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Surprisingly incoherent and boring

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

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

THE SEARCHERS is a complex and atypical western, which can be described as a realistic and raw adventure in the Wild West. One war veteran from the Civil War returns to the ranch of his brother in his native Texas. He plans to lead a calm and quiet life with people he loves. However, one evening, while he was investigating a case of stolen cattle, the Comanche attack the ranch of his brother, set fire to the house, kidnap his two nieces and And kill the rest of the family mercilessly. The main protagonist is organizing the search for the kidnapped girls, but his motives are quite complicated ....Mr. Ford has again made sure that we all enjoy the beauty of open scenes of the Wild West. The setting is, with some still obvious studio segments, almost flawless. Plots are perfect in the first part of the film, while in the second part of the film is a little exaggerated, because the final climax of the story is repeatedly postponed. Some plots in the latter part of the film are unnecessary. These complications do not contribute to the overall tension in the film. I have, at one point, thought that the movie will never end.This movie has a very dark tone compared to westerns before it. This is a western adventure that is filled with hatred, desire for revenge, racial animus and wrapped with a romantic frame. The main character is a bitter and lonely man who has a problem with all people, he hates Indians and wants his revenge at any cost. Ethan Edwards is perhaps the most complicated character in one Western. Despite this, he is extremely compelling character.The focus of the story is on the psychological development of the main protagonists. Each of them, regardless of their motives, bring something cruel and tragic.John Wayne as Ethan Edwards in a stunning performance. This is probably the best role in his career. In addition to what I have already stated, his character expresses strong passion and dominance. He is not looking for love or respect, he just wants his revenge. A hero, who brought himself to the limit of madness. Henry Brandon as Chief Cicatriz (Scar) expresses almost the same hatred and need for revenge to the "white man". White people have killed his two sons. He takes scalps in order to avenge the murder of his sons.The difference between the hero and the villain is practically nonexistent. At the beginning and the end of the film Ethan is looking through the open door of the house. There is no place for him in the house. He belongs to his own world. The Scar belongs to the same world.Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley is one immature boy, who suddenly has to grow up. He is one-eighth Indian and feels all the hatred of his "uncle". Strong characterization comes to the fore when he starts questioning Ethan's motives. Vera Miles as Laurie Jorgensen is a desperate and romantic housewife at the same time. Ward Bond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnson Clayton tries to be a priest and a captain at the same time. One charismatic character through which runs an unnecessary dose of humor.The Comanche are represented as extremely cruel people. However, their motives are skilfully explained.This is, without a doubt, one of the best westerns of all time.

The sun is quickly setting in the wilderness as the members of a pioneer family, who appear to be living literally in the middle of nowhere, desperately try to go about their business, pretending that they don't suspect an attack from the local, hostile Comanches. The mother, looking terror stricken, futilely attempts to hide an extreme sense of fear from her children. Then, their worst dread suddenly becomes reality. This is an intensely riveting opening.One of the problems for me is that the film does not successfully sustain this high level of tension. Not only that, but it often unravels into a series of boring conversations with no action and into attempts at very inconsistent, awkward comedy which borders on silliness. I realize that settling in a remote area that is constantly plagued by violent attacks from a hostile tribe of Indians can't be easy, but does that justify John Qualen as Lars Jorgensen to over-react in the face of every little situation as if he is about to suffer a nervous breakdown at any moment? And what about Vera Miles, playing his frustrated daughter, Laurie, as she barks monotonously at everyone around her from beginning to end. After such an intense opening scene, these two are only part of the disappointment that ensues. In roles such as the deeply disturbed wife in "The Wrong Man", Miles has done much, much better than portraying the windup doll that was unfortunately written for her here.Some will dismiss my next criticism, but I have visited Monument Valley which is located on the Navajo Reservation in the northeast corner of Arizona. When I observe it in all of its majesty at the opening of a film and then see "Texas, 1868" at the next moment, am I supposed to believe the action that follows, or does that matter in this instance? I think that establishing credibility is relevant in this case because the conflict between white Europeans and Native Americans in our nation's history is a very serious one to me, and a basis of authenticity from the very beginning of this movie is very important.My final issue is with little Debbie, played by Natalie Wood when she wasn't quite so little anymore. I realize that the search took a great effort over a long period of time on the part of the dedicated participants, but why wasn't Debbie given more of an opportunity to decide whether she should remain with the Comanches, especially when she faced the dubious prospect of living the rest of her days with white folks as wacky as the Jorgensens? After both Lars and Laurie had nearly driven me crazy for two hours, was I supposed to believe that Debbie would be better off with the likes of this nutty family? To me, she looked well nourished and well adjusted to her adopted home. Since I wrote this review, I learned that Cynthia Anne Parker, the real person upon whose true kidnapping by Comanches this story is based, regretted being "rescued" for the rest of her life. Anyway, the beautiful cinematography, the very effective musical score by Max Steiner, the enigmatic but not always sympathetic character of Ethan as played so well by John Wayne, and the exceptional, engrossing opening scene surely deserve praise, but I have seen much better westerns in my day.

Released in 1956 and directed by John Ford, "The Searchers" chronicles the story of Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) who returns from the Civil War to his brother's ranch in the Southwest; and to his brother's wife, whom he secretly loves. After the ranch is raided by Comanches, Ethan and his 1/8 Indian nephew (Jeffrey Hunter) search for the band of Indians to get his captive niece back (Natalie Wood). As time passes and the niece assimilates with the Natives it's not certain if Ethan intends on rescuing the girl or killing her.Touted as a masterpiece and one of the greatest Westerns, I've seen "The Searchers" twice now and was disappointed each time. Sure, the Monument Valley locations are breathtaking and the cast is great, but the story leaves a lot to be desired. The plot's excellent, but the way the story is told isn't interesting and so there's very little momentum. On top of this we get sequences, characters and dialogue that seem to be stabs at amusement, which (1.) aren't funny, (2.) are awkward because the main story is a serious drama/adventure in a Western context, and (3.) make some of the characters out to be dimwits (note to the writers: just because someone lives in the wilderness it doesn't automatically make them doofuses).Give me "Stagecoach" (1939), "The Horse Soldiers" (1959), "The Alamo" (1960), "North to Alaska" (1960), "True Grit" (1969), "Chisum" (1970), "The Cowboys" (1972) and "Rooster Cogburn" (1975) any day over this mediocre Western. Heck, I'll even take "The Comancheros" (1961), "El Dorado" (1966), "The War Wagon" (1967), "Rio Lobo" (1970), "The Train Robbers" (1973) and "The Shootist" (1976).The movie runs 119 minutes and was shot in Arizona, Utah and Colorado.GRADE: C-