Scar

I have seen this film at least 20 times and regard it as the greatest western ever made ... at times, it reminds me of a ballet the way the characters interact with each other (Ford does exactly the same thing on Three Godfathers, which has wonderful set pieces). On other watchings, I see is as a great silent film the way so much of the story is actually not said ... Wayne's famous look back at the outpost where he meets the rescued white women; Marty bursting into tears when he shoots his first Indian; Ethan throwing off the cover of his rifle as he rides into the devastated ranch of his brother; the way his brother's wife cares for Ethan's belongings. So much depth to the story ...

Anyway, on my 20th look at the film I think I noticed something new. When 'Scar' comes across the little girl in the cemetery he does not have a scar. Later, when Ethan remarks on the scar and why the Indian now carries that name, it twigged. Much is made at the beginning of the movie when Ethan's nephew is gifted his war sabre ... did the boy give 'Scar' his injury in the family attack? Just a thought ... once again, you can read so much into the movie. That's what makes it so great.