Movie- "The Searchers" -1956
Language- English
Director- John Ford
Runtime- 119 minutes
Awards-Directors Guild of America: SGA Award (nominee)
National Film Preservation Board: National Film Registry (winner)
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Best DVD classic film release (nominee)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Searches started off with amazing images of the American west and for a 1956 film it must have been the modern day high definition. Even by today's standards the scenery and camera shots were just absolutely stunning and if the movie wasn't in color it wouldn't be able to give the viewer the full affect. At times the movie did seem to be slightly racist but the use humor helped to lighten the mood from the serious parts of the western. The movie had a little bit of everything from comedy to adventure and even over 55 years later it still has to wow an audience.
I always write the first paragraph (above) then look at an article by Roger Ebert and every time he always mentions everything I thought of. For example he said "In ''The Searchers'' I think Ford was trying, imperfectly, even nervously, to depict racism that justified genocide; the comic relief may be an unconscious attempt to soften the message." It's either we think alike or perhaps this is what John Ford was trying to do intentionally. He went on to say "Ford had an unrivaled eye for landscape, and famously used Monument Valley as the location for his Westerns, camping out with cast and crew, the company eating from a chuck wagon and sleeping in tents. Wayne told me that making a Ford Western was like living in a Western." Apparently the landscape for the film was carefully selected and for good reason, to wow the audience. It worked.
Another article talks about how democracy in the movie seemed to not apply to the west and west was law less and truly wild. Great movies can sometimes alter peoples thinking of something, in this case the west. The fact that it's based on the early beginning of our country sparks the interest in the minds of the people. Was that how it really was? The author even said "The american imagination has always been captivated by the drama of the frontier" People wonder how our country, now a civilized and lawful place, could have so different in the span of about two human life times.
The Searchers was the best western I have seen thus far. All in the same movie I was mad, happy, amazed, laughing, in suspense, sad, and in deep thought. Any movie that can do that while maintaing a good plot and good story line is a master piece in my opinion. Roger Ebert even said this about some of the scenes." These shots are among the treasures of the cinema." With a suggestion like that you know that this movie not only inspired films to come but sets the standards high for future film makers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment