The legendary Ward Bond appeared in over 200 projects across his lifetime, starring in renowned Westerns like Rio Bravo, Wagon Master, and Fort Apache. However, one movie that stands above the rest is so prominent that it’s found its place in the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Film Registry—an honor shared by classics like Citizen Kane and The Godfather.
The film in question is The Searchers, a compelling frontier epic featuring the expert direction of John Ford and an iconic performance from John Wayne—just one of 23 films the actor starred in alongside Ward Bond, including Fort Apache. Indeed, their timeless chemistry ensured The Searchers‘ preservation by both the National Film Preservation Board and within the cinematic zeitgeist.
Why The Searchers Is Ward Bond’s Best Movie
Though Bond is best remembered for his work as a supporting actor, one of his most memorable performances came in The Searchers as Reverend Captain Samuel Clayton, the fearless leader of the Texas Rangers who rallies a rescue party in pursuit of Ethan Edwards’ (John Wayne) abducted nieces Lucy (Pippa Scott) and Debbie (played by sisters Lana and Natalie Wood).
The brilliance of Ward’s performance as Clayton is in its juxtaposition to Wayne’s Ethan Edwards, a morally ambiguous drifter whose brutality often leaves the audience guessing as to what his next move may be. Clayton, on the other hand, is a pragmatic leader driven by his duty as both a Texas Ranger captain and a morally grounded preacher.
The Searchers Deserves Its Place In The National Film Registry
By definition, the U.S. National Film Preservation Board selects 25 films each year that it recognizes as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant“ for its annual Registry, and The Searchers meets each of these metrics with staggering ease.
Culturally, the film is as iconic as John Wayne’s fearless gait. Historically, it captures the calloused spirit (not realism) of the frontier better than every Western of its time. Finally, the film may very well be John Ford’s most aesthetically-appealing movie—a feat that wouldn’t be possible without the help of his frequent collaborator and Oscar-winning cinematographer Winton C. Hoch.
The National Film Registry was founded in 1988, and The Searchers was one of its first inducted films.
Yes, by definition, The Searchers is an essential piece of filmmaking history for its broad impact on cinema and the greater cultural landscape, often being hailed as the definitive Western by cinephiles and historians alike. Furthermore, the film remains Ward Bond’s finest performance, and its placement in the National Film Registry has ensured that he will be remembered “in aeternum.”
