June 9, 2025
What does the most commercial movie maker in history think of the most iconic shot in movie history?
During the early days of filming Westerns with John Ford, Harry Carey developed his iconic arm pose where he grabbed his right arm with his left hand at the elbow. The gesture would permeate throughout Ford's films by other actors.
Harry Carey grabs his elbowAfter Carey died in 1947, Ford would continue to cast Carey family members. Both Harry Carey, Jr. and Carey's widow Olive appeared in "The Searchers" (1956). And, so, in the final scene The Duke honors Harry Carey by grabbing his right arm.
Though the brief gesture might have been inspired by Carey's widow (she had just walked by him into the house), it was felt far beyond the Carey family. After Wayne, as Ethan, grabs his elbow he turns to walk back out into the wastelands. He has no home.
“John Wayne walking through the door in silhouette out onto the desert [is the best shot in cinema.] I think the film is still one of the best Westerns ever made.”
—Ridley Scott
Bob it appears he grabbed the right arm not the left here? Is it reverse imposed?
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