The Searchers: An Appreciation

This is one of several DVD extras that were on disk 2 of the film "The Searchers".

Three directors (Curtis Hanson, Martin Scorsese and John Milius) all participate in this unusual DVD extra. Instead of just discussing the film "The Searchers", these three men discuss both their own initial reactions to seeing this film when they were young as well as their impressions about what in this film made John Ford a great director. Because of this, this short film is not just of interest to the average viewer but is a great primer for up and coming directors as it has lots of specific information--things that set this film apart from other films and that made it a classic. What I liked in particular were their descriptions of the benefits of VistaVision--something you can't appreciate on a TV or even if the film is sent to a revival theater today. All in all, it's very interesting--particularly to film buffs. Perhaps the average viewer won't care so much for all this but if you give it a chance it does help to bring "The Searchers" to life and helps you appreciate it all the more.