The Searchers

1956 John Ford movie, starring John Wayne. Seen as all time great.
Incredibly beautiful, thoughtful far beyond its contemporaries
use of deep compostions (though not wide-angle), has (especially indoor) tableau of many levels
asks for constant comparisons, constant looks
all are stuffed together in these rooms
contrast with the outside
use of colours for inside and outside; saturated technicolour shows a strange other reality (intrusion into inside space with oranges when the Indians attack)
supremely beaitful exteriors
from sets, or from some truly spectacular day-for-night
this use of contrasts/ filters allows striking shadows (as is done the rest of the time with hats), and blazing images of hope
gives a kind of too-hot, too-much, air of desparation
which is the plot; the parallels of vengance and murder
use of matches on Wayne and the Indian chief
small moments (the scalpings, silly laughter) shows disgusting animal side of Wayne
men in general fail to comprehend the sheer horror ('Heart of Darkness'?)
the unflagging, stupid vengance of the idea, the way we are against the 'heroes' but empathetic, is fabulous
Ford shoots largely in master-shots, with some moves-in when necessary
Quite stagey (stage-sets), pre the multiple cameras for action of Kurosawa (though movement and cuts for charges etc)
a simple film with layers of themes, showing the underside of all
really lives us to the hype; the greatest western? The most complex, thoughtful