The Searchers (1956)

'The searchers' is not only considered the greatest western ever made, but is usually listed in critics top ten films of all time. I personally prefer Sergio Leonie's movies which have a grittier , darker portrayal of characters and memorable antagonists with suspenseful shootouts. Unfortunatly, the searchers lacks one of the key ingredients for a truly great western which is the music. Ennio Morricone is one of the greatest composers of all time and his score in Leonie's dollar trilogy and 'once upon a time in the west' made the films very memorable and helped set a mood for each scene. The searchers score is forgettable without the thrill and suspense of Morricone. John Wayne plays his typical cowboy role as a powerful, caring fella bent on revenge. His performance is acceptable but shows only one side to the character: his fearlessness. This is however, an extraordinary achievement with some fantastic scenic shots of the west and some carefully crafted camera angles. The last scene is perfect as Wayne pleasantly strolls away from the family home out into the open desert proving a delightful conclusion. I don't believe it is the greatest western of all time but it is certainly definitive of the western genre with (almost) all of the conventions.