Considered an industry staple after the fact, The Searchers was released to a tepid response from audiences. Critics couldn’t help but appreciate Ford’s directorial eye, and Wayne’s commanding presence. But, as Bosley Crowther of the New York Times puts it, “episode is piled upon episode, climax upon climax, and corpse upon corpse.”
For audiences in 1956 used to fast paced, 100 minute Cowboy and Indian movie, The Searchers was a grind. This combined with uncomfortable themes of innocence lost, festering anger and racism, and some serious questions about America’s role in the West. It’s a testament to John Ford’s ability to craft a story that the movie kept its initial audience long enough to lauded by future generations of viewers who were willing to be patient from the comfort of their personal home entertainment systems.
Cos and I fetch up our horses and chase this movie down until it thinks it’s been chased enough. We’re the critters that just keep on comin’. But when we lift this movie in the air to examine it, will we toss it aside or gather it in our arms to bring home? I guess you’ll have to join our posse to find out.
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