The Searchers
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The Searchers

Year:
Duration:
119 min
Genres:
Adventure | Drama | Western
IMDB rate:
8
Director:
John Ford
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1956-03-13
Filming Locations: Aspen, Colorado, USA
Earnings
Budget: $3,750,000
Gross: ITL 37,500,000 (Italy) ( 1971)
Cast
Actor
Character
John Wayne
Ethan Edwards
Jeffrey Hunter
Martin Pawley
Vera Miles
Laurie Jorgensen
Ward Bond
Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
Natalie Wood
Debbie Edwards - Age 15
John Qualen
Lars Jorgensen
Olive Carey
Mrs. Jorgensen
Henry Brandon
Scar
Ken Curtis
Charlie McCorry
Harry Carey Jr.
Brad Jorgensen
Antonio Moreno
Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroa
Hank Worden
Mose Harper
Beulah Archuletta
Look
Walter Coy
Aaron Edwards
Dorothy Jordan
Martha Edwards
Patrick Wayne
Lt. Greenhill
Lana Wood
Younger Debbie Edwards
Pipe Line Begishe
Comanche Indian
Exactly Sonnie Betsuie
Comanche Indian
Danny Borzage
Accordionist at Funeral (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford
Deranged Woman at Fort (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio
Carmen (uncredited)
Tommy Doss
Wedding Musician (uncredited)
Pete Grey Eyes
Comanche Indian
Feather Hat Jr.
Comanche Indian
Nacho Galindo
Mexican Bartender (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward
Man at Wedding (uncredited)
Jack Tin Horn
Comanche Indian
Harry Black Horse
Comanche Indian
Away Luna
Comanche Indian
Robert Lyden
Ben Edwards (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons
Col. Greenhill (uncredited)
Peter Mamakos
Jerem Futterman (uncredited)
Mae Marsh
Dark Cloaked Woman at Fort Guarding Deranged Woman (uncredited)
Frank McGrath
Texas Ranger (uncredited)
Bob Many Mules
Comanche Indian
Jack Pennick
Sergeant at Fort (uncredited)
Lloyd Perryman
Wedding Musician (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson
Texas Ranger at Wedding (uncredited)
Smile White Sheep
Comanche Indian
Many Mules Son
Comanche Indian
Percy Shooting Star
Comanche Indian
William Steele
Nesby (uncredited)
Chief Thundercloud
Comanche Chief
Terry Wilson
Texas Ranger (uncredited)
Billy Yellow
Comanche Indian
Did you know?
Trivia
The song playing as John Wayne approaches at the beginning of the film is a slow version of "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (original title: "The Irish Jaunting Car"). This song and Daniel Decatur Emmett's "Dixie" were the two "anthems" of the Confederacy.
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The Merseybeat band The Searchers took their name from this film. They are most famous for their cover of "Needles and Pins".
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In 2007, the America Film Institute ranked this as the #12 Greatest Movie of All Time.
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Goofs
At the beginning, when Ethan takes his brother's place in the Ranger posse, he walks out wearing his chaps. When he gets on his horse and rides out, his chaps are laying across the front of his saddle.
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When the Indians charge across the river toward the reverend's posse, the river changes both direction and color throughout the scene. In some shots, the river is a muddy red, while in others it is clearer and blue. In the shots of Ethan firing his rifle, the river moves from his left to his right. But in the shots of the Indians getting shot and falling from their horses, the river moves from Ethan's (and the viewer's) right to his left. Then, as the Indians retreat, the river switches back to moving left to right.
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Right after he takes the loaded gun from Ethan & throws his hat at Ethan, Clayton's gun goes off unintentionally before he takes his first shot.
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Quotes
Reverend Clayton: I say we do it my way. That's an order!
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2nd Lt. Greenhill: Can't I stay? Please?
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Laurie Jorgensen: [Martin is preparing to join a raid against the Indians and rescue Debbie] You're not goin', not this time.
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Faq
Q
Did Ethan and Martha have an affair?
A
It is certainly implied that they probably had a love affair. The Reverend silently watching as Martha delicately cleans and returns Ethan's coat to Ethan implies a past love affair. This is also probably why there was tension between the two men.
Q
Is this based on a true story?
A
The screenplay did share similarities with a real-life incident that took place at Fort Parker in East Texas on May 19th 1836. At 10 o'clock in the morning, a tribe of Comanches killed and scalped five men, including Ranger captain Silas Parker, tortured and raped several women, and kidnapped 17 year-old Rachel Parker Plummer, and her toddler son, her 9 year-old sister Cynthia Ann Parker, her 7 year-old brother John Richard, and a girl called Elizabeth Kellogg. Rachel Plummer wrote down the events of the raid and her capture and told the story of her 13 month ordeal in detail.On the 6th day of their capture, the hostages were divided up. Elizabeth Kellogg was traded with a band of Kichai Indians, Cynthia Ann and James went to a band of middle Comanches, and Rachel and her son to another tribe. Rachel was eventually purchased by a group of Comancheros (who wouldn't acquire that actual name for another five years) in August 1837. They were working for a wealthy Sante Fe couple, William and Mary Donohoe who told them to pay any price for white women. The couple took Rachel in, took care of her and promised to return her home. She eventually returned and gave birth to another son before her premature death.Cynthia Ann was rescued by the Texas Rangers over two decades later in the Battle of Pease River in late 1860, after living as the Comanche wife of warrior Peta Nocona ,and the mother of three Native American children (two sons, one of whom was the famous blue eyed Comanche chief Quanah Parker, and a daughter).She had great difficulty adjusting to white society upon her return and died in 1870.
Q
What are the words written on Ethan and Aaron's mother's headstone that Debbie sits next to?
A
It says "Here lies Mary Jane Edwards. Killed by Comanches. May 12,1852. A good wife and mother in her 41st year".
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Photos from cast
Pippa Scott
eye cartoon images for kids clip art googly eye Png images of a couple of eyes