Summary: The film follows Ethan Edwards, a civil war veteran who's niece has been captured by Comanche Indians. He is accompanied by his adopted nephew Martin, who is one eighth Native American. They spend several years looking for Edwards niece Debbie, and eventually discover her being held captive as a wife of the Comanche chief Scar. She has been transformed into a Comanche and refuses to be rescued. Later in the film Edwards along with some friends rediscovers the Comanche tribe, killing several, including Scar, and rescuing Debbie. The film also follows the romantic story of Martin and Laurie, who are forced to be apart by this long journey but Laurie never gives up on their love. It is a classic western with a mysterious main character portrayed by the great John Wayne.
Whites:
The film's central characters are all white Americans, portrayed as superior above the other races. John Wayne is clearly the protagonist in the film and treats the other white characters with respect and equality. They even go as far as to discriminate against a seemingly white character, Martin. Martin is not completely white and in the beginning of the film we see how this bothers Ethan (John Wayne.) The white characters are pitted against the Native Americans and are shown as superior over the Mexicans in some bar scenes. This era of Western Films usually featuring John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and a few other stars, portrays the cowboys and the war veterans as heroes usually with an antagonist of Native Americans.
Ethan and Martin on the search for Debbie https://reelantagonist.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/the-searchers/
Non-Whites:
The film focuses the audiences anger and hatred towards the Native American tribe of Comanches. They kidnapped Debbie and essentially turned her into a slave. Let it be noted that no mention of African American slavery ever comes about, although it is understood that Ethan (John Wayne) fought on the confederate side of the Civil War. The Indians are portrayed as savages, covered in feathers and war paint, toting around the scalps of their enemies. Ethan, Martin, and company have absolutely no regard for the Natives lives, firing with ease and killing them. The Mexicans are simply portrayed as somewhat lowly, they work for the whites and in the bar, serving the white Americans and presenting them with prostitutes. Although there are definitely inaccuracies seen in the portrayals from this film, a lot of the perspectives we see the non whites hold true for white Americans at the time. Whites did not hesitate to kill the Native Americans they saw as savage and although at this time Mexicans had gained freedom and citizenship in the U.S, they were still treated as lesser.
Chief Scar of the Comanche Tribe that took Debbie hostage https://emerdelac.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/the-searchers-why-scar-is-played-by-a-white-guy/
The "West":
Western films were popular in this time period of the 1950's and 60's, a white hero is always portrayed as a cowboy pitted against Native Americans or criminals of the time period. The characters are almost always weathered and very tough, showcasing what living in this western frontier has done to them. The west is portrayed as a wild untamable land, filled with violence and unpredictability at every turn. However there is a certain community to it, as we see the dealings between Mexicans, Natives, and whites. The most accurate portrayal of the west may not be in these films but it is certainly an exciting and entertaining portrayal which is the goal of these films at the end of the day.
Ethan Edwards played by John Wayne, walking off into the unruly wild west at the end of the film. http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/10/16/john-fords-the-searchers