The Searchers
A hardened Civil War veteran embarks on a relentless trek across the Texas frontier to rescue his abducted niece, but as he confronts hostile tribes and his own darkening motives, the line between vengeance and redemption blurs.
“He had to find her... he had to find her...”
Synopsis
As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 140+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Jack MurrayShot by Winton C HochScored by Max SteinerSound by Doug MountainCostumes by Charles Arrico
Box Office
1956 · Box office
Produced on a $3.8M budget
Production budget
$3.8M
Also known as
- Der schwarze Falkede
- (Flemish)De zwarte valk
- La Prisonnière du désertfr
- Sentieri selvaggiit
- (French)La prisonnière du désert
Release dates around the world2 countries · showhide
- United StatesMay 16, 1956
- CanadaMay 26, 1956
Production & Distribution
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Cast & Crew
140 unique people credited
Top billed cast
John Wayne
as Ethan Edwards
Jeffrey Hunter
as Martin Pawley
Vera Miles
as Laurie Jorgensen
Ward Bond
as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
Natalie Wood
as Debbie Edwards - Age 15
John Qualen
as Lars Jorgensen
Olive Carey
as Mrs. Jorgensen
Henry Brandon
as Chief Cicatriz (Scar)
Ken Curtis
as Charlie McCorry
Harry Carey Jr
as Brad Jorgensen
Antonio Moreno
as Emilio Gabriel Fernandez y Figueroa
Hank Worden
as Mose Harper
Supporting cast
37Beulah Archuletta
as Look
Walter Coy
as Aaron Edwards
Dorothy Jordan
as Martha Edwards
Pippa Scott
as Lucy Edwards
Patrick Wayne
as Lt. Greenhill
Lana Wood
as Younger Debbie Edwards
Gertrude Astor
as Wedding Guest
Mae Marsh
as Dark Cloaked Woman at Fort Guarding Deranged Woman (uncredited)
Pipe Line Begishe
as Comanche Indian
Ruth Clifford
as Deranged Woman at Fort (uncredited)
Exactly Sonnie Betsuie
as Comanche Indian
Chuck Roberson
as Ranger at Wedding (uncredited)
Danny Borzage
as Accordionist at Funeral
Chuck Hayward
as Man at Wedding (uncredited)
Peter Mamakos
as Jerem Futterman (uncredited)
Carmen D Antonio
as Carmen
Frank Mcgrath
as Texas Ranger (uncredited)
Tommy Doss
as Wedding Musician
Jack Pennick
as Sergeant at Fort (uncredited)
Pete Grey Eyes
as Comanche Indian
Terry Wilson
as Texas Ranger (uncredited)
Feather Hat Jr
as Comanche Indian
Nacho Galindo
as Mexican Bartender
Jack Tin Horn
as Comanche Indian
Harry Black Horse
as Comanche Indian
Away Luna
as Comanche Indian
Robert Lyden
as Ben Edwards
Cliff Lyons
as Col. Greenhill
Bob Many Mules
as Comanche Indian
Lloyd Perryman
as Wedding Musician
Prince
as Dog
Smile White Sheep
as Comanche Indian
Many Mules Son
as Comanche Indian
Percy Shooting Star
as Comanche Indian
William Steele
as Nesby
Chief Thundercloud
as Comanche Chief
Billy Yellow
as Comanche Indian
Directors
2Writers
2Producers
2Other crew
90Jean Henri Chambois
Antonio Moreno (uncredited)
Frank Hotaling
Art Directors
James Basevi
Art Directors
Victor A Gangelin
as Victor Gangelin
Alfred Baalas
assistant camera (uncredited)
Wingate Smith
assistant director
Vera Tomei
assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
R L Johnston
assistant production manager (uncredited)
Art Cole
assistant property master (uncredited)
Frank Cardinale
assistant wardrobe (uncredited)
Danny Daniels
boom operator (uncredited)
Roy Steele
boom operator (uncredited)
Parents Guide
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Where to watch
Live · bot-verified- The Criterion ChannelStream
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