Brad
The Searchers is often read in black & white terms by critics and movie historians with a vested interest in proving or disproving the notion that Ethan's (Wayne's character) racism is shared by the director (Ford). But those written arguments have rarely included one of the things that struck you when watching the film. Ford using the Navajo Indians in not just this movie but in all of his films that he shot in Monument Valley which was a rarity in Hollywood in the 40s & 50s. Ford's treatment and generosity to the Navajo people was always exceptionally impeccable and they adored him for it and still do today some forty years after his death.
During my tour of the valley we visited a Hogan-the traditional home of the Navajo- where I was honoured to meet the ninety year old Miss Susie Yazzie . She spoke little English but through an interpreter I asked her of her experiences with the Ford film crew knowing that she had featured as an extra in a number of Ford's westerns-
My Darling Clementine; She Wore A Yellow Ribbon; The Searchers and Cheyenne Autumn. She called Ford
Natani Nez (Tall Leader/Soldier) and relayed many interesting comments-one stayed firmly in my memory that
Natani Nez did not appear to like the whiteman but was always good to the Navajo. (This refers to Ford's vile temper when shooting on location and bawling out his actors and crew when events did not go to his liking).
Miss Yazzie also took a shine to my wife Trudi's long hair and asked if she could brush it and plat it- Navajo style-Note the sagebrush styling implement ^&grin
Brad I appreciate your comment and understand you not being a Wayne fan and I'll be the first to state that he made his fair share of clunkers. But his career peaked in 1956. He made a further 38 more films before his death in 1979, but none matched his performance as Ethan Edwards, a couple came close but none matched the astonishing emotional range that Wayne projected onscreen throughout his performance in
The Searchers.
Bob
