I’ve always enjoyed making pictures. I like the people that I’m around. I like the actors, the actresses, the grips (1), the electricians… Regardless of what the story is, I like to work in pictures. To me, it’s always a job of work.”
John Ford
(1) The crew in charge of carrying the camera
Anticipation
Background information
- In pairs, define the characteristics of the Western genre. You can organize your ideas in a mind map.
- Then look for a brief definition and the dates of the following historical events and sum them up in one sentence :
- The gold Rush
- The Civil War / Secession War
- Manifest destiny
- The Trail of Tears
- The Lewis and Clark expedition
- The Transcontinental railroad line
- The Homestead act
Listen to Martin Scorcese and sum up his opinion about John Ford and the movie . drive.google.com/file/d/1EA5lmcxcVWq3Xyku6JvNUbodsCb7C3wS/view?usp=sharing
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For this activity, the class will be split into 4 groups ranging from A to D
Group A : The landscape
1/ Observe the opening shot of the film and explain the use of black contrasting with colors in the background.
drive.google.com/file/d/1KMxpgCG9rzmGC8wXJs2ujJXmgiexHm6D/view?usp=sharing
Analyze the goal of the camera movement following the character from inside to outside (this movement of camera is called a dolly-in.)
2/ John Ford uses many extreme long shots in The Searchers. Observe the following examples:
a/ Account for the visual effect of the lines created by the landscape.
b/ Study the contrast of scale between the natural setting and the characters.
drive.google.com/file/d/1KMxpgCG9rzmGC8wXJs2ujJXmgiexHm6D/view?usp=sharing
Analyze the goal of the camera movement following the character from inside to outside (this movement of camera is called a dolly-in.)
2/ John Ford uses many extreme long shots in The Searchers. Observe the following examples:
a/ Account for the visual effect of the lines created by the landscape.
b/ Study the contrast of scale between the natural setting and the characters.
3/ Which impression is created by the use of pans in the film. (A pan is a shot where the fixed camera follows the movement of characters across the screen, from left to right or right to left.)
drive.google.com/file/d/1eTXimGeecD1gGuBKgqzWbT6gFGhDRX2-/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1eTXimGeecD1gGuBKgqzWbT6gFGhDRX2-/view?usp=sharing
4/ Say why the change of weather and scenery is relevant to the plot of the film.
#1 drive.google.com/file/d/1g7FXbGDAqrSIlmQprK7eUsDnxJZQXoiZ/view?usp=sharing
#2 drive.google.com/file/d/1BK_MmKX2KrkYaQJbtk5zxUaNLw9akVt_/view?usp=sharing
#2 drive.google.com/file/d/1BK_MmKX2KrkYaQJbtk5zxUaNLw9akVt_/view?usp=sharing
5/ Explain the following quotes in the light of American history (see videos above) :
a/ Jorgensen: “Oh Ethan, this country…” “This country killed my boy”
b/ Mrs. Jorgensen: “Some day this country will be a good place to be. Maybe it needs our bones in the ground before that time can come.” (00:45:58).
6/ Watch the following shots and say how the characters use the landscape to their benefit.
a/ Jorgensen: “Oh Ethan, this country…” “This country killed my boy”
b/ Mrs. Jorgensen: “Some day this country will be a good place to be. Maybe it needs our bones in the ground before that time can come.” (00:45:58).
6/ Watch the following shots and say how the characters use the landscape to their benefit.
7/ a/ Pick out three examples where the landscape helps the main characters in the plot of the movie.
b/ What do these examples suggest about the relation between men and landscape?
b/ What do these examples suggest about the relation between men and landscape?
Group B : The homeland
3/ Account for the possible meaning of the characters holding a lamp.
4/ Watch the attack of the Edwards’ house (00:16:12 to 00:19:25) Analyze the symbolism of colors in that scene.
drive.google.com/file/d/1b9me-0EoKzdMTGlS0Iyw08rxPlKLysc0/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1b9me-0EoKzdMTGlS0Iyw08rxPlKLysc0/view?usp=sharing
5/ Comment on the quote by Mose Harper (1:15:25): “Don’t want no money, Ethan. Don’t want no money, Marty. Just a roof over my head… and a rocking chair by the fire.”
6/ Watch the wedding scene at the Jorgensens’ (1:29:25 to 1:38:30).
a/ Explain how this scene contrasts with the rest of the film.
b/ Explain why the fight between Martin and Charlie must take place outside.
drive.google.com/file/d/1EK5LxBPb4XGR5IiKj8N3jYc_GzEHMOhu/view?usp=sharing
6/ Watch the wedding scene at the Jorgensens’ (1:29:25 to 1:38:30).
a/ Explain how this scene contrasts with the rest of the film.
b/ Explain why the fight between Martin and Charlie must take place outside.
drive.google.com/file/d/1EK5LxBPb4XGR5IiKj8N3jYc_GzEHMOhu/view?usp=sharing
7/ Compare Martha’s sentence “Welcome home, Ethan” at the beginning of the film to Ethan’s line at the end: “Let’s go home, Debbie”
8/The movie starts with a door opening and ends with a door shutting. Say what this suggests about the structure and the message of the film.
8/The movie starts with a door opening and ends with a door shutting. Say what this suggests about the structure and the message of the film.
Group C : The motherland
3/ Explain the symbolism of women holding pillars and door frames.
4/ Mr. Jorgensen says several times about his wife: “She was a schoolteacher”. Explain what this phrase implies about the role of Mrs. Jorgensen.
5/ Focus on the character of Debbie.
a/ Analyze the scene of Debbie’s escape through the window .
b/ Explain the symbolism of Debbie’s doll found by Ethan
drive.google.com/file/d/1r5wrw9w0q-OHIvgIySPfvN3_8w44xmsA/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1-gNwB7CxmFNrmxcS2Wz9sZUanUuqGDcv/view?usp=sharing
5/ Focus on the character of Debbie.
a/ Analyze the scene of Debbie’s escape through the window .
b/ Explain the symbolism of Debbie’s doll found by Ethan
drive.google.com/file/d/1r5wrw9w0q-OHIvgIySPfvN3_8w44xmsA/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1-gNwB7CxmFNrmxcS2Wz9sZUanUuqGDcv/view?usp=sharing
c/ Comment on Debbie’s use of both English and Comanche
d/ Observe the way Ethan holds Debbie at the beginning and at the end of the film: what does it suggest about their relation?
d/ Observe the way Ethan holds Debbie at the beginning and at the end of the film: what does it suggest about their relation?
6/ Focus on the character of Look, Martin’s Indian wife. Pick out elements showing she becomes a homemaker/housewife.
drive.google.com/file/d/1B4x395Au6j-WZaXBWY6vmJ2lEsGvg5Sj/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1B4x395Au6j-WZaXBWY6vmJ2lEsGvg5Sj/view?usp=sharing
Group D : The landowners
1/ a/ Pick out the origin of Martin Pawley.
b/ Pick out the term used by Ethan to refer to Martin’s descent: what does it reveal about Ethan’s opinion on Indians?
drive.google.com/file/d/11TKDM9wHeGMTw4-YjT1GR4XGjhD3YZAG/view?usp=sharing
b/ Pick out the term used by Ethan to refer to Martin’s descent: what does it reveal about Ethan’s opinion on Indians?
drive.google.com/file/d/11TKDM9wHeGMTw4-YjT1GR4XGjhD3YZAG/view?usp=sharing
2/Observe the following shot:
a/ Compare the lines formed by the Indian riders and the White riders.
b/ Explain how this shot can be a metaphor of the American West.
a/ Compare the lines formed by the Indian riders and the White riders.
b/ Explain how this shot can be a metaphor of the American West.
3/ Ethan says about the Natives: “Seems like he never learns there’s such a thing as a critter (= a creature) who’ll just keep coming on”. Explain how this quote can be a form of historical dramatic irony.
4/ Watch the scene where Martin trades with the Natives . Account for the effect of the absence of dialogue.
drive.google.com/file/d/1hCfbZ8wqZwJg4wOkwfGPUmlTes0mFIPZ/view?usp=sharing
4/ Watch the scene where Martin trades with the Natives . Account for the effect of the absence of dialogue.
drive.google.com/file/d/1hCfbZ8wqZwJg4wOkwfGPUmlTes0mFIPZ/view?usp=sharing
5/ Compare the stories of Debbie and Look: what are the common points and differences? How do their two storylines echo each other?
6/ Analyze the structure and the movement of the following shot
6/ Analyze the structure and the movement of the following shot
7/ With the help of the pictures below, analyze the mirror effect between the story lines of the White characters and the Native characters. Why is this mirror effect emblematic of the Conquest of the West?
8/ Explain the symbolism of Ethan entering Scar’s tent on his horse.
Plenary
1/The movie begins and ends with the song The Searchers by Stan Jones and Max Steiner.
What makes a man to wonder
What makes a man to roam?
What makes a man leave bed and board,
And turn his back on home?
Ride away, ride away, ride away
a/ Explain the use of interrogative forms in the lyrics.
b/ Pick out the verbs related to the notion of wandering and explain the symbolism of this lexical field.
c/ Analyze the use of imperative forms in the phrase “Ride away”, and the effect of the repetition.
2/ The last scene of the film represents different sets of characters entering the house, before the door shuts:
a/ Explain what each set of characters symbolizes.
b/ Ethan is the only one who remains outside and leaves. What does it reveal about this character’s role in the whole movie?
drive.google.com/file/d/10Chx8CcfpJrFQMZaDqLsDDtlROM9jc6c/view?usp=sharing
What makes a man to wonder
What makes a man to roam?
What makes a man leave bed and board,
And turn his back on home?
Ride away, ride away, ride away
a/ Explain the use of interrogative forms in the lyrics.
b/ Pick out the verbs related to the notion of wandering and explain the symbolism of this lexical field.
c/ Analyze the use of imperative forms in the phrase “Ride away”, and the effect of the repetition.
2/ The last scene of the film represents different sets of characters entering the house, before the door shuts:
a/ Explain what each set of characters symbolizes.
b/ Ethan is the only one who remains outside and leaves. What does it reveal about this character’s role in the whole movie?
drive.google.com/file/d/10Chx8CcfpJrFQMZaDqLsDDtlROM9jc6c/view?usp=sharing
Task : To what extent does Ethan Edwards embody the myth of the American hero? Justify your answer with elements from the film and write about 200 words.