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The Searchers

  • 19561956
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
88K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,938
45
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Wayne, Natalie Wood, Ward Bond, Jeffrey Hunter, and Vera Miles in The Searchers (1956)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:47
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Western

An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother's family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother's family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother's family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.

IMDb RATING
7.9/10
88K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,938
45
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
    • Alan Le May(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • John Wayne
    • Jeffrey Hunter
    • Vera Miles
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
    • Alan Le May(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • John Wayne
    • Jeffrey Hunter
    • Vera Miles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 532User reviews
    • 121Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos3

    The Searchers
    Trailer 2:47
    The Searchers
    The Searchers
    Trailer 2:45
    The Searchers
    Did 'Home Alone' Inspire 'Rambo: Last Blood'?
    Clip 1:43
    Did 'Home Alone' Inspire 'Rambo: Last Blood'?

    Photos206

    John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)
    Vera Miles in The Searchers (1956)
    Ken Curtis and Vera Miles in The Searchers (1956)
    Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers (1956)
    Jeffrey Hunter, Olive Carey, and Vera Miles in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Henry Brandon, and Antonio Moreno in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne, Ward Bond, and Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers (1956)
    John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    • Ethan Edwardsas Ethan Edwards
    Jeffrey Hunter
    Jeffrey Hunter
    • Martin Pawleyas Martin Pawley
    Vera Miles
    Vera Miles
    • Laurie Jorgensenas Laurie Jorgensen
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Claytonas Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
    Natalie Wood
    Natalie Wood
    • Debbie Edwards - Age 15as Debbie Edwards - Age 15
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Lars Jorgensenas Lars Jorgensen
    Olive Carey
    Olive Carey
    • Mrs. Jorgensenas Mrs. Jorgensen
    Henry Brandon
    Henry Brandon
    • Scaras Scar…
    Ken Curtis
    Ken Curtis
    • Charlie McCorryas Charlie McCorry
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Brad Jorgensenas Brad Jorgensen
    Antonio Moreno
    Antonio Moreno
    • Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroaas Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroa
    Hank Worden
    Hank Worden
    • Mose Harperas Mose Harper
    Beulah Archuletta
    • Lookas Look
    Walter Coy
    Walter Coy
    • Aaron Edwardsas Aaron Edwards
    Dorothy Jordan
    Dorothy Jordan
    • Martha Edwardsas Martha Edwards
    Pippa Scott
    Pippa Scott
    • Lucy Edwardsas Lucy Edwards
    Patrick Wayne
    Patrick Wayne
    • Lt. Greenhillas Lt. Greenhill
    • (as Pat Wayne)
    Lana Wood
    Lana Wood
    • Younger Debbie Edwardsas Younger Debbie Edwards
    • Director
      • John Ford
    • Writers
      • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
      • Alan Le May(from the novel by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After a long three-year absence, the battle-scarred Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, Ethan Edwards turns up on the remote and dusty Texan homestead of his brother, Aaron. In high hopes of finding peace, instead, the taciturn former soldier will embark on a treacherous five-year odyssey of retribution, when the ruthless Chief Scar's murderous Comanche raiding party massacres his family, burns the ranch to the ground, and abducts his nine-year-old niece, Debbie. Driven by hatred of Indians, Ethan and his young companion, Martin Pawley, ride through the unforgiving desert to track down their lost Debbie; however, is the woman they lost and the prisoner in Scar's teepee still the same woman the searchers seek? —Nick Riganas
    • navajo indian
    • national film registry
    • afi
    • ambush
    • long engagement
    • 262 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The story that sweeps from the great Southwest to the Canadian border in VistaVision.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Western
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Natalie Wood was still a student in high school when this film was being made, and, on several occasions, John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter had to pick her up at school. This caused a good deal of excitement among Wood's female classmates.
    • Goofs
      The "dead" Indian under the rock, when the rock is removed, is clearly breathing.
    • Quotes

      Martin: I hope you die!

      Ethan: That'll be the day.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits state this Warner Brothers film is in VistaVision; this may be the only Warner film in VistaVision.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      The Searchers (Main Theme)
      Composed by Max Steiner

      Lyrics by Stan Jones

      Sung by Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited)

    User reviews532

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Landmark Western.
    John Ford and John Wayne re-team for their best and most famous western. Wayne plays returning Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards, who comes to the Texas ranch of his brother on hopes of settling down to a new life. Unfortunately, these plans are cruelly thwarted when the ranch(filled with the women and children) is raided by ruthless and renegade Indian chief Scar, who attacks and massacres the family, except for little Debbie Edwards(Natalie Wood) Ethan, enraged and distraught by this raid, vows to track down and kill the tribe, and rescue his niece, with the help from his nephew Martin(played by Jeffrey Hunter). This search takes several years of their lives, across the country and through all kinds of weather and obstacles, until one day they finally locate Debbie, who is now assimilated into the tribe Ethan hates, and he may not be able to spare her...

    Gorgeously filmed on location in Ford's beloved Monument Valley, with an intelligent and ambitious script and a superlative performance by Wayne, as a driven and vengeful man who is not always likable, but is still righteous and fascinating. Film does ramble a bit, and the outcome is not really in doubt, but excellent film is still worth watching, with an astonishing closing scene.
    helpful•17
    7
    • AaronCapenBanner
    • Oct 7, 2013

    FAQ5

    • Why did the Comanches attack the home of Aaron and Martha to begin with?
    • Did Ethan and Martha have an affair?
    • Is this based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 26, 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Navajo
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Tragaci
    • Filming locations
      • Monument Valley, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • C.V. Whitney Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,750,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes

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