tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post6699086353199210539..comments2024-03-22T14:34:39.101-04:00Comments on MONDO 70: A Wild World of Cinema: Book into Film: THE SEARCHERS (1956)Samuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-46034638169739782162012-03-31T20:58:52.392-04:002012-03-31T20:58:52.392-04:00Fortunately, I get an e-mail copy of every comment...Fortunately, I get an e-mail copy of every comment posted here, so here's what Sam J's referring to:<br /><br />"Well Samuel, I have not read "Warlock", but my own favorite Western novels are "The Ox-Bow Incident" by Walter Van Tilberg Clark, and "Shane" by Jack Schaeffer. I have read LeMay's "The Searchers" and as always have marveled in your stupendous comparative study in your usual scholarly fashion. Frank S. Nugent was a former critic for THE NEW YORK TIMES, and his screenplay for the film is justly celebrated for it's reverence for LeMay's dialogue even with the substantial changes you have engagingly chronicled here. The powerful "reaction" shots of Wayne's seething anger are indeed unforgettable, and Edwards is absolutely someone quite different from any previous and subsequent Fordian character. You mentioned 'existential' here, but I think it is applicable to Ford's character, the most complex role of John Wayne's career. You may may be right about Ford adoption of the Jorgensens to accomodate that actor's shtick! Ha! (Yes John Qualen's turn in "The Grapes of Wrath" is untouchable) And your delineation of the merging of the Moss Harper and Lije Powers characters is persuasive. Likewise your explanation of the expansion of Ward Bond's Texas ranger character.<br /><br />I agree that the racism is more palpable in LeMay's novel than it is in the film.<br /><br />The best movie western? If it isn't "The Searchers" then it's "High Noon" for me. It's a very close call. "<br /><br />To which I'll respond: I've read Ox-Bow Incident but not Shane yet, which ought to be soon now that I've started a project of reading more western fiction. As for the best movies, my short list is probably as predictable as anyone's. Depending on my mood it's either Searchers, The Wild Bunch or Once Upon a Time in the West, with a bunch of Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher films crowded up right behind.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-71801597791684633362012-03-31T16:23:41.864-04:002012-03-31T16:23:41.864-04:00Wow Samuel. I left a reasonably comprehensive res...Wow Samuel. I left a reasonably comprehensive response here to your review, which successfully printed. (I checked up afterwards).<br /><br />Now it is GONE.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com