THE SEARCHERS
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
This week’s entry in TCM’s “The Essentails” is essential for sure. It’s John Wayne, in what I consider the best role of his entire career, playing a bigoted but loyal and determined man hunting down a young girl (Natalie Wood) abducted by Indians. Amazing movie, and if it’s the first time you’re seeing it, not at all what you might expect. John Ford directs, and gets the most from both his leading man and the scenery, which Ford and this film helped make iconic.