A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and the Searchers

The companion disk to "The Searchers" has several different DVD extras and this is one of them. However, it is not the best of the DVD extras--mostly because it tries to sum up this great movie in only 33 minutes--not nearly enough time for such an important film. "A Turning Point" wasn't bad...but just too short. For my time, I much prefer "The Searchers: An Appreciation" because although it's also about a half hour long, it is much more focused (only dealing with the direction of the film) and manages to do a better job because of this. I would love to see some other 'making of' film for "The Searchers" that gives more background, interviews and inside information. But, if you are a fan of the film it's still well worth seeing.

For any western fan, The Searchers is the movie to own. The recent widescreen version that includes Turning of the Earth(for about 35 minutes) in the beginning is the only one to get. Turning of the Earth really gives the viewer a wonderful insight into John Ford, John Wayne, and the making of the movie. When it comes to great moviemaking, the Ford/Wayne team will never be matched.

The title of this documentary is most appropriate. It is taken from the best and most chilling line spoken by Ethan Edwards in the epic film, The Searchers.

Although this is a documentary on the making of the film, I came away feeling it was a documentary on America itself; seen through the image of one of its greatest metaphors, John Wayne.

Anyone who says John Wayne could not act was both right and wrong. Wrong in that Wayne clearly brings everything of Ethan Edwards out in this film, and right because it almost appears that Wayne is not really acting at all; he IS Ethan Edwards. He has always been Ethan Edwards.

He was a giant. When people think of America they say "John Wayne". The Searchers was Wayne's favorite film and he even named one of his sons Ethan.

The Searchers is the ultimate morality play. Viewers who pan it and say Ethan Edwards was a racist and criminal are correct. But he was also an honest, loyal soldier (a soldier's mindset, going beyond military service). "I figure a man's only good for one oath at a time. I took mine to th' Confederate States of America..."

In the end Ethan (and the audience that roots for him) is redeemed by saving Debbie rather than killing her; even though by bringing Debbie Edwards home, his mission will be complete and he will have no place to go. Notice in the last scene how the door shuts on him after everyone else goes into the house.

Ethan sacrificed everything he had for a cause that, once won, would leave him alone, forever. But he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do. He knew that from the beginning. It took the audience until the end of the film to realize it. Best American western film ever made. Better than Shane or High Noon.

The Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers (1998)

*** (out of 4)

Patrick Wayne, John Milius, Pippa Scott, Lana Wood, Dan Ford and Peter Rainer (as Harey Carey, Jr.) lend their voices to this rather interesting look at the making of THE SEARCHERS. This is a rather weird way to tell a story but it actually works nicely. The voices will tell their piece of the story, mention their name and then the next actor will tell their story. This documentary runs just over a half hour and does a pretty good job at talking about the various details in the production. This includes the original story, the title change, it being bought to get Ford and Wayne back together and then the shooting of the picture. We get some pretty good stories about the production, it's unbearable heat and the various reaction to the people involved. This includes stories about what was done once filming was over and why Ford and Wayne brought so much to the picture. With such a short running time you're obviously not going to get the complete story of the filming of the movie but for the most part I think this does a nice job at telling you some great stories and at least giving you an idea of what went on in the picture. There's plenty of behind-the-scenes footage, which is great to see and we even get a couple outtakes from the picture. Fans of the film will certainly want to check this out.