Embittered ex-Confederate soldier Ethan Edwards (John Wayne, pictured) returns from war to find his brother and sister-in-law killed and his nieces kidnapped by Indians. Learning that one niece (Natalie Wood) is alive, he and his nephew Martin (Jeffrey Hunter) search for her. Edwards is determined to kill the Indians who captured her, even at the expense of saving his niece.
Ford and Wayne made an incredible 22 films together, during which they developed a longstanding friendship and mutual respect. Ford gave Wayne his big break in 1939 with Stagecoach, ensuring the B-movie actor's move to screen icon and box-office star. Ford helped develop Wayne's heroic screen persona and directed the actor in this 1956 movie, considered by many to be his best performance.
The Searchers is a Film programme that first aired in 1956 and has been classified a PG certificate.
