Many believe the final shot of The Searchers with John Wayne framed by the doorway is one of cinema's most iconic but John Ford's opening shot is equally impressive.
The greatest opening scene in the greatest movie ever made ! Utterly perfect ! In fact the first 10 mins of this film can be viewed 100 times and never ceases to move, thrill and amaze me.
And now I know where Kasdan got the idea for the opening scene of Silverado just before the opening credits where Scott Glenn opens the cabin door and steps outside.
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas-Indian Wars. The film stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), along with Jeffrey Hunter as his adoptive nephew, who accompanies him. The film was a commercial success, although it received no major Academy Award nominations. It was named the Greatest American Western of all time.
The film was a commercial success, although it received no major Academy Award nominations. It was named the Greatest American Western of all time by the American Film Institute in 2008, and it placed 12th on the American Film Institute's 2007 list of the 100 greatest American movies of all time Entertainment Weekly named it the best Western of all time.The British Film Institute's Sight & Sound magazine ranked it as the seventh best movie of all time in a 2012 survey.
@1951jmc Thanks for the background. What a great story.. I wish more Harry Carey, Sr. movies were available I don't think I've seen him in much besides his last movies made in the 40's-- "Angel and the Bad Man", "Duel in the Sun", etc.
This is a great movie, in part, because the author of the book by the same name, Alan LeMay, knew Texas and Indians of the time. Then John Ford and John Wayne did an excellent job of telling LeMay's story on the big screen. Truly a great movie from a very good book
@1951jmc The opening and ending orchestral music, both heard just before "Lorena", is terrific. The opening is so warlike you have no doubt you're about to see major conflict. The ending gives you the feeling of how great it is to be reunited with friends and family. I admit I cry just like Mrs. Jorgensen, every time I hear it.
@camman2786 Ford had a way of framing scenes that makes other director's movies look crowded. In a Ford Western, you always get a sense of the vastness of the land.
I think it represents him not being a part of the proper, typical community, he is just part of the landscape which we see in this opening shot, and also a wall that hides emotions but through the movie you see that developing and that wall coming down. Just a thought :)
i LOVE the way John Wayne's sister-in-law, Martha, cannot take her eyes off the crypto love of her life. She's played by the real life wife of the film's producer.
@4Topwood mrs jorgenson the played by olive carey the widow of harry carey also harry carey jnr her son brad in the movie .the duke payed tribute to him at the end of the movie by holding his arm and waling the same way as harry carey .olive carey was there and cried
@TwoUselessLegs a bit of movie magic ,john ford had the door frames lowered so the duke would look bigger than he actually was and rode a smallish horse
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas-Indian Wars. The film stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), along with Jeffrey Hunter as his adoptive nephew, who accompanies him.
@TwoUselessLegs hey pilgrim you talk a mighty good talk about this film pilgrim but Eastwood's style is different pilgrim yet not in the least bit less cinematic pilgrim lol
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THE greatest opening of any film. Both the cinematography and score are poetic and enchanting and say so much. Great film
John Ford's films were poetry. John wayne was stellar in this as was the entire cast. An unforgettable film.
The greatest opening scene in the greatest movie ever made ! Utterly perfect ! In fact the first 10 mins of this film can be viewed 100 times and never ceases to move, thrill and amaze me.
Can you imagine that being the view from your front door?
The scenes and music of Ford's films evoke such nostalgia 💗
Great, now I have to watch the whole thing
+TucoChannel actually I did watch it recently. One of the best of all time.
You haven’t seen it?!!!!!!
John Ford was a genius.
Every time I see the opening shot I think to myself, so it begins.!!!!
And now I know where Kasdan got the idea for the opening scene of Silverado just before the opening credits where Scott Glenn opens the cabin door and steps outside.
obviously one of the great character intros of film
@1951jmc
I love how Max Steiner blends "Lorena" with "The Bonnie Blue Flag" in this opening. And his use of "Lorena" at the very end is sublime.
The way Caravaggio would have opened a movie.
Ma cosa dire su questo capolavoro,girato in stato di grazia, dal nostro maestro
J.Ford, che Dio l'abbia in gloria ! Grazie, maestro !
una obra de arte, magistral leccion del.septimo arte de principio a final.Gran Ford, y para mi el mejor "Duque"que he visto
Beautiful. From black to gorgeous blue and red.
Great looking film throughout.
Stunning
I always love this beautiful opening music. Now I know why. It's a song called Lorena. Thanks.
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas-Indian Wars. The film stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), along with Jeffrey Hunter as his adoptive nephew, who accompanies him.
The film was a commercial success, although it received no major Academy Award nominations. It was named the Greatest American Western of all time.
România 🇹🇩❤️👋 super film
The film was a commercial success, although it received no major Academy Award nominations. It was named the Greatest American Western of all time by the American Film Institute in 2008, and it placed 12th on the American Film Institute's 2007 list of the 100 greatest American movies of all time Entertainment Weekly named it the best Western of all time.The British Film Institute's Sight & Sound magazine ranked it as the seventh best movie of all time in a 2012 survey.
One of my favorite movies, a John Wayne movie, of course. Ride awayyyyyy!
@1951jmc
Thanks for the background. What a great story..
I wish more Harry Carey, Sr. movies were available I don't think I've seen him in much besides his last movies made in the 40's-- "Angel and the Bad Man", "Duel in the Sun", etc.
This is a great movie, in part, because the author of the book by the same name, Alan LeMay, knew Texas and Indians of the time. Then John Ford and John Wayne did an excellent job of telling LeMay's story on the big screen. Truly a great movie from a very good book
Ford uses doors and shadows and squaring the scene throughout the movie. So cool.
Wife: Honey, I'd like a place with a big front yard.
Husband: I'm afraid this is the best I could do.
@1951jmc
The opening and ending orchestral music, both heard just before "Lorena", is terrific. The opening is so warlike you have no doubt you're about to see major conflict. The ending gives you the feeling of how great it is to be reunited with friends and family. I admit I cry just like Mrs. Jorgensen, every time I hear it.
That is a great scene.
Imagine having the privilege to have watched this in 70 millimeter…
Quentin Tarantino tribute...
"Au revoir, Shoshanna!"
@camman2786
Ford had a way of framing scenes that makes other director's movies look crowded. In a Ford Western, you always get a sense of the vastness of the land.
Through the door shot and I believe the movie also ends with a shot through the same door.
I think it represents him not being a part of the proper, typical community, he is just part of the landscape which we see in this opening shot, and also a wall that hides emotions but through the movie you see that developing and that wall coming down. Just a thought :)
That song is The Bonnie Blue Flag. It is in Gods and Generals.
The Bonnie Blue Flag, without a doubt the greatest western ever made, with The Outlaw Josey Wales a very close second!
@333whippet how green was my valley ,the quiet manmovies you can watch over and over
THE LOVELY CIVIL WAR SONG LORENA PLAYED THRU OUT THE MOVIE FANTASTIC THE BEST WESTERN EVER
@4Topwood yes the score is great
@1951jmc: In the final scene, the kid that holds Wayne's horse is smaller than Natalie Wood.
i LOVE the way John Wayne's sister-in-law, Martha, cannot take her eyes off the crypto love of her life. She's played by the real life wife of the film's producer.
"crypto" ? In what sense crypto?
@4Topwood mrs jorgenson the played by olive carey the widow of harry carey also harry carey jnr her son brad in the movie .the duke payed tribute to him at the end of the movie by holding his arm and waling the same way as harry carey .olive carey was there and cried
An America that never really existed, it's a mythological, poetic America.
@TwoUselessLegs a bit of movie magic ,john ford had the door frames lowered so the duke would look bigger than he actually was and rode a smallish horse
Wow!
@legendarykeiran amen
@TwoUselessLegs there are some things that can,t be improved on .when the duke played a part it was played forever much as i like jeff bridges
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas-Indian Wars. The film stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), along with Jeffrey Hunter as his adoptive nephew, who accompanies him.
*The Searchers* - the movie where John Wayne *finally* found his acting chops, after 25 years of playing John Wayne. 🤠
Being treated as less than blacks doesn't help. They were there over 12,000 years before the Europeans.
@TwoUselessLegs The sad truth my friend.
@TwoUselessLegs What about Sarah Palin?
@333whippet Amen!
Ethan???????????????
@copewood333 don,t ever ask me
@TwoUselessLegs
hey pilgrim you talk a mighty good talk about this film pilgrim but Eastwood's style is different pilgrim yet not in the least bit less cinematic pilgrim
lol
I'm sure Indians felt the same way.