Ford's best western.

Beautiful photography, but the acting it's plain dull. It aged badly.

Not Ford's best,

A great western. For those who mark it as rather backward in some of its ideals, simply think of the times. Beautiful locations and a strong overreaching main plot helps to brush away some of the pretty bland subplots and supporting actors.

This is both John Wayne's and John Ford's best film

Fairly bland. Western is my favorite genre and this definitely is not a classic among them. Wayne is completely wooden throughout and a lot of it felt cheesy. Both Ford and Wayne have been part of much better westerns.

I was promised shots framed through doors. And boy howdy I wasn't disappointed.

two different films -- one is the dark, harrowing tale of two men searching for a girl, the other is a wacky comedy that involves romance.

This film has problems--particularly in its treatment of native Americans and its corny humor--but there's enough really great stuff here to make this a masterpiece. Ford always knew where to point his camera, and told his story so economically he had room for many other things too. Besides, there is a depth to Wayne's performance and an ambiguity in the director's view of his protagonist that make this film richer in meaning than any other movie by Ford.

Some knock this for its perceived conservative mindset and racism, but I don't think it embraces these, just considers them. Ford tries to avoid drawing a clear line between good and evil, and if it comes off a bit sloppy, Wayne's ambiguous anti-hero is a legitimate and authentic aspect of this period in American history. Beautiful photography and epic landscapes set the mythic tone. Not without flaws - dated acting and awkward comedic relief - but for me it's an engrossing and thoughtful film.

My favorite opening and closing shots.

#7

LOL John Wayne is the funniest man ever. Great western film from the golden age of Hollywood.

On the one hand it isn't a classical Western, as there aren't any of those classical duels, but on the other hand it is classical concerning the Indians-are-evil-plot. However, one can see that it is not cheaply done and even the racist agenda can be seen as authentical although it's not to my taste. More interesting is that it is a movie of the 1950s and conveying 50s attitudes foremost concerning women.

John Ford's gorgeous commentary on racism and the death of the old cowboy persona in the west. Ford's handling of the race issue is fairly sloppy at best, but the more intriguing aspect of the story to me is how it portrays the beginning of the end for the ruthless, take-no-prisoners cowboy that once dominated the screen. The final shot of Ethan, fresh off his brutal slaughter of a Comanche village, shuffling onward alone, into the desert is one of cinema's all-time great endings.