John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles and Natalie Wood star in this story of revenge, raw emotions and justice. Almost universally disliked, Confederate soldier Ethan Edwards returns to his Texas family three years after the Civil War ends. Shortly after his arrival, his family is killed, and his nieces, Lucy and Debbie, are abducted by hostile Indians, led by Comanche Chief Scar. Lucy is murdered, but the younger Debbie is still held captive. Now Ethan is on their trail, along with his adopted nephew, whom he despises for being part Indian. As the search for Debbie goes on for years, and she grows from child to woman living as a Comanche, will she want to be rescued? And will Ethan be able to put aside his blinding hatred of Indians to spare his own niece’s life? From John Ford’s visionary direction to the stars’ powerful performances, to Max Steiner’s spectacular score, many fans and critics consider The Searchers to be the greatest Western ever made.
Why We Like It
“Directed by John Ford, many consider this grand film to be Wayne's greatest. You can lose yourself in the adventure, as a Civil War veteran searches for his kidnapped niece.” – INSP programming team
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About the Author
Native New Yorker, Darlene Cah is a writer, actor/improvisor, and digital content specialist based in North Carolina. Her short stories have appeared in Smokelong Quarterly, Red Earth Review, Have a NYC (Anthology), Referential Magazine, and other journals. Fiction awards include Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, Emrys Fiction Prize, Semifinalist ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Contest, and more. Advertising awards include Finalist Media Post Awards for email, Honorable Mention Clios, One Shows, and Andys (print). When not writing for INSP, you’ll find her on stage, backstage, or coaching improv for Shakespeare & Friends Theater Company. And, of course, playing fetch with her dog.
