The Mythmaker: Decoding John Ford | The Plot Thickens (S5 E6)

Episode 6 – The Mythmaker

At the height of his powers, John Ford directs his masterpiece, an anti-racist Western called The Searchers. It’s a movie of contradictions: John Wayne plays the hero, but he’s driven by hate and revenge. He’s searching for his niece, with the intent to kill her. Behind the scenes, Ford continues to use Monument Valley as a generic backdrop for the West without once acknowledging that it’s sacred Navajo land. And while Ford considered himself a friend to the Navajos, his portrayal of Native Americans is fraught with stereotypes. But these damaging images were used in service of creating a complex, fascinating film that dared to condemn bigotry and has mesmerized generations of film fans.

00:00 – Old Fat
03:54 – The Searchers
10:34 – The Desert Set
14:42 – Navajo Land
21:35 – The Racist Hero
31:44 – Finding Debbie
35:45 – The Final Shot
40:31 – A Vision Of America

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