Question 4: There are quite a few battle scenes in The Searchers. Comment on the one I played in class (it begins it at 29:50 minutes). What can you say here, among many other things, about comparative masculinities? Also, what can you say about film form and these epic battle scenes?
22 Replies to “Digital Assignment #4–A Battle Scene”
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Whenever Scar is shown, there is dramatic music playing. The kind of dramatic music that suggest that there is something bad going to happen, so automatically, the viewer assumes the Indians are the bad guys in the movie. The tone of the music tends to grow much lighter when we see the cowboys. It is also interesting the way in which this scene was shot. The cowboys are traveling on their horse and on either side of them, there are Indians traveling parallel to them on the horizon. This makes them appear mysterious and looming, and with the music, there is a sense of looming danger, especially when they start to close in on the cowboys. A good exhibit of what masculinity is about in the West is when Ethan continues to shoot at the Indians even after the other men have stopped and the Indians have withdrawn. The Reverend tells him to stop and Ethan replies that he has to go off and do what he has to do on his own because nobody else can do the job. This sort of masculinity is confident, aggressive, and stubborn. Ethan always seems to think he is the best guy for the job and we get the sense he feels the most manliest of all the other men since he puts them down a lot.
The music is escalating as the battle scene comes into place. The scenery is serene but you can feel the tension between the two opponents rising. The masculine Native American chief Scar is very serious and angry and ready for blood. Ethan has a sarcastic tone and mentions how they are surrounded, but he never once acts scared. The sheriff says how he will get himself unsurrounded. Ethan is very skilled with the gun, as one man runs out of bullets, He nonchalantly pulls out another gun and throws it over to the man, he says “careful, its loaded.†Even when the men have stopped shooting, Ethan is relentless and has a personal grudge against the Indians. When the man gets in the way of his shot, Ethan gets frustrated and says, “Stay outta this, I don’t need ya for what I gotta do.†There is also a man in the scene who is very goofy and that is an added comedic twist to the scene.
Although I am normally not a huge fan of violence or battle scenes, I really liked this scene in the movie. I thought the buildup to the actual fight was done really well with the camera angles and the music. I liked that you could see everyone riding their horses, and you could feel the tension and anticipation building as they moved.
Again, I agree with what Joanna says about the music that is played every time Scar is shown. It is low and threatening really portraying the Indians as the evil villains of the film. Also, the film shows the Indians chanting and calling in strange foreign sounds. This is unfamiliar to the Americans in the film, and who are most likely viewing the film, creating an idea of a fear of the unknown. Because they can’t understand them and they are different from them they must be bad. Of course, Ethan is the ultimate man so he can understand some of the language, but most of the other Americans can not.
This was a beautifully manicured scene from the beginning. The wide shot of the desert and the deep focus on the Native Americans in the background gave a sense of anticipation and nervousness, not felt in many of the other scenes. The men with Ethan appear to be amateurs next to him and the experienced Native Americans. I agree with Mariel about Scar. He is very masculine and serious. The scar on his face emphasizes his ability to withstand pain. I think that Scar is a character that the viewer could counter-identify with Ethan. Both men look rugged and weathered, they have experienced battle before and it does not bother them. Ethan has this sense of superiority and confidence over the rest of his men, saying that he does not need their assistance with where he is going. I always got the sense that Ethan felt most masculine and capable out of the men, even when facing Scar he shows no fear.
I think the framing of this scene was especially interesting. Joanna stole my thunder a bit in this respect, but I do agree that the placement of the Native Americans in the scene was a very telling and interesting. This is especially true at the beginning of the scene, when we only see one troop of Native Americans. As the white men ride their horses, the Native Americans are ridding parallel with them on a ridge above them. The effect is that both groups are more or less in focus, and the Indians are looming above them. This gives them a sort of an ominous presence, as we see that they are poised for attack. The ensuing shot, in which the white men are flanked by two groups of Indians, furthers this ominous presence, as they are surrounded.
One thing I found especially interesting in this scene is the fact that, even though the white men are barely ahead of the Indians as they break into a gallop, they reach the river way before the Indians, getting almost to the other side before the Indians reach it. This elevates the white men and shows them to be vastly superior horeseriders than the Indians. Even though they were practically even to start, the white men crushed the Indians in a relatively short gallop. This goes along with the idea that the Indians are the “others,” shown continually to be inferior over the course of the film.
I agree with Joana and Suzy’s comments regarding the battle scene. As the Indian’s prepare to ambush and attack the cowboys, music is played that predicts something bad is about to occur. This music does emphasize that the Indian tribe are the villians, and further expresses that the cowboys are heroes. Both the Indian’s and the cowboys are presented as masculine however. We see the Indian’s barely dressed, which shows off their physical strenght. Also, their face paint and war crys were quite intimidating. Ethan represents the masculine figure in his group not being threatened by the tribe and willing to do whatever it took to fight them off. This movie depicted the masculine American man as being brave, tough and willing to anything in the name of a greater good. Ethan was determined to rescue his neice, and his predjuice against the Indians drove him further to reach his goal.
The way that the battle scene is set up was very interesting as well. With the large western landscape, we the audience are able to see everything that is taking place with clarity. I liked how the director set up the battle scenes so that we could see the true dangers of riding in an open plain. The Indians are more familiar with the land and it appears they would have an advantage, but the cowboys prevail and defend themselves adequately.
When I watched this scene I couldn’t help but think of how ridiculous the Native Americans were portrayed. They were in stereotypical dress and made stereotypical noises, and were generally portrayed in a negative light. Also, they played Native American sounding music in the background whenever they were shown – the music was almost dark and angry sounding. It was obvious that they were tying to say that they were the “racial others” who were beneath the white cowboys. The mere fact that four or so men took down over a dozen Native Americans (and their horses) just shows that they were trying to glorify the idea of American masculinity while saying that Native Americans are not as masculine and cannot fully defend themselves against white men.
I agree with Krystina that juxtaposed against the Native Americans, the cowboys, and particularly Ethan, were presented as more masculine and superior overall. Within the dynamic of the white men as well, Ethan is presented as the toughest and manliest of the bunch. One instance that displays this comparison particularly well is the contrast between Ethan and the character Mose. Mose is clearly more than a little crazy, and is presented as the comedic balance to Ethan’s die-hard angry seriousness. During the battle scene, Mose shoots at the Native Americans, but is laughing as he does, making fun of the Native’s war cries. Ethan, during this time, is deliberate, focused, and has a cool yet angry demeanor as he shoots down the opposition. It seems that Mose’s character is largely there to provide an extreme opposite to Ethan’s character, in the context of men. This contrast emphasizes Ethan’s qualities of serious anger, and collected purposefulness.
Since the viewers are seemingly not meant to take Mose seriously, it is implied that within Ethan’s character are qualities of masculinity which should be taken seriously.
I agree with Rachel that Ethan is clearly the most manly but I think that it is because of the surrounding people. If Ethan was around any other men that were decently smart and had any idea of what they were doing then Ethan would not seem nearly as cool. The battle scenes do have epic ballads to clasify that there is danger and what not. The shots were really well done as Hannah had said before they were even better when I looked at them the second time. It was very classic cowboys and Indians in the fact that the Indians were doing their stereotypical war cries and they were no match for the great Indians and their rifals. The scene almost made me a bit mad actually because it was so overly masculine and made John Wyne out to be too cool. It was just annoying that I the whole movie I knew that he would find the girl and win all his battles and be the hero. It was frustrating that even though we knew that scar was the bad guy and was evil, that we also knew he never would win against the good old USA. Scar had blue eyes as well and that really bugged me.
I thought the battle scene was very epic. There were lots of long shots showing the sprawling landscape and the galloping horses in all directions. As Joanna originally said, the music is incredibly dramatic. It did create a lot of tension. It was booming and intense. It would be hard to imagine the battle scene being as moving without any music. Unfortunately, like Krystina, I was very struck by how foolishly the Native Americans were portrayed. They were certainly made out to be very stereotypical. The film was very umsympathetic towards them, and they just seemed like awful savages. The music also sounded a little stereotypically Native American as well when they were on camera. The director was certainly trying to assert that the Natives were evil and out to kill the innocent, and wanted viewers to see Ethan as the unstoppable hero who will take them all on and could win.
This is quite the epic battle scene. As opposed to most fights where there is instantaneous battle this one was drawn out for a time. As the cowboys ride on we can see one of the Natives signaling from a hilltop. For a while it seems very peaceful as the two lines of Natives gradually converge on the cowboys. This is underscored by the malevolent and ominous music playing in the background. This does well to build the tension before all characters snap into action. The interactions between the Natives and cowboys, specifically Scar and Ethan tells a lot. To me personally Scar is a better person than Ethan. Scar is looked down upon because he killed some white people. In the movie however, it’s noted that Ethan has killed many Natives and throughout the movie it seems he has no greater pleasure. Whereas Ethan is a loner and looks down upon those around him Scar is noted to be a great leader and provides for those who follow him. Just as many people have used Debbie as a way to show Ethan’s humanity the same can be said of Scar. When he finds her he does not kill her and instead takes her into the community. Once she is found years later she has clearly been well cared for and is reluctant to leave. Scar possesses positive masculine traits while Ethan possesses the negative.
Ethan, here, is put up against a foil, his opposing character, the Reverend. As I said in a previous post (on the topic of the trailer) the quote “Looks like you got yourself surrounded” stuck out to me, as well as the response. Both character express a need to do things themselves. The Reverend doesn’t respond for the men or even acknowledging them he is singular in his response “Yeah, and I figure on getting myself unsurrounded.” Not only is there a lack of reliance, but there is also no hint of the other men or even Ethan being included. He isn’t trying to get them “unsurrounded” just himself. I found this independence to be a main aspect, mainly concerning Ethan as hi entire character is based off of independence and protection. Most, if not every, act that Ethan commits can be connected to protection while we watch, and continually make note of Ethan’s lack of conformity, support and reliance.
This battle scene was very well done. It wasn’t overdone or overly dramatic. It was drawn out but not too much; it it built up enough that the audience can feel the tension. As a lot of the class agreed, the music was a major factor in the tension building of this scene and it depicted the mood of the characters. It seemed peaceful at first when the cowboys and the Indians were simply walking in their separate lines on separate sides of the desert. The tension begins to build when the Indians begin to surround the cowboys. I agree with Krystina in that the Indians were portrayed very stereotypically in the way they were dressed and the music that was played only when the Indians were on camera. And the fact that the film clearly showed that the white cowboys were outnumbered by the Indians, yet the Indians were easily defeated by the white men shows that the white men were clearly superior to the Indians despite being heavily outnumbered. The white men were considered more masculine than the Indians and this was clearly expressed in the fight scene.
For me, whenever I see scenes with both Scar and Ethan I see a lot of similarities in the way their masculinity is portrayed. I think in the battle scene especially the other characters are a little more nervous and hesitant to fight whereas Scar and Ethan, although on opposite sides of the battle, they are both fully ready to go into battle and neither seems like they are going to give up. Both of them seem to be very reserved characters and also very strong minded, I like how two characters that are so alike are rivals in this movie, and find it very fitting.
“I think that Scar is a character that the viewer could counter-identify with Ethan. Both men look rugged and weathered, they have experienced battle before and it does not bother them.” I am so glad someone said this! Throughout the movie I wondered at Ethan’s particular bitterness toward the Comanche. It seems to be a dramatic rule that all fictional protagonists must have within themselves some uncanny similarity to their most despised antagonist. As I watched this scene, Scar and his tribe made a strong impression on me with their coolness and hardness, two words that also resonate with Ethan’s personality. They are different, separate, the “other” – but so is Ethan. Thus, as the reverend acknowledges at the end of the battle, Ethan is the only one who can defeat them and bring Debbie home. Ethan is rather superhuman as a character but rather than portrayed as the masculine ideal, this role is shown as a rather undesirable one. Ethan is more of a weapon: he is a cold and necessary tool, the only one that can get the job done, but therefore incapable of returning to and participating (like the reverend and Marty can) in the idyllic family life of the American West we see in this movie.
I agree with Krystina in the way that the Native Americans were portrayed in this battle scene. It showed them in a very typical manner and steriotypical way. People who are savages and ruthless killing machines. It does show masculinity for both White and Native American men. However, the Native Americans masculinity is shown in a negative and unnatural way. Although I am one who does not advocate violence or killing, I believe that this scene was important to the movie and the plot, because it juxtaposes Ethan to the rest of man kind. This is particularly shown when Ethan yells at one of his own men telling him to stay behind for the rest of the journey. In doing this, it shows Ethan as a man who is powerful and capable of doing just about anything. His personality goes along with the battle scene in the way that it portrays confidence and success. Epic battle scenes such as this one is vital in a western movie so that the audience may see how faithful people are towards their beloved country.
I think it was extremely funny how the mentally challenged guy said “god please forgive us for that which we are about to receive” and nothing really happens to much of their company. I think it was too fake because the general was fighting along the banks with no protection next to Ethan and didn’t even dodge one bulllet of get stricken by one. The filming flaw there was that they didn’t make the river seem that wide and therefore it doesn’t make sense that the fearless Scar, who I believe is on the same level as Ethan wouldn’t just cross the river. It’s almost as if they didn’t want to fight. In terms of the acting I liked it, the Indians were hit came with a second wave and then they learned their lesson. For a man with such wild west experience I think it would have been more realistic that he would have been able to kill Scar immediately, but then he wouldn’t have gotten his niece.
I thought it was somewhat strange that the Reverend would want to be involved in such violent actions. He is extremely excited about shooting the Indians. As he kills them he yells, “Hallelujah!” This shows that he might not be as religious as he should be, or that protecting his community is more important than being faithful to God’s ways. The reverend is the one who organizes the brigade and charges the Indians. He does not seem very skilled as his work as a brigade leader though, as he becomes surrounded by Indians on all sides. Here the viewer sees a wideshot with Ethan’s brigade in front and Scar’s horses and men behind them on a hill, both walking at the same pace.
I agree with mostly everyone else in that the important part of the battle scene was how the Native Americans were portrayed, comapred to how the Cowboys were portrayed. First of all the attack seems to be unprovoked making the Natives from the start the antagonist. Then, as the coyboys ride easily across the river, the navites all go flying off their horses the second they touch the water. The river in this scene sperates two oposing parties each of which thinks they are fighting for their home and their way of life, which adds a whole new dynamic to the scene. An important thing to notice also about the Cowboy position is that they barely even got hurt despite killing many Natives in the battle, they even have time to joke around and make light of the situation.
It was a very unreal battle scene. In reality, the Indians would have been victorious within minutes. This just goes to show that this movie HAD to portray how the masculine ideal aka “the cowboy” as a winner. The audience expects them to win. If they didn’t win, it would ruin the image of the tough guy.
This scene has many of the classic conceptions of the the others. In war propaganda is used to dehumanize the enemy and make him seem like a nonhuman. The location of the different groups in the battle scene plays on the casting of the Comanches as others. The shots go between the texas rangers and the comanches quickly to cast the battle as a epic struggle between two different peoples.
The characters are placed in important pairs in this scene. We have Ethan and the Reverend, Mose and Ethan’s sidekick (his name slips my mind) and then these two pairs of white masculine characters versus scar. So each of the groups presents a different type of masculinity. We have Ethan and his brashness versus the Reverend and his peace keeping. And they play against Scar and his portrayal as a non human
Here, comparative masculinities for me is really about comparing the one main, most manly man from each culture, and comparing/contrasting them with one another, Ethan and the Native American leader who adorned the large hat, symbolic of his huge amount of power in the tribe. There was a wide/long shot with the “cowboys and Indians.” The masculine Native American was wearing copious amounts of face-paint and makeup, so as to almost be one with nature and kind of blend into the desert, but also to stand out because he is never afraid of a fight to defend his God-given land. The Native American also adorned spears and guns. I felt it weird how they had guns, I though just Americans had them, but I am not sure about that. Also, the Native Americans rode mustang-like horses, showing that they all could tame the wild beasts within them and conquer nature and their environment to their needs, no matter how impossible it may seem. They wore no shirts (one with nature, again), and their leader adorned his very special hat to sort of rally his troops, if you will, and go into battle, maybe the hat had do with the afterlife, and preparation to enter it… Ethan does a super “cool pose” while the Indians are charging at him firing, not even flinching or trying to fight back, waiting until they got even closer. He also has a big rifle. (“Speak softly and carry a big stick” (Teddy Roosevelt).) Marty is kind of not really masculine, but then again, he is, because he is sad when he does hit one of “his kind” (He is 1/8 Indian.) After all, to be masculine according to Marlboro ads is to even be “tender and patient,” so maybe a man SHOULD be in touch with his emotions and FEEL sometimes, and even do the right thing occasionally. A man is also very independent, as when Ethan angers the Reverend by saying, “I don’t need you for what I got to do.” The comedic relief character who is very mentally slow (forget name) is a comedic foil juxtaposed against Ethan to show Ethan in a more manly way.