Scorsese and Spielberg Agree: This Is the Most Influential Film Ever
When it comes to the greatest movies ever made, few opinions carry as much weight as Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Both directors are considered legends in Hollywood, and their picks often highlight films with lasting impact. One movie they both agree on as being the most influential is the 1956 John Ford classic, The Searchers.
The film stars John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who sets out to rescue his kidnapped niece, only for his mission to become a darker journey fueled by hate. Scorsese told the American Film Institute, “He literally acts out the worst aspects of racism in our country. It’s right there. You can see the hate. And you can also see how he could go that way.”
He called the movie powerful and said it reflected a shift in American cinema during the 1950s. “It was 1956, the repression of the ‘50s and things were changing. The movie business was changing, and what you could say in a movie too… These films are coming out and they’re showing this underbelly of the American psyche at that time.”
Spielberg has also praised the film, noting that he often watches it before starting his own projects. “I turn on a John Ford film – one or two – before every movie, simply because he inspires me,” he said. “He is like a classic painter. He celebrates the frame, not just what happens inside of it. I have to look at The Searchers. I have to – almost every time.”
The Searchers is widely recognized as a cinematic milestone. It was directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on Alan Le May’s novel. The story takes place during the Texas–Indian wars and explores themes of revenge, racism, and morality. The film was shot in VistaVision and Eastmancolor and became both a critical and commercial success.
Over the years, it has been celebrated as one of the greatest American Westerns. In 2008, the American Film Institute named it the best Western of all time. Sight and Sound magazine ranked it seventh in a 2012 poll of the greatest films ever, and the French magazine Cahiers du Cinéma placed it at number 10 in 2008.
The United States Library of Congress also selected it for preservation in its National Film Registry in 1989, calling it culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
The movie’s depiction of Native Americans and the violence committed by both sides has sparked discussion for decades. Critics and scholars note that the Comanches are shown as ruthless, but Ford also gives them motivations and dignity.
Legendary critic Roger Ebert wrote that Ford was trying to show the racism that justified genocide, even if imperfectly. Cultural critic Greil Marcus described Wayne’s character as “the good American hero driving himself past all known limits and into madness, his commitment to honor and decency burned down to a core of vengeance.”
The Searchers remains a film that challenges viewers with its complex themes and unforgettable performances. Its influence on generations of filmmakers, from Scorsese to Spielberg, is undeniable.
It’s easy to see why this film has such a lasting impact. The Searchers isn’t just a Western, it’s a deep look at human flaws, morality, and society at a turning point in history. Its influence on storytelling and film technique is clear, and it’s no surprise that two of Hollywood’s greatest directors still find inspiration in it.
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