Originally Posted by Birdwatcher
Quote
The Searchers could have been a great film, but I always thought Wayne was the worst possible choice.


The thing about "The Searchers" is, as far as I know the most famous 1860's era guy riding out armed and alone against all odds into Comanche territory to recover lost children was a Black guy, technically a slave actually. I forget his name but famed Texas historian T.R.Fehrenbach gives a pretty good account, saying how on the Texas Frontier the guy was know as "N&gger Jim" something.

Ya I know Hollywood is Hollywood but what we get in "The Searchers" is a whitewashed version of a remarkable Texas epic. The way Fehrenback tells it, the Comanches, impressed by Jim's evident courage and purpose, didn't just up and kill him but actually helped him in his search. Jim going on to recover both his own and some of his (White) neighbors kids.

Largely because of his reputation, Jim was awarded a teamster contract in the 1870's to supply a Panhandle fort (I forget the name). Jim and two other teamsters were killed by Kiowas, the story has it that Jim's body was found lying behind his horse, which he had killed for cover in the classic Plains manner. A whole bunch of fired shells from his rifle surrounded his body, which lay unmolested, covered by a buffalo robe.

Leastways that is the way Fehrenbach tells it.

So John Wayne looking for Natalie Wood in heavy make-up (her, not him) is sort of a pale reflection of the remarkable original.

As for the True Grit remake, better in realistic grime and weapons IMHO, but not nearly the ENTERTAINMENT that the first one was.

Birdwatcher

Is this story contained in Lone Star? the book is residing on a shelf about four feet from where I type. I've never heard it before and I would put myself up against nearly anybody here where Texas history is concerned. I would like to read it.

Have you read the Alan LeMay novel? Have you read The Unforgiven, also by LeMay?

I agree quite a bit with your assessment of the two True Grit's. I did a separate thread, as this one was long gone and the search function has never worked well for me. Maybe I can find mine in my posts rather expediently.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4795287/True_Grit#Post4795287

There is a link to my comments. I would rate them both as equals. The very next day the old version was on so a comparison was easy. I still don't understand why the Coens left out certain things that enriched the other movie so much. Perhaps to set a more somber tone?