Historical context

John Ford did not make westerns exclusively, but his impact on the genre was such that he is generally remembered as a director of westerns. With Stagecoach (1939), Ford helped to revive the genre's commercial viability after a period of decline and made a full fledged star of John Wayne. In The Searchers, made nearly two decades later, we again have a western directed by Ford and starring Wayne. In the intervening years, Ford's attitudes toward the western hero have evolved in interesting ways. Also, Wayne brings to the lead role a well established star persona, in contrast to the fresh faced newcomer who played the Ringo Kid in Stagecoach. Ford and Wayne had worked together more than half a dozen times since Stagecoach, on both westerns and non-westerns. Indeed, Wayne regarded Ford as something of a mentor. Their collaboration on The Searchers therefore represents a mature filmmaker and a mature, seasoned star with whom he had established a long and rich working relationship combining their talents at the height of their creative powers to produce a definitive work in the genre that had profoundly shaped their respective careers.

Narrative context

The events that occurred in the lives of characters prior to the events actually portrayed in a film is known as "backstory." What is the backstory that is hinted at between Ethan Edwards and Martha Edwards, his brother's wife? How is this backstory communicated? What is its significance?

The film's narrative is spread out over five years. Why draw it out so long? What purpose is served by protracting the time span of the narrative over such a duration?

Why is Ethan so determined to find Debbie?

Ethan Edwards is a virulently racist character. Why don't we therefore despise him? (Or do we?) Also, most racism is born of ignorance, but Ethan is anything but ignorant of Comanche culture. Why is this significant?

What is the significance of the name of the Comanche chief ("Scar")?

How do Ford and Nugent make use of comic relief in this film?

What function does Mose Harper serve in this narrative?

What function is served in the narrative by the subplot of the emerging relationship between Martin Pawley and Laurie Jorgensen?

Aesthetic context

How does Ford make use of doorways in this film? What is their significance?

How does Ford use lighting to draw sharp contrasts between interior and exterior in certain scenes? Why is this significant?

How does Ford use seasonal imagery to underline the emotional content of certain scenes?

Genre context

What conventions of the western genre can you identify in this film?

How does the treatment of western conventions in The Searchers compare with that of Stagecoach, which shares both the same director and the same star?

In what sense is Ethan Edwards a traditional western hero? In what sense does he differ from the traditional western hero?

Rhetorical context

What does the film imply about the nature of hatred?

What does the film imply about the relationship between the wilderness and civilization?

How does the attitude of The Searchers toward civilization compare with that of Stagecoach?