'The Searchers' Opening Scene Analysis

 

The Searchers Opening Scene

 

Reviewing The Searchers as a film that is so highly regarded as one of the best in the Western genre, it is understandable that the opening scene of any film, let alone this one, sets up lots of themes and thoughts for analysis, in terms of comparing it to the rest of the film. The opening scene highlights the theme of the mythic in terms of how the film begins with a demonstration of the wilderness versus civilization - the most seminal theme throughout a Western. After the opening credits which creates context to the film, set in 'Texas 1868', the camera follows Martha Edwards emerging from her household, yet it is critical to note how Martha is walking from the darkness, from her home, toward the bright light from the open landscape or the wilderness. The use of dark versus light, conveys the stark difference between the oppositions and how they represent the context of the time in nineteenth century America. It is interesting to note how the wilderness is represented by bright light, showcasing the blue skies and open desert (famously filmed in Monument Valley), as it represents the freedom, and purity of nature and the endless opportunities and potential of endlessness. Conversely, the darkness coming from behind Martha portrays the reality of civilization; the restrictions and social responsibility that is embedded within communities and institutions. This in turn sets up the quest narrative that is associated with Western films, and particularly with the theme of the mythic and epic as it demonstrates how there is a clear divide between the two. Also, as Martha looks out to the wilderness, watching as Ethan arrives, foreshadows to the audience as to what may happen as the wilderness and civilization meet.

The mythical entrance of Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) riding through the valley toward the house, reinforces the iconic American hero due to the masculine appearance and ideology as constructed by society that a strong man who comes to the rescue on a horse from the rough and isolated desert. This conveys a binary opposition since the wilderness is generally described as being masculine, and civilization being feminine, which emphasizes the difference, as shot in the opening scene. Again, it highlights the notion of the epic, since the film uses the landscape to show the paradigm of the West. It is also interesting to note that the opening scene, is symmetrical to the closing scene as Ethan enters back into the household (though it being the Jorgensen property) bringing Debbie, a representation of the acts of savagery in the West, into the civilized home. To me, this illustrates the importance of the context at the time considering both the wilderness and the Western frontier, compared to the civilization of the East as the United States of America transformed.