#12 The Searchers

1956
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles

So far, one of the only westerns I've ever seen that I've liked!  The story follows Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards, who comes homes after fighting in the Civil War to his family.  Before he can settle in, the family's ranch is attacked by Comanches.  Most of the family is killed, but his young niece, Debbie,  survives and is taken by the native americans.  Ethan sets out to save his niece and his traveling companion is Martin, a young man who is part native american and was all but adopted by Ethan's family.  Ethan's obvious dislike towards native americans comes out mostly towards Martin.  But after 5 years they finally find the niece, Debbie, who has become part of the Comanche tribe herself, and Ethan finds himself starting to feel the same towards her.  (Natalie Wood plays little Debbie all grown up.)  Great story, great characters... finally a western I can say I really enjoyed watching.

Trivia: Reportedly this film was seen in a theater in Texas by Buddy Holly and his friends in the summer of 1956. They were so impressed with Ethan's (John Wayne) repeated use of the phrase "That'll be the day" that they used it as the title for their now standard rock song, which they composed soon after.

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