Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

The Searchers (1956) - Full Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-03-30 01:23:54
Edited:
2026-08-19 20:34:20
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

⚡Auto-Sync (Prime Video) | 🎬 Requests | 🍿 Pick-A-Flick | ▶️ YouTube | 💻 Watch/Download

Direct link. Find your own copy. Download this reaction.

This, like a lot of western movies remind me of my dad. It had stunning visuals and landscapes and I can see why John Wayne was the classic cowboy! I didn’t quite connect with it as much as I have some other westerns but I’ll still sleep with this pillow tonight ;)

Files

The Searchers (1956) - Full Reaction - Popcorn In Bed

Watch the full reaction to The Searchers on Popcorn In Bed.

Comments

JohnnyUtah

I was hoping for Oppenheimer tonight but John will have to do! Thanks for this evening's entertainment!

bgb1975 (Brian)

The Duke! Not to be confused with the duck of death.

Rosario Cicero

I think this movie is pretty overrated and it irks me that sometimes it gets placed above Once Upon a Time in the West as “the best western of all time”

TheSingulatarian

My personal favorite Westerns. In no particular order: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Winchester '73 Lonesome Dove The Cowboys Little Big Man Pale Rider

NoBloodyABCorD

Cassie - “I am finally reviewing ‘The Searchers’.” John Wayne - “That’ll be the day.”

Bill Maurer

Thanks for reacting to it !!!

Zane From Canada

This is proof that John Wayne could act, not just be a movie star. Fun fact: He loved the character of Ethan Edward's so, much he named one of his sons after him.

Joe Mallard

Big Jake, El Dorado, Cowboys and McLintock are some of my favorite John Wayne films.

Jerry Cummings

Some of John Wayne's best performances were in westerns. But, his performance in the Quiet Man exceeded them all. My top three; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Quiet Man and the Alamo.

2-Can

There’s a relationship - Wayne filmed The Conqueror (1955) in locations in proximity to the Nevada nuclear test site (which was still active at that time). The film is known for almost half of the cast and crew developing cancer at a relatively young age. They had been assured that it was safe, and tobacco use was heavy back then, but there’s the overarching John Wayne - Oppenheimer link.

MikeLL

Ward Bond sighting incoming. He was a great supporting actor in a whole lot of movies. He plays the Reverend in this movie. Cassie saw him as a bus driver in It Happened One Night and as Burt the cop in It's A Wonderful Life. And will see him in some more movies. Would have seen him in The Maltese Falcon, but Texas Tech had to blow their lead in the last few minutes tonight! It'll take me awhile to get over that one!

John Liebling

Cassie, you'd really enjoy "The Big Country" with Gregory Peck and Charleston Heston.

Brian Wood

Thank you Cassie. Hope all of you are feeling better.

Choof

Not my type of movie so I'll wait for the YT edit. Just wanted to maybe be the first to tell you some trivia about the actor who played Martin. His name was Jeffrey Hunter and he played the original captain of the enterprise in the pilot for Star Trek, Christopher Pike. When the pilot didn't do well for a variety of reasons, including that Hunter didnt exude the charm and charisma they needed for the captain. They scrapped the whole cast except for Leonard Nimoy as Spock. They cast the rest of the crew and William Shatner and the rest is history. They used footage from that pilot in a later TOS episode where Spock goes on a mission to find Pike. They'd later use the Pike character as the mentor played by Bruce Greenwood in the Chris Pine movies

Zane From Canada

Love El Dorado. Especially the jailhouse fight scene. 🤣

TheSingulatarian

More that just Wayne got cancer from that shoot. Agnes Moorehead among them as well as a large number of the crew.

Ben Livingstone

One of the few times you'll see John Wayne playing an out-and-out bad guy!

Joe Mallard

It's a repeat watch for me.

Ben Livingstone

(SPOILERS) Sure. He wants to kill his niece because he thinks she's become a Comanche, and she'd be better off dead. His hatred drives a lot of the plot, until he comes around in the last few scenes. He's a complicated bad guy, but I think you'd have to say that's what he is.

Joe J

For me, "Shane" was the best western.

Keith Brown

This classic western had Wayne at his darkest character of his career . There are so many more of his westerns where he is more the hero and the mood is set much lighter. Oh by the way that young solder near the end with the saber was Patrick Wayne the Duke's son. The Reverend/Captain was long time friend and co-star of many of Wayne and Ford's movies Ward Bond. You saw him in also in "The Quiet Man and "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart, he played the cop in the town of Bedford Falls.

Chris Thom

Dang you are decked out. Thinking someone is happy you are watching this today...but I can't be certain.

Rob Jones

That young lieutenant at the last part of the movie is John Wayne’s son Patrick.

Jon Zuidema

This was my grandfathers favorite John Wayne movie. If your looking for another suggestion watch Rio Bravo!

shaneth138

Thanks for this! Just curious of when you are going to start The Rise of the Planet of the apes trilogy? Is that coming up soonish? Thanks!

Chris Thom

Really great wide shots in that one. Think that was filmed like an hour or two from where I live.

Chris Thom

Would that be Howard?

Chris Thom

How recent was the last detonation before they filmed there?

Keith Brown

More trivia- Wayne liked playing this character Ethan Edwards in his career he named one of his sons Ethan. Patrick and Ethan would co-star with Wayne in the movie "Big Jake" in 1971.

shaneth138

Awesome!! So excited!

Bill Maurer

First off, I am now a big believer in 4K DVDs. Monument Valley looks SOOOO good on 4K in this movie. Amazing. I've been to Monument Valley twice (I live in Phoenix) and it is as beautiful as it appears on screen. "That'll be the day". Legend has it that Buddy Holly himself saw "The Searchers" in a movie theatre in Lubbock, Texas and started work on his famous song "That'll be the Day" ... the day after seeing it. https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/john-wayne-movie-inspired-buddy-hollys-thatll-be-the-day.html/ You mentioned something about David Lean and "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Searchers" came out in 1956 and "Lawrence of Arabia" in 62. David lean supposedly watched "The Searchers" repeatedly to correctly shoot landscapes. George Lucas liberally took from it in the scene where Luke comes home from meeting Obi Wan and sees his house in flames , a la John Wayne in arriving to see his brothers place in flames. The Why. You mentioned this a few times about why did the Comanche attack his brother's place. No one knows "why" but encroachment upon their land is the big reason. If you can read the gravestones where Debbie was hiding you can kind of make it they lost their parents in "a Comanche attack." Who did teach Ethan how to speak Comanche?? Interesting .... This movie (and the book where the story came from) was loosely base off of the abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker. A white girl Indian captive from the early 1830's. https://www.humanitiestexas.org/programs/tx-originals/list/cynthia-ann-parker Spoiler alert: There's always been a little innuendo that Debbie was Ethan's daughter and not his brother's Aaron. This by the way Martha and him interreacted in their few scenes and how Ethan was gone for about 8 years, same age as Debbie. Anyone else see or get that? Cassie, I've been ... well .. pestering you to watch this and you did. You kept your word and as ole' Mose Harper would say, "Thank you, thank you kindly." You got a fan for life. PS: What'll I do now ??????

Bill Maurer

Another classic, even El Dorado which came after is a good one as well

Clay F

While I agree with you in that I generally like "modern westerns" (post-1970) more than pre-1970 westerns, I like this better than Maverick (fun but not my type of western). Thanks for the reaction. This movie has been on my watchlist. Also agree in being glad that Ethan decided not to kill his niece in the end. Ethan's oft-repeated line "that'll be the day" got a chuckle out of you each time. "They ain't white anymore." The unlikeable Ethan seemed to alternate between nastiness and guarded humor. I like how the movie is dark -- seems ahead of its time. Scar (played by a German-born actor in Indian drag) is hard to look at.

Art Vandalaay

I’ve never really loved The Searchers. To me, it’s a good Western elevated by its cinematography, directorial flair and for being a more serious take on the genre than usual. I like and appreciate The Searchers more than I actually enjoy watching it.

thomas king

One of my favorites. Debbie was Natalie Wood. The young soldier who comes to the house to recruit the Rangers was John Waynes Son Patrick. Check out Rio Bravo, McClintock, Big Jake and True Grit. As u saw John Wayne had a larger than life presence on the screen. Plus he was a huge man.

Jake McNulty

If you decide to include a "Best Western" category at next year's Poppies I hope you consider Madison Thames to host it. She is would be the perfect person for it.

Larry Darrell

“What do you want me to do?! Draw you a picture?! Spell it out?!” What I love most about this film is that so much is not seen. So much is not said… and yet you know exactly what is going on. You know exactly what violence has taken place. You know exactly what the characters are feeling. Quote by filmmaker Curtis Hanson, on The Searchers… “It’s not about the violence. It’s about the effects of the violence.” There is a terrific 30 min. appreciation video on the Blu-ray, featuring remarks from 3 filmmakers, on The Searchers and John Ford. It’s well worth a watch. The Searchers: An Appreciation featuring… Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas/Gangs of New York/The Departed/Shutter Island) Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) John Milius (Jeremiah Johnson/Apocalypse Now/Red Dawn) Part 1 https://www.reddit.com/r/Westerns/comments/1jdoeu5/the_searchers_an_appreciation_2006_featurette/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Part 2 https://www.reddit.com/r/Westerns/comments/1jdofp9/the_searchers_an_appreciation_part_2_of_3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Part 3 https://www.reddit.com/r/Westerns/comments/1jdogkh/the_searchers_an_appreciation_part_3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button “‘She wasn’t near as old as you.’.. How old does he think I am!!!” I also love that this film, no matter how dark it gets, shows that there is always time for laughter. Ken Curtis as Charlie McCorry was hilarious in every scene. “I’ll thank you to unhand my Fie-un-say.” Hank Worden as Mose Harper. Maybe the greatest comic relief characters. He was so much more than just a “Fool.” John Wayne and Worden should have both been nominated for Oscars. The scenes with Ward Bond’s Captain Clayton and Patrick Wayne’s (John Wayne’s son) Lt. Greenhill are some of the funniest. “Boy! Watch that knife!” Speaking of so much not seen and not said… who didn’t catch that the reason Captain Clayton was bent over, having his rear end tended to, was because Greenhill stabbed him in the butt? Never seen and never talked about, but funnier than if it had been. Ward Bond should’ve been nominated too. And if you disagree with that. Well then… You just “spit over that piece of firewood.”

Larry Darrell

Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) also admitted to studying John Ford. This was a milestone for Cassie… whether Cassie realizes it or not. She definitely needs to watch more Classic Westerns.

Just Plain Bob

Wayne’s darkest character is in “Red River.” He’s pretty despicable in that one. At least in “The Searchers” he’s an anti-hero, emphasis on “anti.”

Mojo One Thousand

The actor that played the younger "Debbie" was Natalie's younger sister, Lana.

Mojo One Thousand

I think I have had a similar experience with John Wayne movies that you had Cassie. My dad is a big John Wayne fan and back in the day he basically had all of them on VHS. I would see bit and pieces and most of the time thought they weren't for me. One I did see was "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance" and I do remember enjoying it, I think because I was more a Jimmy Stewart fan. Seeing Natalie Wood (the older "Debbie") reminds me to spruik "The Great Race", on the longer side, but has very enjoyable cast.

Brodie Vickers

FINALLY!!! 😂 Has it been a year...or more, since you said you'd do it Cass?? Will watch this later. Found out that John Wayne was a distant relation of mine not very long ago, also Bob Ross. Did not get his hair in the gene pool. I suggest 'Shane' for a future movie, another iconic Western. You should watch more Eastwood too, the Dirty Harry's are a must, also Play Misty for Me.

Henry Graham

Wayne is magnificent here as a man gnarled up by a bigotry and hatred that is embedded in his bones, who finally accesses some residue of humanity within himself when he holds Debbie the way he used to when she was a little girl; a scene that I find overwhelmingly moving every time. Even so, he is too broken to ever find peace and return home, and the closing image of him framed in the doorway as he walks into the wilderness is one of the greatest moments in cinema. The Searchers is a masterpiece on the psychology of racism and vengeance, and the corrupting power of violence both witnessed and enacted. It's little wonder that so many generations of filmmakers continue to reference Ford, who could communicate volumes through composition and movement in a way that few directors have ever been able to match. One of the truly essential American films.

bgb1975 (Brian)

Howard too, but I was thinking about English Bob from "Unforgiven"!

MikeLL

I knew I left one out. Ward Bond was also Father Lonergan in that other Wayne/Ford film, The Quiet Man.

Rosario Cicero

I have nothing against great story telling and I think my original statement speaks for itself

Michael Walsh

Another fine Wayne western is Hondo. In that film Hondo has a deep respect for the Apache way of life, even though as a cavalry scout , he's involved in killing many. I hope you consider watching the brilliant mini-series Lonesome Dove. In that short series you'll learn a lot more about the Comanches, the Texas Rangers and the Comanches wars in Texas. The Comanches were the most successful tribe and controlled what might be considered an empire, that included large sections of the western USA and Mexico. They were also absolutely ruthless, bloodthirsty and heartless warriors who had no problem committing genocide against other tribes and slaughtering white settlers. Ethan Edwards attitudes were not formed in a vacuum.

Richard Maurer

I wonder what Cassie would think of McLintock!, Wayne’s western/comedy?

Just Plain Bob

+1 for the fantastic “Lonesome Dove.” I did a little reading on the Comanches once and was shocked at how they tortured their captives - both settlers and members of enemy tribes. Made me nauseous, the things they’d do.

Mark White

Henry, you have pretty much summed up everything I was going to say! But in a far better way then I ever could. Such a classic movie. So good.

MikeLL

Seeing how much Cassie was taken and tickled by John Wayne in this movie, I bet she would really like McClintok! And I must see Cassie react to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, another great Ford film with Wayne, James Stewart, and Vera Miles. And I would like to have Cassie watch Rio Bravo, Stagecoach, El Dorado and for sure, Red River.

MikeLL

The Searchers, Red River and True Grit all prove that the Duke really could act. He didn't have to always, but he could when the film demanded it.

Joe J

I think with the older westerns, a comedy element would probably appeal more to Cassie. I still want a reaction to "Shane", it's got a story that should connect very well with Cassie.

MikeLL

This is the fourth film Cassie has seen scored by the great Classic Era composer, Max Steiner. The other ones she has seen are King Kong, Casablanca, and Arsenic and Old Lace.

MikeLL

I didn't see your comment before I opined. I clearly think she would love it! She was quite taken with his ruggedness and they way he tossed out his lines.

Mark White

Bill, so pleased for you finally getting your movie. This is one of my all time favourite westerns and my fav Wayne western. Yeah, I always thought there was a history there with Ethan and Martha. So it’s totally plausible that Debbie was his daughter.

Mark White

This movie is so quotable, which I think is unusual for a movie of its time.

Joe J

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a wonderful film, hope Cassie will get to it one day.

Carol_White

The score was the worst thing about this movie. Entirely inappropriate to the themes and really distracting.

Bill Maurer

Yes on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ! Great cast and great Western

Mark White

Hi Cassie, it’s been a while since I watched a full length reaction, I’m glad i had the time to watch this one. Such a good reaction as ever from you. It’s easily my favourite Wayne Western, for all the reasons Henry Graham so eloquently pointed out below. Plus Nostalgia, this movie was often on at Christmas growing up and gives me a warm homely feel. I don’t think this will be your favourite Wayne western. There are many others you will enjoy much more. Ethan was a non typical character for Wayne. His characters are usually more all American hero type, still tough but friendlier. I really think “Rio Bravo” is more your kinda movie. John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and the funny Walter Brennan, also the very beautiful Angie Dickinson. It’s Mothers Day here in the U.K today, so took my mum out for a meal. She said her favourite movie is “Pretty Women” no surprise! You are clearly a great mom to your three little ones, so happy mothers Day to you Cassie from the UK. You are the best ❤️

Clay F

I don't know that she was "taken" by John Wayne. She did chuckle at him a few times. "He's so tough." Also, she said she preferred modern westerns. We may not be getting a John Wayne western reaction (or even a western classics poll) any time soon. This one got in, which I was glad. While not John Wayne, I want to see her react to The Wild Bunch. I think my next John Wayne is a rewatch of The Cowboys, The Sons of Katie Elder, or Rio Bravo. I don't really remember them that well. Also, while not John Wayne, I want to rewatch Shane. Mike, which is your favorite of these four: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, El Dorado, Stagecoach, and Red River? I am trying to decide my next first watch of a John Wayne western. The Searchers was my No. 1. Maybe El Dorado is my new No. 1 for a first watch.

Clay F

She almost seemed to mock his ruggedness. I've never seen McClintok! but Shane may be a better choice for her. She preferring modern westerns may be a hurdle to her liking McLintock! or Shane. I saw that McClintok! is free to stream on Prime, so I may check that out. The thumbnail of John Wayne spanking Maureen O'Hara may not be a big draw for Cassie if she sees that thumbnail. I don't think Cassie really liked The Quiet Man, or at least was bothered by aspects.

2-Can

Empire of the Summer Moon? Fantastic book.

Daniel Doble

Cass, the original "True Grit" is a John Wayne must watch.. just sayin'... You would love it.

Rick Williams

I don't know. Cassie hasn't liked a John Wayne movie yet. She has trouble with these older westerns.

MikeLL

It's a tie between Liberty Valance and El Dorado. I know that Rio Bravo and Red River are much more critically acclaimed than the two that are my favorites. But I enjoy them so much right now I couldn't choose between them. Edit: I didn't read closely enough. Stagecoach, not Rio Bravo. 😂 No, Stagecoach would never be my favorite Wayne movie.

Richard Maurer

The whole spanking thing is what makes me wonder what Cassie would think of this movie. It’s a major part of the movie. I’m thinking she would find it more than a little weird, possibly creepy.

Bill Maurer

She liked The Quiet Man. Maybe I am reaching, but I would say she liked The Searchers, not loved it. Going by her expressions, that is.

Clay F

She seemed to tolerate The Searchers and was invested in the story and the characters, but agree not a favorite. She didn't really like The Quiet Man imo, or at least was bothered by aspects. She doesn't seem taken with the John Wayne charisma or his demeanor. Many aren't. She almost seemed to mock him in The Searchers. "He's so tough." She said she preferred modern westerns, so unlikely the original True Grit is high on her list. Also, think about the typical person less than age 40 who has no John Wayne nostalgia, which would they prefer: True Grit (1969) or True Grit (2010)? I think likely she would find John Wayne annoying in True Grit (1969).

Shad Kanyak

Several people have told me I need to see this. I really really REALLY dislike old westerns.

Shad Kanyak

Range from like to tolerate. I can barely stay awake for any from the 70’s or older. Even the ones that made Eastwood an icon. Like watching paint dry to me.

MikeLL

McClintock is like Charade and It's A Wonderful Life. McClintok is in the public domain like those other movies, for various reasons. That's why you see if for free everywhere. But McClintok is like It's A Wonderful Life, in that the movie is in the public domain, but the music remains under copyright. 🤷‍♂️

Rick Williams

It was good to revisit this old movie. I know you don't really get into these old westerns, Cassie. But it was good to watch it with you.

Jack Pflieder

One of if not the best western ever made.

Clarence Newman

The older ones tended to have that "epic" feel, Shad - in other words, long and brooding, lots of detailed shots of landscapes or cigarettes being lit or cowboys walking down boardwalks while Ennio Morricone padded his composition. Cassie said that about The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - there were so many times she just wanted them to pick the pace up, but that's how they did it back then. The Searchers is the same kind of film, Lawrence of Arabia is a good non-western example. Doesn't seem like this one has made you want to try any more westerns, but Rio Bravo (1959) and The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) are less "epic" (and less serious) and therefore more palatable to a non-connoisseur, while Pale Rider (1985) is a good modern one. There's gold in them thar hills, fella. You just need to dose yourself up with coffee before you watch the next one.

Clarence Newman

What Cassie badly needs in her life is one of the more light-hearted, whimsical John Wayne westerns. The Searchers is epic and she really needed to tick that one off, but it's very serious and therefore had no place for the fun, whimsical side. Now she's seen the icon being seriously iconic, I would love her to give The Sons of Katie Elder or Rio Bravo a shot. They are iconic too (particularly Rio Bravo), but there's a fun element that will probably gel more with her sensitive, Canadian-Utah hybrid, mother in her extreme late twenties personality, and therefore provide her with a more smiley experience. Important to remember - she didn't love Clint after watching The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, but has grown to love him since.

Clarence Newman

+1 for Rio Bravo. Never in the history of PiB will Cassie have come across a character more lovable than Stumpy. +1 for Sons of Katie Elder (which Mark didn't mention but it also has Wayne and Dean Martin so qualifies by inter-breeding of cast.) +1 for a rewatch of Pretty Woman. I'd love to see Cassie and Carly in their element with characters they already know and love.

Clarence Newman

This John Wayne/Clint Eastwood malarkey is all well and good (and often all VERY well and bloody brilliant!), but when all's said and done, Cassie, we all know that THE greatest cowboy movie of all time is City Slickers. Do not deprive thyself of such greatness.

Clarence Newman

That's why Sons of Katie Elder would be a good one for Cassie. No spankings or spitting on dog's heads, just tongue-in-cheek Westernism and a healthy dose of grown men beating the tar out of each other.

Clarence Newman

Coogan's Bluff....not Clint's best film, but interesting because it was specifically designed to convert Clint from spaghetti western cowboy to mainstream Hollywood in two steps: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly via Coogan's Bluff to Dirty Harry.

MikeLL

There are a ton of great character actors in The Sons of Katie Elder. George Kennedy, Strother Martin, Dennis Hopper, Earl Holiman, James Gregory, and Paul Fix!

Mark White

Clarence, i really need to see Sons of Katie Elder again. I’ve only seen it once, some 30 odd years ago and can hardly remember anything of it. Sometimes I think I remember a scene from it but it’s just me mixing it up with another Wayne western as there have been so many. My strongest memory for Wayne westerns are True Grit, Roster Cogburn, The shootist, The Searchers, Rio Bravo and Comanacheros (which I have a soft spot for, despite it not being liked as much as others by some) , I can remember quite a lot of El dorado, Chisum, Rio Lobo, Big Jake. But after those ones my memory gets a big vague on the others. Of course I do remember quite well many of his WW2 movies to and Cassie should differently take a look in the future at movies like Green Berets, The longest day and In harms way. Have you seen “Cast a giant shadow”? I was wondering if it’s any good? Hell of a cast: John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, Angie Dickinson and Frank Sinatra! But it has a moderate RT score?!

Mark White

Yep, I agree Clarence, Cassie needs a more light hearted and fun approach to a older western and there are a few Wayne Westerns like the ones you mentioned which would warm her to this genre more.

Clarence Newman

You won’t regret watching Sons of Katie, Mark. It’s great fun. I haven’t seen Cast a Giant Shadow, but the cast list is compelling. I never listen to Rotten Tomatoes (9% rating for the legendary Croc Dundee sequel says it all for me), but Cast a Shadow is not in my 1001 Movies Cassie Must See Before She Dies book either, so I would hesitate to recommend it. The only non-western of Wayne’s I would recommend is Donovan’s Reef. The Duke and Lee Marvin are pretty good together.

Clarence Newman

If Cassie needs proof of the greatness of George Kennedy, she just needs to watch Cool Hand Luke.

Stick Figure Studios

I think maybe starting Cassie off with THE SEARCHERS as her first John Wayne western was a mistake, much like starting her off with UNFORGIVEN as her first Clint Eastwood western was a mistake. I would have rather seen her be introduced to Wayne the cowboy with STAGECOACH or RED RIVER or RIO BRAVO, over if the more fun, lighter Duke oaters. It's a masterpiece but it's such a dark and complex piece of work (with Wayne doing a succession of his typical upright hero character ) that one almost has to with their way to to it.

Stick Figure Studios

While I am glad you got a chance to watch this film, Cassie, I'm thinking that maybe it wasn't the best idea to introduce you to a John Wayne western with THE SEARCHERS. Don't get me wrong, it is a marvelous movie, arguably director John Ford's best western, but it is such a dark and complex piece of work (with Wayne playing a much nastier subversion of his usual upright heroic cowboy character) that is kind of difficult to appreciate without seeing the previous work of both Wayne and Ford. You kind of have to work your way up to it. In much the same way that you really shouldn't have been introduced to Eastwood through UNFORGIVEN (you astutely observed that it felt like it was "responding to something," both since you didn't know what it was, it was hard to understand it) THE SEARCHERS should not have been your first oater with the Duke. I would like to have seen you start out with STAGECOACH or RIO BRAVO, a couple of Wayne's lighter, more fun westerns before driving into the masterpiece that is THE SEARCHERS. Oh, well. It's over now. Onward and upward.

Bill Maurer

The Cowboys is one that will surprise Cassie. No spoilers. One of his better acting performances. Underrated

Scott Nelson

Cassie did you recognize Jeffery Hunter from the original Star Trek where he was Captain Pike?

Joe J

I would have preferred a Wayne westerns poll, but The Searchers would have won it anyway.

James M

There are better westerns to watch. This falls into the "savage Indian" sort which I don't think much of. John Wayne made many better westerns such as "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", "True Grit", "Rio Bravo", "The Shootist", "North to Alaska", "The Cowboys", "Big Jake"

Mark White

Yep, got to agree with that Stick. I think it was my Nostalgia that got the better of me for The searchers, that kept me asking for it above any other Wayne western. But yes, there are others like the ones you suggest which Cassie would enjoy more.

Catherine LW

The Comanches tried to genocide the Apaches. Savage.

MikeLL

Well Stick is right when he said maybe The Searchers wasn't the best first Wayne Western for Cassie. Not that we are not all glad it was seen! But I want a John Wayne poll now, and leave off The Cowboys and The Shootist and True Grit and get to the more normal ones first 😂

Scott Nelson

The soldier who rides out and joins them near the end is Patrick Wayne, John’s son.

Clarence Newman

This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I watched Quick and the Dead tonight and THAT is the greatest cowboy movie of all time!

Ted Little

I second both Stagecoach and Rio Bravo, excellent movies. They maybe "lighter" than The Searchers, they are not less complex in their own ways.

Ted Little

Lars Jorgensen, Laurie's dad was played by John Qualen, who was born in Vancouver B.C., the son of a Lutheran minister from Norway. While attending the University of Toronto, he fell in love with acting. He made every movie he was in just that little bit better.

John Casamassa

The Cowboys, Rio Bravo, and Big Jake are among my favorite Wayne westerns. I also really like Stage Coach and The Alamo.

John Casamassa

Rio Bravo is one of my all-time favorite Wayne westerns, and Stumpy is one of my all-time favorite western supporting characters.

MK Trafton

The story is loosely based on a true story. The Comanches were perhaps the most ferocious tribe in the southern plains. They controlled a small "empire" in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Northern Mexico, called Comancheria. The Comanches were a raiding tribe that went as far south as central Mexico. The Mexican government welcomed American and European settlers to Texas as a buffer against the Comanche. In 1836, Texas gained independence and joined the United States a few years later, which prompted a war between the United States and Mexico. The US won the war and annexed the southwest and California. Regardless of that, the Republic and later State of Texas founded the Texas Rangers as a police fore/ paramilitary force to combat the Comanche and criminals in Texas. As in the movie, the Comanche, like a few other tribes, tended to raise young captives captured in their raids and integrate them into their tribe. Cynthia Ann Parker was one such captive. She was taken captive in 1836 at age 8. She was incorporated into the tribe and became the wife of one of the chiefs, Peta Nocona. Texas rangers discovered her after one of their retaliatory attacks on the Comanche in 1860. While a Comanche captive, she gave birth to at least three children. Her oldest was Quanah Parker, the last great chief of the Comanche. The Searchers is inspired by this story and a few similar captive stories from the Comanche Wars.

MK Trafton

As a fan of Westerns, I think Westerns from the 1930s to the mid- to late 1960s (about 1968, though also partially in 1964 with the dollars trillogy) focus on an idealized version of the American Wild West: the dashing white guy saves the day against the cruel, evil outlaw or native American. They're like American epics, America's version of the Greek heroes and demigods. John Wayne was the key figure of this period. He was the main face of Westerns at this time. Starting around 1968 and 1969, except for the Dollar Trillogy which led to the new westerns) Westerns changed. They became darker and morally grey. They served as a rebuttal of John Wayne-style Westerns. Clint Eastwood became the new face of Westerns in the 1970s as John Wayne's career declined with his failing health and eventual death in 1979. Clint admitted that he respected John Wayne and wanted to work with him. Clint's 1972 film Joe Kidd was initially proposed as a duo of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. John Wayne refused, and the script was changed to focus only on Clint Eastwood's character, Joe Kidd. John Wayne did not like Clint Eastwood's morally grey characters because they differed from his characters (except for this film and Red River, which had John Wayne play grey characters), which reflected the 1930s- mid-1960s Westerns. I am a fan of both John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. They each represent different eras in Westerns. However, today, many look down on John Wayne because he didn't serve in WW2 because he didn't want to put his rising career on hold, was politically right-wing, was the face of white American patriotism in the 1950s, and made some racist comments in the 1970s during a Playboy interview. Regardless of this, I still admire him and love his films. For every negative story about John Wayne, there are many good stories. Many of those who knew him spoke highly of him as an actor and a person.

Old As Dirt Bert

Cassie enjoyed The Quiet Man, and McClintock is very similar with characters and relationships transported to the late 1800's West. John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara were lifelong pals and enjoyed working together.

Old As Dirt Bert

Cassie's seen Ward Bond (Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton), in It's a Wonderful Life where he played Bert, the cop (I'm not named after the cop). Wayne and Bond were pals and appeared in over 20 films together. They met at and played football for USC.

Stephen Dias

Like Cassie, I'd previously only seen John Wayne in "The Quiet Man," which was one of my mom's favorite movies. I'm now going to dub him King of the One-Liners.

Stephen Dias

I was talking about quality, not quantity. My opinion; you're free to disagree.

Darreld Studie

I've seen every John Wayne movie ever made. My favorite movie is Otto Preminger's In Harm's Way. It has every emotion you can imagine in it. It's a real Roller Coaster ride based in the WWII Pacific. Well worth the watch.

Dennis Shogren

Years ago at work, I showed a friend of mine a scene from The Searchers, first saying something like "look at this: John Wayne’s movies are not always funny." It was the "draw you a picture" scene. But my friend actually laughed as I watched.

fastecp1

I have never been a big fan of John Wayne, and I have seen most of his movies. I've seen this one twice, which is probably why it took me two weeks to watch this reaction. Of all his films, I would say The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is by far his best, but that's probably because Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorite actors.

John A

I like John Wayne, I was not much of a fan of his, when I was younger, but later I learned to like him and his movies. Still to me Clint is the best. John Ford and John Wayne made some great westerns