The Searchers (1956) stars John Wayne in one of his most compelling films. I've seen the movie countless times. I've owned my own copy for years, and yet when I come across the film as I flip through the channels on my remote I stop and watch it again. The film is about heroes, revenge, leadership, and doing the right thing.
"The Searchers tells the emotionally complex story of a perilous, hate-ridden quest and Homeric-style odyssey of self-discovery after a Comanche massacre, while also exploring the themes of racial prejudice and sexism. Its meandering tale examines the inner psychological turmoil of a fiercely independent, crusading man obsessed with revenge and hatred, who searches for his two nieces (Pippa Scott and Natalie Wood) among the "savages" over a five-year period. The film's major tagline echoed the search: "he had to find her...he had to find her."
-- Tim Dirks John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a dedicated man, a hate-filled man, a driven man . . . a man of contradictions and flaws. Ethan comes home to Texas three years after the Civil War. When Reverend Samuel Johnson Clayton (Ward Bond) says, "I ain't seen you since the surrender. Come to think of it, I didn't see you at the surrender." Ethan replies, "(I) don't believe in surrenders."
A group of Texas Rangers and deputized posse go looking for some raiding Indians who have stolen some cattle. They find the cattle slaughtered and Ethan realizes they have been lured away for cause. Fierce Comanche Indians, led by the chieftain Scar, kill Ethan's brother and rape and then kill his sister-in-law. His two nieces are kidnapped.
A large posse set out to search for the girls. As time goes by the posse dwindles. It becomes clear that Ethan considers the girls dead or worse. They may have become Comanche themselves. He is now only seeking revenge. Reverend Clayton of the Texas Rangers asks Ethan if he is ready to quit his search. Ethan replies, "That'll Be The Day."
Ethan and his brother's adopted son, Marty, who is part Cherokee and therefore less than human, continue looking for the Comanche and any evidence of the girls. Ethan finds Lucy, raped and tortured. The two continue on with Ethan the driving force. Marty stays to protect Debbie from Ethan if they ever find her.
In the end Ethan gets his revenge and rescues Debbie. He cannot kill her.
In the film we see some of the best shots ever recorded on film. We hear memorable lines. We see excellent acting. We see relationships develop. We experience great directing. But most of all, we see the face of leadership.
In Ethan Edwards we see a leader we can depend on. We know him. We can depend on him. We honor his decisions. We know that he will arrive at his destination. We know too, that we will arrive with him.
Some leaders you would follow into Hell because you feel that you will reach your goal AND continue to live . . . or at least have a better chance of surviving. We see this in the leadership of Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) in We Were Soldiers, Richard Winters (Damian Lewis) in Band of Brothers, Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) in Zulu, and Michael Corleone (Al Pachino) in The Godfather series. Each of these people have flaws. All leaders have flaws. We should never stop following because leaders have flaws, but we should never be blind to them.
Ethan Edwards has major flaws. He overcomes many on his journey. We see him struggle with his thoughts and decisions. Great leaders are worth the search and effort to find them. Ethan Edwards is a hero. He is a leader. In the end he does what is right. To do less is unthinkable. As Ethan says, "That'll be the day."
Following Flawed Leaders - To learn more about this author, visit Don Doman's Website.
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