The Searchers Trivia

1. The movie "The Searchers" was based on what?

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: a novel

The novel was written by Alan LeMay, copyright 1954. In the novel Ethan's character was named Amos, and Marty's father was named Ethan. (He was killed by Comanches when Marty was about 8.)

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: The Searchers

The song "The Seachers" was written by Stan Jones.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Jeffrey Hunter

Jeffrey Hunter plays Martin Pauley, who was taken in by the Edwardses' when his parents were killed in an Indian attack. Jeffrey Hunter was also in "King of Kings". He played Jesus Christ. Michael Landon played Little Joe Cartwright on "Bonanza", William Shatner was Captain Kirk in "Star Trek", and Ricky Nelson was in another John Wayne film, "Rio Bravo".

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: a rocking chair by the fire

Ethan informs Mose that the reward still stands -- but Mose replies that he doesn't want money -- he just wants a rocking chair of his own.

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 1

Answer: 1868 -- Texas

The movie opens on the Texas desert, in the year 1868... several years after the end of the Civil War.

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: Monument Valley

Director John Ford filmed many of his movies in Monument Valley, which is located in southeast corner of Utah.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Sergeant

In the beginning of the movie, when Ethan rides up, he is wearing a Confederate Sergeant's uniform. The yellow chevrons and yellow stripe on the pants indicate Confederate cavalry. Notice the great condition of the uniform after 4 years of war, and three years after the war.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Comanche

The Comanches stole some cattle of the Jorgensens, to lead most of the men away from the houses. While Ethan and Marty are away, the Comanches attack. This is why Ethan and Marty survive.

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: "He-Who-Follows"

Scar calls Ethan "Big-Shoulders" -- and decides that the "young one" (Martin) is "He-Who-Follows."

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 1

Answer: Martha

Martha is the first person to see Ethan striding toward his brother's family's cabin. Aaron is the first to call him by name, and the children are told by their older sister Lucy that the approaching man is "Uncle Ethan."

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: Samuel Johnston Clayton

We hear Ethan address him as, "Captain the Reverend Samuel Johnston Clayton...mighty impressive." This was when they first meet in Aaron's home. John Wayne and Ward Bond played football together at U.S.C. and went on to star in many pictures together.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Hank Worden

Hank Worden appeared in many of Wayne's movies, as well as in countless other movies. He appeared in many TV character roles throughout the years from "The Lone Ranger" to "Petticoat Junction". He has his own video which is called "Thank Ya, Thank Ya Kindly", based on his life and acting career.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Scar

Scar was the name of the Indian chief. He leads Comanche raid parties. Jerem Futterman, who owned a store, knew there was a reward for helping to find Debbie. He told Ethan and Marty that she was with a tribe led by Chief Scar. He was played by Henry Brandon.

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: the Confederate medal that Ethan gave Debbie

After trying to scare Ethan and Martin with scalps, Scar tries a different tactic: he shows Ethan a Confederate medal he wears around his neck: "Seen this before?" Of course Ethan recognizes it as the one he gave to Debbie -- instead he scoffs that the purpose of the meeting is to trade, not "admire" Scar's "collection."

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: just as sure as the turning of the earth.

Little did he know that the search would take over five years.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Lorena

"Lorena" was the most popular song of the Civil War and was sung by both sides. Director John Ford must have liked it, as it was played throughout "The Horse Soldiers" also.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Captain

Rev. Capt. Sam Clayton is an ordained minister, but he also happens to be in the Rangers. Ward Bond was in other John Wayne movies, including "The Quiet Man" and "Rio Bravo".

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: "I knew you would come and rescue me -- I never gave up."

Debbie tells Martin: "I remember, from always. At first I prayed to you: 'Come and get me. Take me home.' You didn't come." Martin insists, "I'm here now." But Debbie ignores him: "These are my people! Go! Go, Martin, please!" (She interjects this last plea with the Comanche word for "go")

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Martha, Lucy, Debbie, Ben

Martha was Aaron's wife, the others were his children. Walter Coy played Aaron, Dorothy Jordan played Martha, Pippa Scott played daughter Lucy, Natalie Wood played daughter Debbie as an older girl, and her sister Lana Wood played Debbie as a young girl. I was unable to determine the boy's name who played the son, Ben.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: "That'll be the day."

Ethan frequently says "That'll be the day". When Brad tells Ethan he will fight him, Ethan replies with this line. When Marty says to Ethan, "I hope you die!", Ethan tells him "That'll be the day."

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: Ethan's will, indicating that he's leaving his property to Martin

Ethan asks Martin to read his will. Martin, stumbling over much of the wording, realizes then that Ethan is choosing him as heir only because his "blood kin" Debbie, as been "living with a buck." Angered, he tells Ethan he doesn't want the property.

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis also played in many other films directed by John Ford. ("The Horse Soldiers", "Mr. Roberts", and uncredited in "How the West Was Won", "Rio Grande" and "The Quiet Man".)

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Capt. Clayton

This was early in the search, when Capt. Clayton asked Ethan if he wanted to quit the search. He did say it the most times to Marty though.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Laurie

Laurie is played by Vera Miles, who was in another John Wayne movie, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance".

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 1

Answer: to distract the men while the Comanches raid one of the cabins

Ethan comes to the right conclusion: "Stealin' the cattle was just to pull us out. This is a murder raid." The target, the men know, is either the Jorgensen's place, or the Edwards' place.

From Quiz "The Searchers", Part II

Answer: American

Scar replied to Ethan, "You speak pretty good Comanch', someone teach you?" This is when they first see Debbie. Ethan tries to make Scar think they are just traders, but Scar isn't fooled.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Spiritual

Ethan told Capt. Clayton that "the Comanch' believe without eyes he can't enter the spirit land...has to wander forever between the winds". Ethan always refered to the Comanche as Comanch'.

From Quiz The Searchers

Answer: Charlie McCorry

Marty never asked Laurie to wait for him, and never actually told her he loved her. After almost 5 years of waiting, Laurie agreed to marry Charlie McCorry. Charlie was played by Ken Curtis.

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 2

Answer: he is the prime suspect in Futterman's murder

Mr. Jorgensen doesn't want to let Ethan and Martin into the cabin, because many of the guests are, in fact, Texas Rangers -- men who have been looking for them in order to find out who murdered Futterman.

From Quiz "The Searchers" Part 1

Answer: in the family cemetery

In one last, desperate act, Martha sends her daughter out one of the cabin windows, with instructions to hide by the grave of her mother-in-law. But it matters not -- Debbie (as well as Lucy, her older sister) are found by the Comanches, and abducted.

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