Movie #37: The Searchers. Or really, cowboys vs. indians.

Title: The Searchers

Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles

Directed by: John Ford

Year: 1956

Number on the AFI List: 12

According to the AFI List, I should’ve liked this movie a lot more than I did. Not saying that it was a bad movie- it was shot beautifully, Ethan’s (John Wayne) character arch was fantastic, and the story was compelling, but still, it wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m still not a Western fan, even with John Wayne as the leading man.

Ethan’s niece, Debbie, has been kidnapped by Comanche Indians, led by their leader, Scar, after the Comanche’s killed the rest of their family. Ethan sets out on an epic journey to find his nieces with his nephew, Martin (Jeffrey Hunter), the only surviving relative. They face hardship, hunger, and loss of humanity as they try to piece together where the Comanche might be. Along the way, we meet Laurie (Vera Miles), the girl who Martin should be engaged to if he would get his act together. They provide a sense of family and support as Ethan and Martin go on their journey together. Even when they finally find Debbie, Ethan has to decide if he wants to save her, or kill her (which provides a fantastic character journey for Ethan).

I will say, the comedic elements of this movie were fantastic. So many little moments happen in the midst of the drama that provided laughs. The “fight” between Martin and Charlie was hysterical, and the reverend getting his behind sewn up at the end of the movie was the icing on the cake. I especially loved when Martin accidentally got married to a Native American woman.

Favorite scene: Laurie reading Martin's letter about accidentally getting married.

Will I watch it again: I won’t rush, but I won’t say never.

Movie #36: Rear Window. Or really, too much time on your hands.

Title: Rear Window

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Year: 1955

Number on the AFI List: 48

FINALLY, a Hitchcock classic on the AFI list! And starring my man Jimmy Stewart, no less!

Rear Window is a fascinating film set in one room, with the majority of the action taking place in the apartment building next door. It’s a hot summer in Greenwich village, so everyone is living with their windows open. This is convenient for Mr. Jeffries (Stewart).  He’s wheelchair and home bound with a broken leg, so there is nothing better for him to do than to look out the window and watch the different narratives taking place in his neighbor’s apartments. In the midst of this, he becomes suspicious that one of his neighbors, Mr. Thorwald (Raymond Burr), killed his wife. Thus, the main plot of the film is Mr. Jeffries, his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), and his masseur Stella (Thelma Ritter) trying to figure out how the murder happened and convince Detective Doyle (Wendell Corey) that Mr. Thorwald is guilty. The plot is filled with romance, suspense, and drama, never boring, well written and acted.

This film displays the fascinating storytelling Hitchcock is known for creating; in the midst of the main plot, we get to see six other lives played out from Mr. Jeffries’ point of view. The most memorable are Mrs. Lonelyhearts, who can’t seem to find love, the single dancer who constantly dances in her apartment, the tortured composer, and the husband and wife who prefer to sleep on their fire escape. This quirky set of neighbors all live in their own little world with little to no contact with one another, leaving plenty of room for assumptions and suspicion.

Favorite moment: When the couple on the fire escape have to rush to bring in their mattress before it rains.

Will I watch it again: Probably!