Analysis of "The Searchers"

         Throughout the movie “The Searchers”, the different aspects of cinematography mentioned by Kilpatrick and Simmon were made apparent.  When we would see Ethan, Martin, and the other men (in the beginning) searching for Lucy and Debbie they would be seen from a lower camera angle high up on their horses.  Almost every time you would see in men out searching for the girls they were up on their horses, riding fast, with the occasional heroic, positive music playing in the background.   But, when any of the Indians were in the scene we would get the opposite feeling.  It was made plain that they were the villain through the banging drum background music, angry expressions on their faces, and the tone they would have in their voices when they spoke (both in English and native tongue).  It was made known by the end of the movie who the heroes were supposed to be, and who the villains were supposed to be. 

        The characters that they story was being told through were mainly Martin and Ethan.  They would continue to search for Debbie through the entire movie until she was found.  From the beginning of the movie we get the feeling that the integration of Indians, or of anyone who associates with them may not happen.  Ethan makes it apparent to Martin, who is 1/8 Cherokee, that even though he was raised in the family he is still an Indian by blood.  It is made even more apparent, through Ethan again, when Debbie is found and they tell her to come with her and she refuses, saying that Comanche had now become her new family after all these years.  After this encounter, Ethan does show more acceptance to Martin by having him in his will if he were to die.  This leaves us thinking that Ethan will not want Debbie back, rather killed along with the other Comanche, because of what she said.  But, little do we know Ethan, and Martin, will continue to do everything they can in order to bring Debbie home to her real family, saving her life and not taking it.  This too may show that eventually the acceptance of Indians could happen, by the little step made of saving Debbie rather than killing her, or leaving her behind.