John Ford · 1956 · overland

John Ford's 1956 Western, from Alan Le May's novel. Confederate veteran Ethan Edwards rides home to his brother's west Texas homestead, only for a Comanche raid to massacre the family and carry off his young niece Debbie. With Martin Pawley he sets out on a five-year search across the Southwest, driven by a hatred he must finally master the day he finds her.

1. 1
   The Edwards homestead

   Ethan Edwards, back from the war, finds a home with his brother's family - until Chief Scar's Comanche raiders burn the ranch, kill the family, and carry off nine-year-old Debbie.

2. 2
   Eastern New Mexico

   The search drags into years, Ethan and Martin Pawley trudging through the New Mexico desert, chasing rumours of a girl grown up among the Comanche across the whole Southwest.

3. 3
   The Oklahoma Panhandle

   In a winter camp on the northern plains they find Scar at last, and Debbie, now a young woman among her captors - and Ethan's long-nursed intent to kill her rather than let her live Comanche.

4. 4
   The Jorgensen ranch

   At the raided village Ethan sweeps Debbie up, his hatred breaking at the last, and carries her home to the Jorgensens - himself left framed in the doorway, unable to cross in.