American Idol, Part 2: Tragic and Alone

Subhead

Essays from West of 98

The ending of John Ford’s epic 1956 “The Searchers” is one of the most famous scenes in Western film. John Wayne portrays Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who spends years hunting his niece Debbie, who was abducted as a child by Comanche raiders. After a bloody battle, Ethan removes Debbie from the Comanches and he delivers her to those she knew as a child. In the final moment...

To access content, please login or purchase a subscription.