Ed-Shullivan I love a good western and actors like John Wayne personify the western genre. Hondo Lane played by superstar John Wayne at the age of 44 is a lone cowboy travelling with what Hondo calls Sam, his independent dog who has a prominent scar running across his face and down the bridge of his snout. Most likely from fighting off a cougar or a bear. After surviving an attack by Apache Indians Hondo walks a few miles after losing his horse in the battle with the Apaches to the farm house of Mrs. Angie Lowe (played superbly by stage actress Geraldine Page in her first on screen performance). There Hondo is provided food, water, shelter and also provided with an opportunity to break a wild horse that Mrs. Lowe's absent husband has not yet broken.The film focuses on the rugged Hondo who although he remains very independent, Hondo admits to Mrs. Lowe that he had spent five (5) years living with an Apache tribe and taking on a squaw Indian as his partner, not as his love interest. Now Angie has a ten (10) year old son named Johnny (Lee Aaker) who is desperate for a male figure in his life with his father nowhere to be seen so young Johnny looks up to the rugged Hondo who teaches Johnny very quickly to be wary of his independent dog Sam who will not hesitate to bite Johnny if he gets too close, and he also shares with Johnny very quickly the tricks to fishing and swimming.There is an also excellent cast of supporting characters such as the army Indian scout Buffalo Baker (Ward Bond of the subsequent 1957 TV's Wagon Train series), Major Sherry (Paul Fix of 1958 TV's Rifleman series), Apache Chief Vittorio (Michael Pate), Apache hothead Silva (Rodolfo Acosta) who hates Hondo and wants to kill him, a mean spirited army Indian scout named Lennie (James Arness of the subsequent 1955 TV's Gunsmoke fame), and the well known hulking character actor Leo Gordon who usually plays the villain plays Angie's absentee no good husband Ed Lowe, who actually has abandoned his wife Angie and his 10 year old son Johnny. This strong supporting cast along with lead actors John Wayne and Geraldine Page provide an endless supply of great characters who are attempting to survive and thrive on land previously dominated by the various tribes of the Apache nation.Yes, there are plenty of fights between the cowboys and Apache's, and a few fights between the cowboys themselves, but what makes this another great John Wayne western are the complex personalities of Hondo Lane, Angie Lowe and Apache chief Vittorio. The scenery of the western plains is grand and director John Farrow utilizes his backdrop to the viewers benefit making us believe we are definitely on the wide open expansive spaces with sandy steep hills that the horsemen do not have the easiest time travelling over as the chases between the cowboys, cavalry and Apaches are harrowing to say the least.This film does not use romantic songs to pull us in, nor does it use excessive violence, instead director John Farrow relies on the strong performances between his two main stars Angie Lowe and Hondo Lane. Geraldine Page and John Wayne were excellent star crossed lovers who overcome early settlers adversity and the Apaches and we are provided with a sense of relief that they survive multiple Apache war raids in the open prairies and that Johnny learns to become a man with the support of a strong male figure who will remain in his life, Hondo Lane and he will be proud to call Johnny his son.I give this western classic Hondo, a very good 8 out of 10 rating.

Jonathan Roberts I've watched around fifty films starring John Wayne, but 'Hondo' was the first. It's a good starting point - a basic Western that depends almost entirely on its leading man. It'd be unfair to describe 'Hondo' as simply a beginner's guide to John Wayne, though. I believe that his fans who are acquainted with his other work will also enjoy this film, as they'll be able to pick out a handful of familiar faces: Ward Bond and Paul Fix are among the cast, as is the man who led 'Gunsmoke' for twenty years, James Arness. But the standout performance doesn't come from any of these men. The female leads of John Wayne films were sometimes great (e.g. Maureen O'Hara in 'The Quiet Man') and sometimes… not so great (e.g. Ann- Margret in 'The Train Robbers'). Although the family-friendly nature of this film doesn't really give the actors room to display the full extent of their talents, Geraldine Page's performance in 'Hondo' firmly belongs in the former camp. She makes the Apache threat seem somewhat more real, and her fear for both her life and her son's is conveyed very effectively. 'Hondo' is a simple film, and I don't think it deserves to be considered alongside some of the masterpieces led by John Wayne. The cast is small, the film is less than 90 minutes long, and John Farrow is no John Ford. Still, 'Hondo' holds a simple, endearing charm - one denied to many of the greatest Westerns. It isn't brooding like 'The Searchers' and 'Red River', but it handles its innocence well - more competently than most other family-friendly Westerns.

vincentlynch-moonoi I've always had a few favorite John Wayne movies -- "Rio Bravo" and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" (for example). But, like many in a whole generation of Americans, in the Vietnam era and afterward, many of us began to dismiss the overall career of John Wayne. Lately, I've been watching a number of John Wayne movies, some -- like this one -- that I had never seen before. And I have to admit that after several films I am reconsidering John Wayne -- at least in terms of acting -- and mostly for the positive.I wouldn't class this film as one of John Wayne's top tier of films, but it is very good. It held my attention, and frankly, few Westerns can do that anymore.There are specific things to criticize here. For example, Wayne being surrounded and chased by Indians when it was perfectly clear the would not be able to escape. Or several shots throughout the film when it was absolutely clear that the stunt man was not Wayne. Personally I felt the way the final battle scene was rather confusing.A highlight of the film is the first credited Hollywood role for Geraldine Page. I always thought of Page as being a rather eccentric actress, although here that eccentricity hadn't yet developed. She's quite good here, and I think it was wise that they chose a lead actress who was not young and nubile; it just wouldn't have made sense.Wayne's performance is pure Wayne, and that's usually pretty good. Wayne was always just a little awkward in the love scenes, and he is here, but then again, a lot of real men are awkward at such moments.Wayne and Page fit well together here. The rest of the actors are mere supporting roles, and they do their jobs well. Indians actually look like Indians (although I realize they all weren't). Of course, Ward Bond is here, although his role and the role of all the other supporting actors are quite small. Watch for a small role for James Arness.One of Wayne's best? No. But still quite good.

Wuchak One of the final 3D films of the "golden era" of cinematic 3D, "Hondo" is a Western starring John Wayne in the title role. Hondo is an Army dispatch in the Southwest who comes upon a woman and her boy living on a neglected ranch in the wilderness amidst warring Chiricahua Apaches, led by Chief Vittorio (Michael Pate). Why did the woman's husband leave them? Will he ever come back? Why don't the Apaches massacre the mother & son like they do scores of other white settlers? Will she and Hondo fall in love? Wayne was 45 when the film was shot and was still lean and mean. Geraldine Page is effective as the woman because she lacked typical Hollywood starlet looks and has a sweet feminine spirit. Their relationship arc is well done. Leo Gordon appears as her delinquent husband. Gordon co-starred in "Gun fury" with Rock Hudson, which was released the same year and is arguably the better film.What's most interesting about "Hondo" is the significant role the Apaches play in the story and the amount of screen time Vittorio and his subordinate have. With old Westerns like this, this can be either good or bad depending on how authentic the Natives are depicted, but I was somewhat impressed with their portrayal here, especially for a Western from the early 50s. They appear as wild and potentially dangerous, but to some degree noble. I say "some degree" because the story reveals that they've massacred hundreds of white settlers, which – no matter how you slice it – definitely ISN'T noble. Nevertheless, the movie refuses to paint the Indians as all bad. In fact, Hondo has Native blood running through his veins and laments the passing of free-roaming Indians at the end (if they were able to learn to live-and-let-live with the settlers they would've never been put on reservations).On the downside, certain aspects of the storytelling don't flow well and strike me as boring, which is the case with a lot of old Westerns. On top of this, what happens to Hondo's faithful (but kinda mean) dog is unforgivable. But the two leads, the prominent role of the Apaches, their wild depiction and the magnificent Southwest locations (shot in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Utah) make "Hondo" rewarding.The film is short and sweet at only 83 minutes.GRADE: B-