The Searchers story
The Searchers is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, set during the Texas–Indian wars, and starring John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), accompanied by his adoptive nephew (Jeffrey Hunter). Critic Roger Ebert found Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards, "one of the most compelling characters Ford and Wayne ever created".
12 total · 3 choice · 5 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| coping with the death of one's entire family | choice | Ethan and Martin had their family wiped out by Comanche Indians. |
| obsession | choice | Ethan and Martin became obsessed with finding the missing women and taking revenge; this five year quest endangered Martin's relationship with Laurie |
| the desire for vengeance | choice | Ethan in particular was consumed with hatred for the people who killed his family |
| engaged couple | major | Martin and Laurie |
| heroism | major | Ethan was a stereotypical self-effacing hero |
| life in the American Wild West | major | we saw some domestic life in 1860s America |
| racism in society | major | Ethan frequently expressed his hatred of Indians in general. |
| uncle and nephew | major | Etan and Martin |
| brother and sister | minor | esp. Martin and Debbie |
| love triangle | minor | Martin, Laurie, Charlie |