The Searchers Quotes

Ethan Edwards Well, Reverend, that tears it! From now on, you stay out of this. All of ya. I don't want you with me. I don't need ya for what I got to do.

Mrs. Jorgensen It just so happens we be Texicans. Texican is nothin but a human man way out on a limb, this year and next. Maybe for a hundred more. But I don't think it'll be forever. Some day, this country's gonna be a fine good place to be. Maybe it needs our bones in the ground before that time can come.

Laurie You're not goin', not this time.

Martin Are you crazy?

Laurie It's too late. She's a woman grown now.

Martin But I gotta go, Laurie, I gotta fetch her home.

Laurie Fetch what home? The leavings a Comanche buck sold time and again to the highest bidder, with savage brats of her own?

Martin Laurie, shut your mouth.

Laurie Do you know what Ethan will do if he has a chance? He'll put a bullet in her brain.

Laurie I tell you, Martha would want him to.

Martin Only if I'm dead.

Reverend Clayton I say we do it my way. That's an order!

Ethan Yessir. But if you're wrong don't ever give me another.

Quotes about The Searchers Another speaker, Amanda Milius, is the daughter of John Milius, who was the screenwriter for the first two Dirty Harry films and Apocalypse Now. She grew up in L.A. and wound up in the Trump administration. She argued that America needs to get back to making self-confident movies like The Searchers, the 1956 John Ford Western. This was an unapologetic movie, she asserted, about how Americans tamed the West and how Christian values got brought to “savage, undeveloped land.” This is about as dumb a reading of The Searchers as it’s possible to imagine. The movie is actually the modern analogue to the Oresteia, by ]. The complex lead figure, played by ], is rendered barbaric and racist while fighting on behalf of westward pioneers. By the end, he is unfit to live in civilized society. But we don’t exactly live in an age that acknowledges nuance. Milius distorts the movie into a brave manifesto of anti-woke truths—and that sort of distortion has a lot of buyers among this crowd.

Reverend Clayton Well, the prodigal brother. Ain't seen you since the surrender. Come to think of it, I didn't see you at the surrender.

Ethan I don't believe in surrenders.

Ethan Edwards Well, Reverend, looks like you've got yourself surrounded.

Reverend Clayton Yeah, and I figure on getting myself unsurrounded.

Cavalry soldier It's hard to believe they're white.

Ethan They ain't white, not anymore. They're Comanche.

Reverend Clayton You wanna quit Ethan?

Ethan That'll be the day.

Reverend Clayton Jorgenson!

Ethan Why don't you finish the job?

Reverend Clayton What good did that do ya?

Ethan By what you preach... none. But, what that Comanch believes - ain't got no eyes... can't enter the spirit land... has to wander forever between the winds. You get it Reverend.

Ethan What you saw wasn't Lucy... What you saw was a buck wearin Lucy's dress. I found Lucy back in the canyon. Wrapped her in my coat, buried her with my own hands, I thought it best to keep it from ya.

Brad Jorgensen Did they...? Was she...?

Ethan What do you want me to do? Draw you a picture? Spell it out? Don't ever ask me! Long as you live, don't ever ask me more.

Brad There's only one way you can stop me from looking for Lucy, mister, and that's kill me!

Ethan Alright, but I'm giving the orders, hear. I'm giving the orders or we're splitting up right here and now!

Martin Pawley Well sure Ethan. The only real reason were here ain't it - is to find Debbie and Lucy?

Ethan If they're still alive.

Ethan Edwards I figure a man's only good for one oath at a time. I gave mine to the Confederate States of America.

Martin You know, Laurie, I was just thinking that maybe it's about time you and me started going steady, huh?

Laurie Jorgensen Why Martin Pawley, you and me been going steady since we was three years old!

Martin We have?

Laurie Bout time you found out about it.

Ethan Edwards Let's go home, Debbie.

Ethan Edwards That'll be the day !

Taglines The Biggest, Roughest, Toughest ...and Most Beautiful Picture Ever Made!

Martin Debbie... Debbie, Debbie, don't you remember? I'm Martin, I'm Martin, your brother, remember? Debbie, remember back.

Martin Do you remember how I used to let you ride my horse? And tell you stories?

Martin Oh don't you remember me, Debbie?

Debbie Edwards I remember, from always. At first I prayed to you to come and get me, take me home. You didn't come.

Martin But I've come now, Debbie.

Debbie These are my people... Go. Go, Martin, please!

Taglines He had to find her... he had to find her...

Quotes about The Searchers *], as quoted in (18 November 2021), The Atlantic

Ethan Edwards Our turnin back don't mean nothin', not in the long run. She's alive, she's safe for a while. They'll keep her and raise her as one of their own til, until she's of an age to... Injun will chase a thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then, he quits. Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter that'll just keep comin on. So we'll find em in the end, I promise you. We'll find em. Just as sure as a turnin of the earth.