Introduced by Alexander Payne, Filmmaker, via Zoom

Working together for the 12th time, John Wayne and director John Ford forged The Searchers into a landmark Western offering an indelible image of the frontier and the men and women who challenged it. Wayne plays an ex-Confederate soldier seeking his niece, captured by Comanches who massacred his family. He won’t surrender to hunger, thirst, the elements or loneliness. Beautifully shot by Winton C. Hoch (The Quiet Man, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), thrillingly scored by Max Steiner (Gone with the Wind, Casablanca) and acted by a wonderful ensemble including Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Natalie Wood and Ward Bond. Martin Scorsese cites The Searchers as one of the most influential films in his work (particularly for Taxi Driver): “In truly great films — the ones that people need to make, the ones that start speaking through them, the ones that keep moving into territory that is more and more unfathomable and uncomfortable — nothing’s ever simple or neatly resolved. You’re left with a mystery.” 

Restored by Warner Bros in collaboration with The Film Foundation.

Scanned in 13K by Warner Bros. at Motion Picture Imaging laboratory, from the original 8 perf 35mm VistaVision camera negative. Restoration work completed in 6.5K. Newly restored version approved by The Film Foundation.