not only in the distant past. For instance, during WWII, Germans under Nazism kidnapped thousands of "racially desirable" Polish children and raised them as Germans.]
  
  The challenges of finding Debbie are formidable. Who even knows if she is alive? Considering the many different tribal groups that relocate on a regular basis, how is "Uncle Ethan" to locate her? Ethical issues sometimes come up in the film. The Reverend, for instance, opposes the continued shooting at attacking Indians once they have started to retreat.
  
  In time, Edwards finds out that Chief Scarface has his niece. But how to approach him without endangering Debbie's life? The plot continues to build. In time, Edwards arranges a meeting with Chief Scarface. He is shown a belt of scalps, including those of his murdered relatives. He sees the now-teenaged Debbie, but she now considers the Comanches as "her people". Debbie's brother wants a violent assault on the Indian camp. Can Debbie be rescued alive, and, if so, can her sense of belonging to Ethan Edward's family be resurrected?
  ...more info
• Great Movie, Excellent extras
  This is such a wonderful film with a well done Blu-Ray transfer. The extras are well done and really add to the film. Highly recommended!...more info
• Ford and John Wayne do it again
  The Searchers is not your "typical" John Wayne Western. Sure - it is a cowboy movie that is directed by John Ford, and includes a simple story to follow. After the murder and kidnapping of a family member, the Duke and his buddy go searching for the culprits. In this case, a group of Indians led by a chief named Scar are to blame. But, the Searchers is different because John Wayne is much more intense in this role than others. Despite some slow parts in the plot, the Duke pulls off the role with vigor. Also, a few social issues are included as well.
  
  Normally I would give this movie five stars, but I simply did not enjoy it as much as some other John Wayne westerns that I have seen. While I think it is worth watching, not sure it is not quite a five-star classic. If you like Westerns, you will most likely enjoy this one. Although be prepared for a different type character than the Duke typically portrays. ...more info
• The Searchers
  The Searchers [Blu-ray]
  this is by far the best quality Blu-ray dvd that i have seen yet.
  the picture seems like you are standing on the set along with the
  actors....especially the exterior shots. i highly suggest that
  anyone with high def television purchase this item....more info
• Fantastic Movie - STUNNING HD
  You've seen the reviews for the all-time classic movie itself and I totally concur. It is John Wayne and John Ford at their finest hour. But you might have some preconception that this is one of those grainy, old films you used to see on TV. Please, remove that thought from your mind. This is one of the finest examples of the power of HD I have ever seen. You can thank VistaVision for that, one of the best film formats ever. Truly, this is better HD than most of the modern Blu-ray films I have in my library. It is simply stunning....more info
• A Nice Transfer To BLU RAY Of A Tedious And Clich¨¦d Movie...
  John Ford's 1956 western is one of those movies that is perpetually given 5-star classic status. I disagree with that completely. Having tried to give it a second chance - to me it's clich¨¦d, slow, racist in many ways - and just plain boring.
  
  Sure, the iconic opening and ending shot (through the door of their homestead) has been aped in movies and is classic, but then we get the dialogue, which is 'mom' and 'pop' and ah shucks throughout. Then there's their clean-living idyllic life - painfully god-fearing mom's-apple-pie claptrap - and their clothes are immaculately clean despite the dust and dirt everywhere. The portrayal of the murdering Indians also conveniently forgets what white men did to decimate 'their' lands and 'their' lifestyles for white greed. In 2009 much of "The Searchers" is just painful now and difficult to accept, let alone enjoy.
  
  However, for lovers of the movie, the main reason to buy the Blu-Ray version will be how it looks - and it does deserve their hard earned. The film fills the screen completely and the colouring - while not razor sharp - is lovely throughout - widescreen shots of the famous landscapes. It's clearly been restored with care.
  
  The Blu-Ray version of "The Searchers" is a nice presentation of what is considered by many to be an American classic - however - I suspect the movie itself will bore most modern audiences rigid.
  
  For lovers of the film and the Western genre, this version is a must-buy; for the novice, I'd say see it first by rental - then decide....more info
• RESTORED MASTERPIECE !!!
  Being 50,I can't take technology for granted. To go from black and white television where the only way to change the channel was to get up and go to the knob on the TV, to a widescreen, completely restored print of a 50 year-old John Wayne/John Ford Classic is almost indescribable.
  BUY THIS DVD !!! TRUST ME....more info
• The Searchers
  "The Searchers" is an epic and great western story. I saw the movie many years ago and it was wonderful to see it again....more info
• A Search for a Lost Girl
  This film is set in 1868 Texas. Uncle Ethan visits his relatives in a dry dusty land. Ethan wears a grey coat and blue trousers. Ethan remarks about Martin's ancestry as if it was unusual. He gives a locket to Debra. Ethan's double eagles are freshly minted. [This could signify he rode with the James Gang.] Visitors drop by with news of a cattle theft. Could it be the feared Comanches? The house appears quite large inside, and well furnished. The posse follows the trail of the stolen cattle only to find them butchered. Was it a ruse to draw the armed men away? Whose home would be attacked? The returning men find fire, ashes, and bodies. Ethan, Brad, and Martin set out to search for those who attacked the family and rescue the kidnapped girls. The small group of white men are able to fight off a much larger group of Indians. Then they separate.
  
  The film follows Ethan and Martin on their search for Debbie. Brad attacked the Indians in revenge for Lucy's death. They return to the Jorgenson's home. Martin wants to join Ethan in the search for Debbie. [A $1,000 reward seems much too high.] A letter brings news to the Jorgenson family. [This is played for laughs.] We see a herd of buffalo, then a troop of cavalry. An Indian camp was massacred. Martin is now a widower. Ethan doesn't find Debbie at the Army post among the survivors. They continue to search. An old Mexican sells them news of Chief Scar. Has Debbie grown up? There is drama in the meeting, and the attack on Ethan and Martin. Ethan has made a holographic will making Martin his sole heir. Debbie is dead to him.
  
  Ethan and Martin return to the Jorgenson's home. They are wanted men for the deaths of Futterman and his men. Their daughter is set to be married to a man who is not her first choice. Martin and Charlie fight. The Cavalry arrives with news about Chief Scar being nearby. What are Ethan's plans for Debbie? Martin wants to rescue Debbie. They attack the Comanche camp successfully. "Let's go home." Will there be a happy ending for all?
  
  John Wayne does not appear to be happy in this film. Was it changed much from the book? What about the charges against Ethan and Martin? What will happen to Debbie? Will Martin marry Miss Jorgenson? These loose ends are not tied up, as if they ran out of time or money to finish this film. What was the significance of Mose, a man with alopecia? This film is an example of myth-making, or revisionist history from Hollywood. I don't believe Indians would steal cattle only to kill them; its not cost-effective and goes against human nature. This novel was serialized in `The Saturday Evening Post', a popular literary magazine of that time. Its stories were often filmed.
  ...more info
• Blu- Ray review ..Magnificent transfer+++++++++++++
  First of all ,the Movie is a Masterpiece ..but better than that is the transfer to Blu-ray ...the Scenery in Monument Valley is Simply Breathtaking ,the Definition ,the Clarity is STUNNING ,WATCH THIS MOVIE AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED...The Acting by ALL especially WAYNE is Wonderful ,this is in my TOP FIVE Movies of all Time. ...more info
• Best of the westerns
  Controversy has swirled around this western ever since its release in 1956. Chief among the criticisms leveled at it is John Wayne's Ethan Edwards' "racist" hatred of the Comanches, manifested from the first minute he sees his brother's stepson, who is one-eighth Indian. In this day and age, when anything that smacks of "racism" is deemed to lower a work of art's rating, Edwards' freely voiced antipathy to the Indians is considered by many to be more than sufficient to demote this film from "Best Western of all time," which some have called it.
  
  I don't feel that way about "The Searchers." Ethan Edwards was a product of his time and society, and thus would not have stuck out as particularly "different" among Southern and Western men of that day. After all, it is made clear that he fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
  
  The only flaw I find in the depiction of Edwards' racial views is that the movie never makes quite clear why he hates them to such an extreme degree. None of the other settlers appear to share his smoldering abhorrence of the Comanche. I have read a review which says that one can catch a fleeting glimpse of a tombstone in the scene in the cemetery; the epitaph states that a woman with the last name "Edwards" was killed by the Comanche years earlier. Could this have been Ethan's mother? His wife? No clue is ever given.
  
  All that having been said, the film is, I think, probably the greatest western ever made, partly because of the intense character study it does of Ethan Edwards. It does not condemn him as a "racist," or as anything else. It merely shows him to us; the decision is ours to make. And I disagree with some reviewers who believe that Edwards seems to see the "error of his ways" in the final scenes. He sees no such thing. Look at his face in the more intense scenes leading up to the attack on Scar's camp, and you can see both rage and hatred etched in that face. Then look at his face again, in the brief shot just after he has exited Scar's tent, the dead Indian's scalp in his hand, and you'll see the hatred and anger gone; it has been purged by Scar's execution. When he approaches his niece, kidnapped five years before by the Indians and presumably having been "sleeping with a buck" -- Edwards' reason for wanting earlier to kill her -- one can tell by his manner that he now comes only to carry her home safely.
  
  Perhaps it's the mark of a great movie when people can disagree, often strongly, about its characters and meanings. "The Searchers" is one of those great movies. ...more info
• The Duke On The Warpath
  It doesn't take much to get John Wayne rawled in this classic John Ford epic,The Searchers,1956,as the duke is Ethan Edwards,a Civil War veteran who finally rides home after a long and drawn out war between the states,only to find another war with the Comanches. After his entire family is wiped out,the duke sets out to seek revenge and find his only surviving niese (Natalie Wood) who was captured by the hostile Indians. This classic film is listed in the top one hundred films of all time,and is also one of the duke's better acting roles-Oscar worthy,with a solid supporting cast,Ward Bond,Jeff Hunter,and featuring superb cinematography and bold scenery,and the usual John Wayne western action,the 100th anniversary version dvd is 16x9 widescreen,no extras....more info
• HD Home Theater (HDMI) w/Blu-ray brings John Wayne's 1956 Widescreen Western Classic Home better than ever. (explained)
  Experiencing this 1956 Widescreen WESTERN Classic in the movie houses was breath taking and unbelievable with that bigger than life panoramic screen and John Wayne.
  
  Not since 1956 have we been able to re-experience that magical event until NOW! Yes my fellow classics movie buffs this Blu-ray Hi-Def (HDMI) Picture and Digital Sound version we can NOW enjoy "THE SEARCHERS" better than its original film quality!
  
  My qualifying statement: My HD Home Theater weighs in at about $2000 plus movies. A breakdown is; a Mitsubishi HD Projector (HC-1500) $800 (orig $1495), a Sony 5.1 Blu-ray Sound System $399 (orig $499) and a Sony PLAYSTATION 3 w/Blu-ray player $399 (orig $499). Sony HDMI cables $150 and HD Screen Paint and Kit $180 for my 108" viewing wall screen. With this 1080p system I've created a HD Home Theater presentation sight and sound equal to an IMAX (on a smaller scale) experience.
  
  This 1080p HDMI Blu-ray showing blows your minds eye, period. You must add this western classic to your movie library, TODAY!!!!
  
  A live and well John Wayne is the reward alone. This 1956 Western Classic allows us to escape seeing the youthful movie stars back into our lives once again. With this Blu-ray movie you are swept off to where ever they take you. Its truly an amazing adventure of sight and sound Pilgrim!!...more info
• The Searchers
  
  I love this classic movie!
  The colors look so cool on blu-ray disc. Because you can see better
  detil than ever before. John Ford makes really good movies.
  
  So get it on Blu-ray or HD DVD today!...more info
• the searchers
  Its is one of the best westerns I have ever seen.
  I would tell every one who reads this to get the movie The Searchers, and add it to their western collection of movies. Sign Steve lienhard
  ...more info
• Search No More
  This is one of the best looking blu-rays of a classic film. The Vistavision image is outstanding. The actors are at the top of their game, particularly John Wayne and Ward Bond. If you care about this film or the work of any of the participants you will be on cloud nine when you spin this one up....more info
• Mediocre
  Films, like artists or authors, tend to have their critical reputations wax and wane through a few cycles until a consensus is finally reached. Of course, consensus has little to do with real world excellence or failure, but as good an example of this trend as can be shown certainly is John Ford's famed 1956 John Wayne Western, The Searchers. Upon its initial release, the film made a solid profit, and was considered a good film. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, film school graduates started championing both it and Ford as more than good, but great. By the 1980s, with the rise of PC, the film's political content and its portrayal of Manifest Destiny came under attack as `racist,' and the film was not held in as high regard for some years. With the advent of DVD technology, in the late 1990s, the film was re-released, and its current status as a `masterpiece' has been little challenged since. Indeed, in watching the special features on the two disk Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD of the film, one might believe that the film is Shakespearean. Assorted talking heads and film buffs gush over the film; even people like director Martin Scorsese. Another great director, Akira Kurosawa, is cited as declaring he learned film technique from watching John Ford Westerns.
  Of course, I do not doubt all of these people's love for the film, but love (or like/hate) is a wholly different paradigm from artistic excellence. And while there is no doubt that, technically, John Ford was a superb craftsman- in the framing of shots, in the use of silences that he carried over from his silent film days, in the judicious use of close-ups, and the brilliant use of color in this VistaVision film, it is nowhere near a great work of art. Technique and technical excellence do not equate with greatness. Were that true a poet with a merely flawless ear, like Walter de la Mare, would be ranked along with the Whitmans and Baudelaires. No, there needs to be characterization and great acting. This is where screenwriting and casting come in. The film's actual screenplay is simplistic, larded with stereotypes, and the acting- save for a few scenes where Jeffrey Hunter (as mixed breed Martin Pawley) shines, is self-conscious, poseur, and given that the film is as triumphalist as can be, it makes such preening seem hedonistic.
  Naturally, the worst sinner, on this accord, is John Wayne, as the film's putative hero/anti-hero, Ethan Edwards. There is no doubt Wayne had a great onscreen presence- both physically and in his idiosyncratic emoting and speaking styles; but while watching the film, and seeing him strut and spit out trite lines while dickwaving through every second he's on camera, I fully understand why someone like my dad- a left of center trade unionist, found both the man and the characters he played (which were really minor variations on his own faux persona, admixed with testosterone) to be symbols of everything that's wrong with America, past and present.
  At first, The Searchers was an undervalued film; now it's a grossly overrated one. The truth lies somewhere between the extremes- something men like John Wayne nor Ethan Edwards ever seemed to learn, no matter how many things critics want to read into a shrug, an akimbo stance, nor an oddly breathily paused clich¨¦ uttered. If John Ford ever did, it was not evident in this film, neither in wax nor Wayne.
  ...more info
• movie review
  my dad loved this when he got the movie, as this is his favorite john wayne western, and he loved the bonus material contained in the box....more info
• The Searchers
  The Duke in one of his best! If you are a John Wayne fan and do'nt have the Searchers in your movie collection, you need to buy this. The Searchers is a very good western for the whole family....more info
• A Classic Western
  "The Searchers" is a film that has rightfully been condiered a classic with an ability to transition between playful humor and the darkness of the human heart. John Wayne's character is an ex-confederate veteran with a shadowy past few years. His main accompanying partner is a mixed white-native american portrayed by Jeffrey Hunter who was adopted by members of Wayne's family after Comanches murdered the former's family. Their goal is to find a girl abdupted by the Comanches after they killed several of Wayne's realtives. The film covers several years and a number of events ranging from almost comical incidents to violent encounters with both natives and whites.
  While the main Comanche chief is a nasty and ruthless villian, other natives the characters meet along the way are peaceful. In fact, the U.S. cavalry doesn't get the very ideal look Ford had given them in his trilogy. In one winter scene, Wayne and Hunter find a village of possibly peaceful natives the cavalry massacred. The main lesson is that there were generally bad and generally fairly good people on both sides in the West.
  Wayne's characterization seemes ones of his best that I've seen and yes he is darker than usual. He has racist tendencies (especially towards the Comanches that attacked some of his relatives) and is truthfully rather ruthless at times. Ultimately, the film ends pretty well and Wayne's character shows some signs of changing though not after taking the aduience on a fascinating journey in the American West....more info
• Pleasantly Surprised
  I've avoided this movie for years, but I was plasantly surprised when I finally viewed it. Most people talk about the complexity of John Wayne's character, but I disagree. I feel he wasn't complex at all.... just a cut and dried racist. Near the end of the movie he did become a little complex, but I think it was just a matter of conscience. What I really liked about the movie was the storyline and the scenery. ONe of my favorite movies is The Color Purple and there were scenes in The Searchers that I'm almost certain Speilberg had to have copied for the Color Purple. Especially the shot of the family on the porch at the beginning of the movie. It was so reminiscent of one of the final scenes in the Color Purple. ...more info
• Old time favorite
  Glad that I was able to purchase this movie, adding it to my cowboy collection....more info
• Essential Cinema
  Monument Valley rarely looked better in this VistaVision restoration of John Ford's disturbing Western epic. Though not without its minor flaws, "The Searchers" (1956) is propelled by John Wayne's ambiguous, complex performance as the embittered Ethan Edwards - his best work for the legendary director. The Ford stock company acquits itself admirably. Winton C. Hoch's cinematography deserved an Oscar for this powerful and remarkably influential film....more info
• Moving listings - general
  As a HOH (Hard of Hearing) Individual, I need to know if this
  movie is captioned (marked "CC" or "Q."...more info
• Not Perfect But Still A Classic
  A sure sign of "The Searchers'" greatness is the array of thoughtful comments here. It is complex, and enigmatic, enough to inspire widely differing views, and the substantive reviews add welcome insights. It is among the greatest Westerns, and the primal AntiWestern; Ford and Wayne's supreme collaboration; and the first half, through the winter homecoming scene, is simply as good as filmmaking gets. (Monument Valley deserves a special Supporting Oscar; such astonishing vistas transcend mere backdrop.) John Wayne is at his peak, though "True Grit," "Shootist" and "Stagecoach" rival this among his best. It is not uniformly brilliant; as many note, the second half drags with a romantic subplot and is no longer very funny. But these scenes reflect Ford's conception of community; its very mundaneness highlights outcast Ethan's problematic character. As a product of its time we may deplore its racial and gender stereotyping; these aspects do not date well and keep it from being in the same class as, say "Seven Samurai" which eternally satisfies on all levels. It's still a remarkable realization of a filmmaker's vision. John Ford's best works often have a core scene which, sans dialogue and solely through visual/musical imagery, sums up the whole film while saying something profound about the human condition. In both "Grapes of Wrath" and "Searchers" these miniatures come near the start and are absolute gems. With so much to absorb, repeat viewings help to grasp its depth; critics in the 1950s clearly missed a lot. But enough profundity! An entertaining film and a great way to spend an evening....more info
• John Wayne Little Celebrated, but Wonderful Film!!
  I Love this Movie. It's my favorite John Wayne ovie. My Dad loves John Wayne and I watched this with him this year. I had to buy it immediately. Great story line, not all guns blazing. Fully developed characters and some humor as well. Can't miss with this one. ...more info
• The Searchers DVD version
  An excellent transfer. I purchased a copy of the film on Laser Disc in the 1990s'. The DVD version is superior....more info
• Wayne and Ford
  Probably the Duke's greatest film. A large scale epic of a quest by Ford with Wayne tracking his lost niece -- after Indians raid her home and kill her family. Aided by Jeffrey Hunter, this a truly monumental motion picture and not simply one of the greatest westerns ever made. Wayne's character is a man who truly loses everything -- best exemplified by the final scene....more info
• the silhouette of a woman
  The first image in The Searches is the silhouette of a woman who is standing in the cool, dark doorway of a frontier cabin and looking out into the searing heat and sun of the desert. As she stoically waits, a man rides up, wearily dismounts, and walks slowly toward her. We are in John Ford country, and all the elements are there. Pictorially, it is a scene of stark contrasts, light in conflict with dark, interior pitted against exterior, the figures sharply etched in their solitude, the implacable outlines of a harsh environment looming behind them. The people are dramatic, larger than life, and what happens to them has the force and fatality of history recorded on the screen...more info
• Ride away
  He stands in the doorway because he is the typical Ford hero. He is a wanderer and outsider who serves a society he cannot himself live in. He respects the values of that society, the domestic virtues of home and community, but he is driven by a higher call to duty. He is independent, self-reliant, more physical than intellectual, expresses himself more through gestures than words, and is not afraid to use violence when it is required. He drinks hard, fights hard, lives hard, and remains always alone. Living outside the law of society, he embodies the spirit of that law by adhering to a strict personal code of moral behavior and an almost religious respect for ritual and honor. He is an ordinary human being raised to the stature of hero through his courageous acceptance of a situation that he cannot, as a self-respecting man, avoid. He usually dies. He is almost always defeated. But the proof of his heroism is his private victory in the face of defeat....more info
• Enjoyable Western! Great Background Scenery! Bad DVD Version!
  This is a very enjoyable Western because it has the essential elements of great leading man, John Wayne, and great genre director, John Ford. Jeffery Hunter was also very good here although my all-time favourite role of his comes much later and just before his untimely death as Capt. Christopher Pike of the Starship Enterprise. I have always thought that of all the captains of the Enterprise, although his tenure was the briefest, he was the best actor of the lot.
  
  This film though has one of the most breathtaking scenery ever and makes full use of the colour medium to produce optimal results. Monument Valley was an inspired locale to shoot this film and although the screenplay isn't the best with some awkward moments especially in the clumsy attempts at interjecting humour at various points that just didn't quite take, this is more than made up for with great camera work and great acting. John Wayne is very convincing as a bigoted and racist bitter Confederate soldier who takes surrender and losing very hard who over the course of the film learns from Jeffery Hunter and his own observations to change his world view and becomes compassionate and less bigoted in the end.
  
  Overall, this is still although not a perfect picture a very, very good representative of the Western genre and like a true classic bears up well to repeated viewing.
  
  The only problem is with this version of the DVD which is very shabbily put together and is very poor. The picture quality is terrible having not been restored and white spots and other imperfections abound on both sides i.e. Standard and pseudo-Widescreen versions although the few short documentaries on the bonus features were okay. The only redeeming factor which warrants 2 stars is the excellent sound quality that comes in Dolby Digital and is clear and at a nice consistent volume level throughout. Certainly one of the best dvds of an older film sound quality wise that I've seen.
  
  I notice that a Blu-ray version of this film has been released and as I haven't seen it, I hope that that version would have addressed the issues I brought up above. My recommendation is to give this version a miss and check out the hopefully vastly improved picture quality of the Blu-ray version or wait for a much better improved standard version with a properly done widescreen format to become available. Just give this dvd version a very, very wide berth....more info
• The Taj Mahal of Westerns
  Sheer genius. One of the greatest American movies of all time. Ford was never better, Wayne was never better. Brilliantly book-ended w/ stunning shots of Monument Valley through the front door. An absolute must-see for any serious movie watcher. This is one of the half dozen or so greatest movies I've ever seen and I've seen alot. It's certainly not PC, but it rings true. Check out this masterpiece. It gets better w/ repeated viewings.........more info
• Excellent quality for film of it's age
  Of course the movie, The Searchers, that is one of the best of all time is a 5-star rating. While the history of this John Wayne and John Ford movie is well documented, it cannot be understated how powerful of a performance John Wayne leaves in this movie. With the well documented history of this great movie, I shall turn to this Blu-Ray edition.
  
  I am impressed with the quality of the picture for a movie of this age. The colors are radiant and vibrant. I find the image to be sharp, and I am impressed with picture quality. Let me be clear though, this is not a perfect reproduction. For a film of it's age, should perfection of picture be expected? Upon close examination, some of the grainy/fuzziness can be discerned. It does not take away from this edition.
  
  The audio is just ok. Not bad, not good. As noted, it is 1.0. While the audio does not stand out, I did not find the audio to detract from the movie either.
  
  Overall, I find this Blu-Ray to be an excellent edition. I am glad that it is a part of my movie collection. ...more info
• The Searchers
  I LOVE John Wayne! This wasn't my favorite movie of his, but was good none the less. I enjoy the action and some comedy of his....more info
• Perfect retouching for a classic!
  This classic came up alive and flawless after Blu-Ray technology. A must buy for the fans!...more info