Hondo (1953)

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

Louis L'Amour (short story "The Gift of Cochise")
James Edward Grant (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 November 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Western

Tagline:

...They called him 'HONDO'

Plot:

Army despatch rider Hondo Lane discovers a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches, and he becomes their protector.

Plot Keywords:

Native American Attack | Apache | Cavalry | Rancher | Dog

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

John Wayne	...	Hondo Lane
Geraldine Page	...	Angie Lowe
Ward Bond	...	Buffalo Baker
Michael Pate	...	Vittorio - Chiricahua Apache Chief
James Arness	...	Lennie - Army Indian Scout
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Silva
Leo Gordon	...	Ed Lowe
Tom Irish	...	Lieutenant McKay
Lee Aaker	...	Johnny Lowe
Paul Fix	...	Major Sherry
Rayford Barnes	...	Pete - Card Player in Saloon

Also Known As:

They Called Him Hondo (USA) (pre-release title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Chiricahua

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | Norway:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #16575) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico

Company:

Wayne-Fellows Productions

Trivia:

John Wayne was originally to be only the producer of Hondo for his Batjac company, and wanted Glenn Ford for the title role. But Ford had such an unpleasant working experience with director John Farrow on their previous collaboration, Plunder of the Sun (1953), that he turned down the offer. So Wayne then took on the role himself.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Hondo runs up a small rise to jump on a horse, the white shirt of the person holding the horse can be seen briefly at the left.

Quotes:

Vittorio: You are Apache. Now, hear me. Pony soldiers are near. Soon will be ford-remembered fight. They will come here first. You will not go with them, white man.
Hondo Lane: I will not.
Vittorio: Leader of pony soldiers will question you. You will say you see Apache trailing to the west.
Hondo Lane: [refusing to comply with the additional instruction] This I will not do.
Vittorio: You will not?
Hondo Lane: I will not.
Vittorio: [to Mrs. Lowe] You have good man. Treasure him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Assault and Batteries (#8.24)" (1994)

Cavalry scout Wayne finds love and a family at a desolate ranch.

Although this movie fared poorly in comparison to Alan Ladd's Shane, it stands up better, as John Wayne's portrayal seems truer to reality than Ladd's "pretty boy" image. This is truly an underrated John Wayne film. The interaction between Wayne's Hondo and Ward Bond's Buffalo Baker (Of course he has a last name.) is classic. James Arness's portrayal of Lennie gives little hint of his future success as Matt Dillon in television's Gunsmoke. Look for future Wagon Train (television) stars Frank McGrath (Wooster) as Lowe's partner and Terry Wilson (Hawks) as the cavalry sergeant who suggests circling the wagons during the Indian attack. This movie is Wayne at his physical, mature best. I look forward to its release on DVD.