8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
An American Civil War veteran swears revenge after his brother's family is butchered by Comanches and his niece is kidnapped. Filmed in VistaVision
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie WoodDrama | 100% |
Western | 46% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Digital Mono (192 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
If the girls are dead, don't let the boys waste their lives in vengeance.
Ranked at number twelve on AFI's 2007 list of best American films, The Searchers certainly
lives up to its reputation as one of the great westerns of all time. The film has influenced directors,
actors, and cinematographers for the last 50 years, from George Lucas to Quentin Tarantino. Many
a director have paid homage to this classic western in their works and many have cited it as a
stimulus for their endeavors, creating their own classic films whilst inspired by John Ford's
masterpiece. Wayne and Ford have collaborated on numerous Westerns including She Wore a
Yellow Ribbon and They Were Expendable, but none more powerful, more inspirational,
or more memorable than The Searchers.
The Duke.
Warner Brothers has recently remastered The Searchers, and the result is extraordinary. This print looks absolutely beautiful and pristine. The film is presented in luscious, vibrant technicolor in 1080p high definition and in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I really love the look of technicolor. There is nary a speck of dirt on this print. Black levels are good, flesh tones looks great, and detail is high. Watching The Searchers on Blu-ray was a marvel and a revelation. I simply cannot wait to see more classic films on Blu-ray. If they look as good as The Searchers, we are going to be in for some mighty fine treats in the coming years. A long distance shot with snow on the ground and buffalo in the background is one of the most lifelike I have ever seen. A few other long distance shots, sometimes the type of shots that look the worst on home video, look as natural and lifelike as anything I have ever seen on a television set, and this is coming from a 50 year old movie. Who would have thought combining a 50 year old film with modern entertainment mediums could result in an image as stunningly beautiful as this one? I'm simply astonished at just how wonderful The Searchers looks on Blu-ray.
Warner Brothers presents The Searchers with a Dolby Digital Mono audio track running at 48KHz, 192 kbps. Ah, good old mono. It's really refreshing now and then. I'm thrilled they left something as good as this track as-is and didn't try and remix it to something that would have sounded unnatural. Music, dialogue, and gun shots all sound wonderful. Of course, there is nothing coming from any speaker but the center channel, and that's great, for this title. As an older film, this is what was originally heard, and as a major proponent of leaving things as they are and originally were, I loved the way The Searchers sounded. I cannot fault a track for faithfully reproducing its original source, and the track on The Searchers does this admirably.
Such a strong, historically important film screams out for a plethora of extras, and Warner
Brothers has heard and provided. The supplements begin with an introduction to the film with
John Wayne's son, Patrick Wayne (480p, 1:52). Next is a commentary track with director/film
historian Peter Bogdanovich. He offers up a good track. His knowledge and passion for the film
are evident throughout. There is some dead air and he sometimes simply describes the action on
screen, but he makes up for the gaps with solid information. His voice is rather monotone, but
again, his knowledge and love for the film more than make up for any negatives.
The Searchers: An Appreciation (480p, 31:01) is a piece featuring Martin Scorsese,
Curtis Hanson, and John Milius discussing both the film and their appreciation for John Ford's
talents. This
is a wonderful companion piece to the film and essential viewing for fans of The
Searchers, John Ford, or any of the talent involved in this feature. A Turning of the
Earth: John Ford, John Wayne, and 'The Searchers' (480p, 33:10) is an enthralling and very
well done making-of piece that details the real-life inspiration and book behind the film as well as
the true meaning and lessons the film offers viewers. This feature is expertly narrated and the
information is crucial for any fan. Behind the Cameras (480p, 21:49) features four
episodes from this television series Warner Brothers Presents from 1956. Subjects
include Meet Jeffrey Hunter, Monument Valley, Meet Natalie Wood, and
Setting Up Production. Perhaps most interesting here is seeing how television production
has changed over the years.
Finally, the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:47) and a trailer for The Assassination of Jesse
James By the Coward Robert Ford (480p, 1:13) conclude the special features.
The Searchers is an important film in the annals of the history of Westerns, and in the history of motion pictures. Considered by many as John Wayne's finest hour and John Ford's greatest directorial achievement, it is a movie that has withstood the test of time and is still as powerful, poignant, and exciting as ever. It's just as important culturally as it is cinematically, and a film every movie lover needs to own for their library. This Blu-ray edition is the quintessential version of the film. Warner Brothers' work on restoring this film has resulted in an image that is nothing short of breathtaking. The original monaural soundtrack sounds fine, and the extras are most impressive. The Searchers receives my highest recommendation.
1962
1972
C'era una volta il West / Paramount Presents #44
1968
1969
1992
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
1946
1965
1959
2005
Per un Pugno di Dollari
1964
1939
1948
2-Disc Collector's Edition
1989
1969
1972
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1961
2010