The Searchers

[Dave Wilma]

I stumbled across this one on a Sunday afternoon (streaming). There are so many questions unanswered.

What is it between Ethan (John Wayne) and his sister-in-law

What is his relationship to Debby (Natalie Wood)?

What was the medal he hung around the neck of the litter girl in the first scene?

How did he keep his uniform pants and overcoat in such good shape after the war and three years of peace (no need to answer)

Why is this such a great movie?

 

[redbob]

I've always thought that is was one of John Wayne's best.

 

[Evan]

I've always thought that is was one of John Wayne's best.

Me too. I loved it.

 

[proud texan]

Perfect rainy day movies.
Fort Apache
The Searchers
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

 

[Bob Owen]

His sister-in-law was interested in him first, but his brother is the one who asked her to marry. Debbie is his niece. It's a foriegn medal (French medal used) which was used to indicate that he was off fighting another war. He had them in storage.

 

[Nathanb1]

Read the book by Alan LeMay.

The Searchers is still one of my favorites, even though I can quote it almost line for line. My biggest quibble is the substitution of Monument Valley for Texas.....makes a stunning movie, but no way that's in Texas. (Despite my jibes about Winkler County in the Texas Brigade thread). Navajos make good stand-ins for Comanches, pretty much (I don't think Comanches ever wore that much silver, but, hey....).

My seventh-graders have been watching it.....they're fascinated with Hank Worden and Ward Bond. They also want to know why every girl in far-off 1868 Texas is pretty and has makeup on.

 

[wayne jackson]

buddy holly song came from the movie,that'l be the day

 

[Dave Wilma]

My seventh-graders have been watching it.....they're fascinated with Hank Worden and Ward Bond. They also want to know why every girl in far-off 1868 Texas is pretty and has makeup on.

And their clothes are all so clean and starched.

 

[Nathanb1]

And their clothes are all so clean and starched.

And jeans? OMG. She'd have been run out of the country.

 

[wondering]

... Why is this such a great movie?

The last shot sums it all up. Doesn't even get to kiss the girl, and the door on the old west closes.

 

[Nathanb1]

I stumbled across this one on a Sunday afternoon (streaming). There are so many questions unanswered.

Why is this such a great movie?

It has just enough truth in it. And one of the greatest groups of character actors ever assembled, down to Olive Carey (Mrs. Jorgensen).

 

[DanB]

Diane Rehm had a show on this just a couple of weeks ago that I thought was really interesting. You can listen to it here:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-03-25/glenn-frankel-searchers

 

[Nathanb1]

Diane Rehm had a show on this just a couple of weeks ago that I thought was really interesting. You can listen to it here:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-03-25/glenn-frankel-searchers

I sort of uniformly disliked the book. But that's just me.