John Ford’s The Searchers (1956) stands as one of the most iconic and influential westerns in American cinema, a film that both embraces and critiques the myths of the American frontier.  

This 4K restoration of Ford’s masterpiece brings its breathtaking Technicolor landscapes and complex moral undertones into sharp relief, offering modern audiences the chance to re-experience a classic that has shaped generations of filmmakers and continues to resonate with its exploration of race, identity, and obsession. 

The Searchers follows John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who embarks on a years-long quest to rescue his niece, played by Natalie Wood, after she is abducted by Comanche warriors. Wayne’s portrayal of Ethan is one of his most complicated roles, blending the heroic with the deeply flawed as the character’s obsessive pursuit raises questions about his motives and the dark undercurrents of American expansionism. Ford’s use of Monument Valley as the film’s stunning backdrop elevates the epic scope of Ethan’s journey while imbuing it with a haunting, symbolic power. 

By pairing The Searchers with Paul Schrader’s Hardcore, this double feature explores how the archetypal quest narrative has been reinterpreted over time, offering a rich comparison between Ford’s classical western vision and Schrader’s gritty, urban descent into moral ambiguity. Both films delve into the lengths one man will go to in the name of redemption, revealing the complexities and contradictions of American identity in vastly different yet connected landscapes.