Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, two of the most prominent directors in Hollywood, both believe that John Ford’s 1956 Western, The Searchers, is the most impactful film ever created.
Both directors believe the film isn’t just a classic, but a foundational work that helps explain American movies.
In an interview with AFI, Martin Scorsese called the film both powerful and disturbing. He explained that John Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, embodies the most troubling parts of racism in America. According to Scorsese, “It’s right there – you can see the hate, and also understand how someone could be driven to such extremes.”
Scorsese felt the film perfectly reflected the shifting atmosphere of the 1950s. He explained that in 1956, the strict social norms of the decade were beginning to loosen, and the film industry was also evolving in terms of what it could portray. He saw these films as revealing a hidden, darker side of the American mindset at the time.
Steven Spielberg revealed he frequently watches John Ford’s The Searchers before beginning work on his own films. In an interview with GQ, he explained that Ford is a major inspiration, comparing him to a classic painter who pays attention to the visual composition of a scene as much as the story. Spielberg says he feels he must watch The Searchers before almost every project.
In the classic film The Searchers, John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a former Civil War soldier who embarks on a dangerous quest to find his niece after she’s abducted by Comanches.
The film begins as a rescue operation but soon takes a grim turn, exposing Ethan’s burning rage and relentless pursuit of vengeance. It also bravely tackles the mistreatment of Native Americans by early settlers – a bold choice for the era. Roger Ebert, a renowned film critic, observed that the director attempted to portray the racism that fueled the justification of genocide.
Even though it deals with a difficult topic, The Searchers is widely considered a cinematic masterpiece. In 2008, the American Film Institute called it the best American Western ever made, and it previously ranked among the top 12 greatest American films in 2007. It also received high praise internationally, appearing at number seven on Sight and Sound magazine’s list of the greatest films and tenth on Cahiers du Cinéma’s list in 2008.
In 1989, the United States Library of Congress acknowledged the film’s significant historical and cultural value by adding it to the National Film Registry – a list that initially included only 25 films.
In a 1964 interview, director John Ford explained that the film’s depiction of Native Americans was shaped by the historical biases and actual struggles of the time.
According to cultural critic Greil Marcus, Ethan Edwards is a classic American hero who pushes himself to the breaking point, descending into madness. His strong sense of morality and integrity ultimately transforms into a relentless desire for revenge.
The Searchers is a classic film that continues to inspire filmmakers and moviegoers today. Its influence on cinema is clear, as evidenced by the praise it receives from directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Read More
- The Unexpected Triumph of Novo Nordisk: A Dividend Hunter’s Delight
- Gold Rate Forecast
- XRP On The Brink: Are We About To Witness Crypto Fireworks Or Just Another Fizzle? 🎭
- General Hospital Recap, July 23 Episode: Drew Suspects Willow of Stalking Daisy
- Big Sell on Big Data: When Even the Suits Say ‘Enough’s Enough’
- Brent Oil Forecast
- Superman Lore Changed Forever? YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS!
- Bitcoin’s Paradox: Billionaire Buys, Price Stagnates
- AI Investing Through Dan Ives’ Lens: A Revolutionary ETF
- Elden Ring’s Switch 2 port delayed into 2026 by FromSoftware for “performance adjustments,” and people are surprisingly OK about it: “I’d rather it releases in a better state”
2025-10-30 11:44