TCM Comments on the Searchers (1956)

[@Crediblesport]

The best western ever made period! Wayne was robbed of a oscar.

[@karlthedog2027]

All 4 comments on this page are so well stated... This movie......is an absolute CLASSIC. Today's USA.......Thank God it is protected by the Library of Congress.

[@Jared_Wignall]

John Wayne’s best performance of his entire career in what I’d say is his best film of his career, snubbed by the Academy. I’m sure it’s in part due to how dark the film was in 1956, but if a film is fantastic and performances are fantastic, regardless of how dark they are, if they’re among the best, they should be recognized as the best and The Searchers was shut out of every category when the Academy Awards came along, as with other award ceremonies of the time. John Wayne’s Oscar for True Grit is more of a lifetime achievement award as well as probably to make up for never giving him an Academy Award before then, especially when work like The Searchers was snubbed entirely.

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

I am not formally educated ,but well read , it saddens me that one of my favorite wayne movies the( searchers ) has of late come under scrutiny and wayne portrayed as a bigot and racist , Ben whom I reluctantly let replace robert the eternal gentleman as host of tcm classics has betrayed many in his audience . To concentrate on the take away from this film ,perhaps to pacify the professor Stewart , by repeataly referring to the duke in this film as bigot , hater , racist is an insult to the true purpose of the film , that misses the horrific by products of two cultures clashing , they forget a man in extreme adversity must at times harden his heart ,to survive ,his words but warnings to all that approach beware , I am a beast first man second . They forget how the opposite culture of wayne's in this movie murdered horrifically wayne's brother and once love of his life brutally ganged raped scalped butchered by warriors , the killing of livestock ,the killing of children ,(his nephew) the burning pillaging of homes ,all this disregarded ,the savagery that forged this man played by john wayne in the searchers was a short on intellect critique by Ben , I am sure Ben was raised in a nurturing home , but in order to appease the political left and poor down trodden folks ,we should not be so quick to throw icons under the bus and simply call someone a racist , to appease the hatred of another group .use a phycologist on your team going forward , least tcm white fans begin to jump ship.film experts are not necessary human nature experts

[@alexpollock6932]

It seems that morally ambiguous characters with arcs are not in fashion right now. I find that when people criticize older movies like the searchers they always say that they glorify characters like Ethan, without understanding the filmmakers point. They're looking at a 3 dimensional character through a 2 dimensional lens.

[@michaelnally2841]

I can understand not wanting to condone harmful stereotypes or practices at the time such as having Scar being played by a white guy in makeup. And I do realize it was the 50s but that doesn’t make that any less racist. Although it is true some people also don’t think that some things that may not be politically correct anymore we still need to examine and learn from them to be better.

[@mr.sushi2221]

Aye it’s Ben mank