Genre: Adventure / Drama / Western Director(s): John Ford Release Date: 13 March 1956 Movie rating: 8.0

“The Searchers” is a 1956 American western directed by john ford and starring John Wayne. Even though it received no Academy Awards nominations in the year of its release, it is now widely considered a masterpiece. American Film Institute ranked it the best western ever made, and the film ranks high on the 100 greatest American films of all time lists. It tells the tale of Ethan Edwards (Wayne), a middle aged Texan with a shady, troubled past who comes home from the Civil War. In a subsequent attack by the Comanche Indians, his brother’s wife and son are killed among others, and his niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) is taken prisoner. Ethan and his brother’s adoptive son Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) set out on a quest to bring her home, the quest spanning several years and two different countries. After many years, many miles traveled and many adventures that saw Ethan and Martin barely walking away with their lives intact, they find Debbie living with the Indians as one of the wives of the Comanche chief. Surprisingly, Debbie sends them away telling them she is Comanche now, which infuriates Ethan who tries to kill her. Both wounded, Ethan and Martin manage to escape and come home, and after some time has passed they get another lead on Debbie’s current location, setting up one final attempt of bringing her home.

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