Research Into A Western Opening Scene

 I am researching the opening scene of The Searchers which is a Western film. It was released in 1956 and directed by John Ford. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. and it includes the cast of John Wayne, Natalie Wood and Jeffrey Hunter.

The opening scene is effective as it sets up many themes which the audience can assume are going to become more apparent throughout. The opening scene begins with displaying the credits which also creates context for the audience as the titles say ‘Texas 1868’. A common convention of a western film is presenting the onset of civilization which is conveyed through the opening scene where the audience sees the

wilderness versus civilization. The use of lighting in this scene portrays how the wilderness conveys themes of freedom shown through the use of bright light used contrasting with the Martha walking out of her home which is dark conveying the reality of civilization and restrictions creating context of the time and setting. This creates a clear divide as well which is a common convention of a western film.

In this opening scene, we are introduced to Martha, Ethan, Aaron and the children. It is clear to the audience that Martha and Ethan are in a romantic relationship through the use of affection they show each other. Ethan enters riding through the wilderness on a horse portraying him as a stereotypical masculine western hero conveying the western genre. It takes place in the desert/wilderness of Texas which is conveyed through their accents, setting and opening credits and the costumes use also help to portray the time period of 1868. Through the use of dialogue, the audience is given context that Ethan has been fighting in the civil war which makes the audience engaged as it leaves them wondering how long has he been gone and what happened in his time away. The use of a longer shot duration and focusing on Ethan makes it clear to the audience that he is the protagonist of the film. When they all sit down for a meal together, the soundtrack used when Martin rides his horse towards their home is upbeat and joyful giving context to his character. However, when he enters and goes to sit down with them for the meal, the soundtrack changes to a slower tempo and played with lower notes conveying a sense of tension between Martin and Ethan. This engages the audience as we question why there is a sense of hostility now at the table and awkwardness between the characters. It makes the audience wonder what Ethan has against Martin and if they have a history together.

To conclude, I believe this opening scene is effective as it portrays the western genre through the use of dialogue, mise-en-scene, sound and themes portrayed throughout this opening scene. The audience is given context of the setting, time and characters and we are also introduced to the protagonist of the film. This opening scene leaves the audience wanting to know more as we are left with questions about the relationships between the characters and how this will affect the plot of the film.