John Wayne Calls ‘The Searchers’ His Top Western Pick: A Bold Claim!

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John Wayne gained significant fame through his leading role in the Western movie “Stagecoach” from 1939, which was also John Wayne’s initial project with director John Ford. Notably, “Stagecoach” paved the way for more iconic partnerships between Ford and Wayne in future years, such as their work on the 1952 romantic comedy-drama film “The Quiet Man,” which earned Ford his fourth Best Director Oscar.

Instead of the greatest collaboration between Ford and Wayne being a car or a technological innovation, it is actually the 1956 Western film “The Searchers.” This movie, often considered the best and most influential Western ever made, showcases one of John Wayne’s most gripping performances as Ethan Edwards. As a bitter and deeply prejudiced Civil War veteran, Ethan embarks on a relentless five-year journey to find his kidnapped niece, who was taken by Comanche warriors responsible for the murder of her family.

In its immaculate structure and breathtaking beauty, “The Searchers” stands out, but it packs a profound punch as an unflinching exploration of obsession and revenge. The driving force behind Ethan’s journey is his raw, unapologetic prejudice against Native Americans, a prejudice that is painfully evident in the portrayal of these characters in “The Searchers,” mirroring the harsh attitudes prevalent among audiences in 1956.

1977 marked a year when John Wayne was asked to compile a list of the top five films ever made. Among his choices, as his sole pick from Westerns, was “The Searchers.” Initially, it might appear that his selection of one of his own movies was self-promoting. However, with the passing of years, it has become evident that John Wayne’s choice was indeed astute.

Ethan Edwards Is the Darkest Character John Ford and John Wayne Created Together

In the film The Searchers, set in West Texas in 1868, John Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, portrays a bitter and tormented former Confederate solider who returns to his brother Aaron’s homestead. Beneath his hardened exterior lies unrequited love for Martha, Aaron’s wife. The complex performance by Wayne captures the main themes of the film: hatred, loss, redemption, and ultimately, a struggle with one’s inner demons.

As Ethan joyfully fulfills his role as a doting uncle to Ben, Debbie, and Lucy, his deeply ingrained animosity towards Native Americans surfaces upon encountering Martin Pawley, Aaron and Martha’s adopted son who is one-eighth Cherokee. This minority Cherokee ancestry proves to be one-eighth too much for Ethan. Director John Ford portrays Ethan as a racist character, but he does not endorse this prejudice. Instead, he invites viewers, then and now, to appreciate the complex, tormented figure of Ethan while subtly hinting at the potential for his transformation by film’s end.

It’s clear that Ethan harbors deep disdain towards Native Americans, which strains his relationship with Martin, who teams up with Ethan to search for survivors after Comanche warriors kill Aaron, Ben, Martha, and kidnap Debbie and Lucy. Later, they discover Debbie at a Comanche camp, where she has married a Comanche warrior named Scar. Tragically, Lucy is found dead and presumed to have been raped and murdered. When Ethan learns about Debbie’s situation, he initially wishes for her death rather than living as a Native American. From then on, Martin dedicates himself to stopping Ethan from carrying out this violent act.

The profound struggle between Ethan’s questionable heroism and potential rehabilitation is most powerfully depicted during a crucial moment when, after defeating Scar and reuniting with Debbie, Ethan carries her home and says, “It’s time to go home, Debbie.” This tender scene concludes with an emotional final shot where Ethan, having returned Debbie home, stands solitarily in a doorway. The audience is left pondering if these heartfelt actions and images are sufficient to absolve such a deeply troubled individual.

‘The Searchers’ Has Influenced Many Classic Movies and Great Directors

The Searchers, a groundbreaking film, has left an indelible mark on cinema for the past six decades. Its profound themes and striking imagery have been echoed in numerous critically acclaimed movies since then. The relentless pursuit of justice by Ethan’s character in The Searchers resonated deeply with Martin Scorsese, inspiring him to create the gritty character of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. Here, a troubled loner spirals into chaos and violence as he tries to save an underage prostitute from exploitation.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between George Lucas’s Star Wars film series and John Ford’s The Searchers. In particular, the scene where Ethan confronts his brother’s flaming homestead in The Searchers is remarkably echoed in the first Star Wars movie. This is evident when Luke Skywalker stumbles upon the devastated remains of his aunt and uncle’s home, destroyed by imperial stormtroopers – a scene that seems to pay homage to the original.

Moreover, Lucas drew inspiration from this iconic scene once more in the 2002 prequel film, Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones. In this instance, Anakin Skywalker finds his mother’s demise at the hands of Tusken Raiders, mirroring Ethan’s discovery of his brother’s fate. In a display of vengeance, Anakin takes action against the Tusken Raiders – a nod to the powerful and emotional scene in The Searchers.

Wayne’s List of the Five Greatest Films of All Time Includes Two Wayne Films

In 1977, John Wayne, who had his last on-screen performance in the 1976 Western film “The Shootist”, was queried by the publication “The People’s Almanac” about his top five favorite films of all time. Amongst these were “A Man for All Seasons”, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, “Gone with the Wind”, Wayne’s own “The Quiet Man”, and “The Searchers”, which was the solitary Western title on his list.

I’ve always found myself drawn to films that resonate deeply, and for me, John Wayne’s choice of The Searchers in the 1970s mirrored a growing appreciation for this timeless masterpiece. This film, first released in the mid-1950s, has consistently been hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, with polls dating back to 1972 echoing this sentiment. As we approach its 70th anniversary, The Searchers continues to stand out as a cinematic landmark and one of the most emotionally charged and morally complex Westerns in history.

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2025-02-02 02:05