The Searchers: From Novel to Screenplay

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The Western Genre

2) It must have one of the seven basic plots found in westerns such as, the Union-Pacific Story, the Ranch Story, the Empire Story, the Revenge Story, the Calvary and the Indian Story, the Outlaw Story or the Marshal Story.

The Searchers is based on the Revenge Story as well as the Calvary and Indian Story. Ethan must get revenge on the Indians for kidnapping Debbie and transforming her into a savage. Towards the end of the story, the Calvary (led by Ethan) attacks the Indian village to rescue Debbie and ultimately to kill the savages.

The Calvary attack on the Indians (A2zcds.com)

3) It must contain certain character types such as, the townspeople or agents of civilization, the savages or outlaws and the hero.

The Searchers uses all of these character types within the story. The civilized people from the Ranch are introduced at the beginning of the story and forgotten until the very end. Ethan is the hero of the story and is in a constant struggle with the savages, primarily Scar, the antagonist.

 

Ethan and Scar at the Comanche Village (tcf.ua.edu)

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Justin De Clercq

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin De Clercq