MovieChat Forums > The Searchers (1956) Discussion > John Wayne was just plain annoying, tota...

John Wayne was just plain annoying, totally unlikeable

posted 10 years ago by Lin301
40 replies | jump to latest

I just couldn't stand John Wayne's character in this movie, totally ruined it for me; he came across as an annoying prick trying to be badass by putting others down and show no respect whatsoever for anyone, I don't understand how anyone could have any sympathy for a constantly angry one dimensional character like this, especially compared to other western heroes such as Clint Eastwood in the dollar trilogy and Yull Brynner and Steve Mcqueen in the Magnificent Seven; these were also somewhat rough, even anti-heroic characters, but at least they had heart and were guys that the audience could root for

[–] Bantam_Storm 9 years ago

I've had to retroactively give this a 5/10 because the ridiculous portrayal of Natives is too much to ignore. John Wayne was a good actor but I agree that his characters do not hold up well.

"Neckbeards hate and ruin everything."

[–] nickm2 9 years ago

the ridiculous portrayal of Natives is too much to ignore.

What portrayals are those? We got Scar who basically burns with hate to avenge his family. Then we got mellow 'go along to get along' Comanches like 'Wild Goose Flying in the Night Sky's clan.

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] jesscejnar 9 years ago

I'm wondering if Bantam Storm is referring to the fact that the natives are supposed to be Comanches, but are dressed in Navajo garb and are speaking the Navajo language.

[–] nickm2 9 years ago

I doubt Bantam knows the difference...

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] turtletommy 9 years ago

I doubt Bantam knows the difference...

Yeah, ditto.

Also, Ford hired the local Navajo where he filmed the picture. If their dress and speech wasn't accurate to the Comanche people they were playing neither was Monument Valley as Texas. It was a movie, a story- director Ford's vision.

[–] cfwente 9 years ago

Yes. And more than that, it is an elegy like other Ford pictures. (Eg., She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man) A story-telling approach misconstrued by many of the "literalists" going to the movies today.

[–] beresfordjd 9 years ago

I am no fan of Wayne - in fact I avoid his movies like the plague. The one exception is The Searchers. His character is meant to be unlikeable with evil intent. Wayne is as good as he ever was in this film. It has it's moments of humour but it is as dark a western as I ever saw. It is very much of it's time (1956) so the violence in it is not as explicit as it would have been if it were made today. Everytime this film is on TV I have to watch it just once more and it is always as absorbing.

[–] mallaverack 8 years ago

Yes, I agree with your opening sentences.Must admit though that I would watch John Wayne over and over again in "The Conqueror". His portrayal of Genghis Khan has left me almost sick from laughter every time I have viewed the movie. Hard to imagine that both The Searchers and The Conqueror were made in the same year.
Saw The Searchers again just days ago and am very impressed with Wayne's portrayal of Ethan. But as has been discussed on these posts, the increasing number of insights that come with multiple viewings is remarkable. Has anybody else thought back on the cheesy campfire scene when Wayne is quite deliberately provoking Jeffrey Hunter by throwing more wood on the fire. When Hunter finally leaps to an upright position, Wayne quite noticeably pats him on the backside which elicited a response something like "Hey, what's got into you?"!
I might be drawing a long bow but it this yet another joke on Ford and Wayne's behalf. A little bit of gay humour, way ahead of its time?

[–] 8 years ago

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