Movie Watchin Wednesday

September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

Well, we just finished watching The Searchers in the Spout office. I can see why it's a classic and John Wayne's one liners are pretty awesome (I actually thought there were a lot of funny moments in the movie, either intentional or unintentional). However, I am having trouble filing in the blanks. There were so many things that I was just like "Um, did I miss something? How did we end up here? Or why did they just do that?". Plus, it's kind of funny how far we've come with equality and racism and how this movie would never be okay in todays social context. I mean, the whole Indian thing is almost laughable, the stereotypes and assumptions that are being made in the film are just amazing. Anyway, I guess John Ford was just doing his best at the time, but it's still seems awkward when you watch it now. Do you see what I am talking about or am I way off here?

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

I'm not usually a fan of old westerns, but this was entertaining. I now know where lines like "that'll be the day" and "It's your funeral" came from.

There were things that struck me as funny because of the cheesy-ness of it, and things that were funny that were actually meant to be funny.

I got a kick out of it, but it wasn't something I would have thought to watch on my own.

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

Growing up, I remember walking out of the room every time my dad would put on "another stupid old western movie" that would be playing on a Sunday afternoon.  Needless to say, I've never been a fan of the genre of "old western movie."

Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to this movie when it was decided as this week's pick...  but surprisingly, I enjoyed it.  I can see a lot of scenes and themes that other films have borrowed heavily from... and who can resist the cheese-tastic lines and horrible over-acting of the late fifties??  Blatant racial overtones and stereotypes make for many tongue-in-cheek groan moments as well.

Definitely entertaining... glad I watched it!

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

Like Christi and Dave said during the movie, every line John Wayne said was quotable. Here's one of my favorites:

REVEREND: That's an order, Ethan!

WAYNE: Yes, sir. And if you're wrong...don't ever give me another!"

I really enjoyed the movie and Wayne's performance. I wanted to make that clear before I said I wish Wayne was a better actor.

It seemed like the film just barely touched on some things that could've made the film even more interesting. Why didn't John Wayne enter the house at the end? After five years he finally brings Debbie back, and he doesn't join the party. He waits outside, alone, and the door closes on him. What the heck does that mean?

Wayne shows (as best he can) that he's a bitter man. He makes it clear to the Reverend that he's still holding fast to his oath to the Confederacy. "I've still got my saber, Reverend. Didn't beat it into no plowshare, neither."

He'll kill an entire herd of buffalo if it'll starve the "Commach." And when he comes across a Native American that he can't kill, he ups the ante and mutilates the guy's soul. What did you guys think about that scene?

Wayne shoots the eats out of the dead Commanche.

REVEREND: What good did that do ya?

WAYNE: By what you preach, none. But what that Commanche believes, ain't got no eyes, he can't enter the spirit-land. Has to wander forever between the winds.

Ruthless, no? Is this only meant to desecrate the Commanche belief, or to desecrate all beliefs?

I wonder if the last scene of the movie means to show that he's got nothing left to live for.

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

SkyPilot:

He'll kill an entire herd of buffalo if it means it'll starve the "Commach." And when he comes across a Native American that he can't kill, he ups the ante and mutilates the guy's soul. What did you guys think about that scene?

Wayne shoots the eats out of the dead Commanche.

um...wayne does what? shoots the eats? What could that possibly mean?

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

csprague:

um...wayne does what? shoots the eats? What could that possibly mean?

lol    I meant shoots the eyes,

but corvine mentioned it would be a great horror movie if John Wayne started eating the eyes out of corpses-- he's THAT BAD-ASS!!

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

I think what I found most startling about this film is the stark contrast to a lot of the 'spaghetti westerns' that came out in the mid-sixties.  I am a huge fan of Westerns, and have seen tons from both time periods.  Most of the pre-1960's films I have seen share a lot of the same negative view towards native americans, mexicans and women. 

The Searchers, however, is probably far and away the most blatant--going so far as to even refer to the "childish Indians".  Very telling, considering that in most modern texts, the attitude of the early white Americans to the Indians is often describe as treating the natives as children that needed to be educated and civilized.  Same goes for Africans.  I always saw that as an underlying theme in older Westerns, but never heard or expected to hear anyone come right out and say it.

I can't help but be amazed at the difference in attitudes displayed in later films, films that only came out a half-dozen years after "The Searchers".  In most of the "spaghetti Westerns", the Mexicans/Native Americans are roughly treated as equals to white heros like Clint Eastwood's infamous character "The Man with No Name", aka "Goldie" (the character he portrayed in The Good The Bad The Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, For a Fistful of Dollars, etc).  I believe that series started around 1962.  Even within four years, we see a big difference in attitude with 1960's "The Magnificent Seven". 

I think John Wayne really represented the last vestige of inherent-white-male-superiority for the post WWII generation scared of looming, impending change and social progression.  I really think he allowed people to feel secure and validated in their long-held dellusions of inherent racial superiority.  Heck, my parents even laugh about my grandmothers concern when my family moved to Illinois in 1973... she was worried about Indians.  In the suburbs of Chicago.  She still envisioned Illinois as a lawless prarie state, run wild by savage indians.  In 1973.  I always thought that was absolutely ridiculous, but growing up in Upstate New York, fed a steady diet of classic smalltown East-Coast racism and John Wayne movies, it seems perfectly logical to me now.

I should probably do some work now.

csprague:

Well, we just finished watching The Searchers in the Spout office. I can see why it's a classic and John Wayne's one liners are pretty awesome (I actually thought there were a lot of funny moments in the movie, either intentional or unintentional). However, I am having trouble filing in the blanks. There were so many things that I was just like "Um, did I miss something? How did we end up here? Or why did they just do that?". Plus, it's kind of funny how far we've come with equality and racism and how this movie would never be okay in todays social context. I mean, the whole Indian thing is almost laughable, the stereotypes and assumptions that are being made in the film are just amazing. Anyway, I guess John Ford was just doing his best at the time, but it's still seems awkward when you watch it now. Do you see what I am talking about or am I way off here?

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

I've always wanted to sit down and watch a serious of John Wayne movies...my grandpa was a big fan. I think that The Searchers may be the catalyst to watching many more John Wayne westerns. I really enjoyed it. The classic cowboy and indians conflict harks to the days of my parents childhood, where society was perhaps a little less sensitive to topics of race and discriminaton. But that's really beside the point. The Searchers really drew me in and told a great story. It featured many of Wayne's classic phrase, such as "That'll be the day." Sometimes the plot line seemed a bit disjointed but other than that, it was fun, fun fun!

Re:September 10th 2008 - The Searchers (1956)

Agreed... for pure entertainment value its hard to go wrong with John Wayne.  One of my favorites was one of his last--Rooster Cogburn.  It has a more complex and humanistic storyline, but he still carries that John Wayne gruff charm and pulls off some nice one-liners. 

Oddly enough, The Searchers is sometimes cited in his demise, as much of it was shot in Utah on old nuclear testing grounds.  Its been basically disproven as a factor in his cancer (he drank and smoked like it was his job), but interesting none-the-less.

lmstanley:

I've always wanted to sit down and watch a serious of John Wayne movies...my grandpa was a big fan. I think that The Searchers may be the catalyst to watching many more John Wayne westerns. I really enjoyed it. The classic cowboy and indians conflict harks to the days of my parents childhood, where society was perhaps a little less sensitive to topics of race and discriminaton. But that's really beside the point. The Searchers really drew me in and told a great story. It featured many of Wayne's classic phrase, such as "That'll be the day." Sometimes the plot line seemed a bit disjointed but other than that, it was fun, fun fun!