Paul Newman did a whole bunch of films with Director Martin Ritt and Hombre, one lean and mean western ranks as one of the best.

Newman is John Russell, the ultimate in the Stockholm Syndrome in the western film. He's a man who was kidnapped by the Apaches as a child, raised among them, and then when he was rescued from the Apaches, turned his back on his rescuers and went back to live among them. The opening of the film has some closeup shots of Newman as an Apache and he does look like a figure of interest with those baby blue eyes of his. The viewer is already involved, this is a person of interest, there's a story here, let's find out about him.

Circumstance has put him on a coach with several other passengers, including the Indian agent at the San Carlos Reservation, Fredric March and his wife Barbara Rush. Unbeknownst to everyone else, March has embezzled a whole stash of money from the tribe and is on the run, like Berton Churchill in Stagecoach. Of course Churchill is not taking his young pretty wife along with him.

The outlaws led by Richard Boone know about the loot and they ambush the coach, but the holdup is unsuccessful. Nevertheless the passengers are left afoot with the loot, but limited water on the Arizona desert.

It falls to Newman to lead them to safety, a guy they had previously snubbed. Hombre gets deliciously ironic that way.

Next to Newman, I'd say the best performance in the film is easily that of Diane Cilento, the very wise and earthy boarding house keeper. She's one experienced with life woman who if everyone heeded it would have been better all around.

Why are they with Newman, cause he can cut it. And as a film, Hombre definitely cuts it.

I am very surprised. Usually the CONNECTIONS tab on IMDb is very helpful and lists all the various versions and remakes of a given film. However, no credit is given to the film "Stagecoach" (1939)--and "Hombre" is clearly a remake of this classic film. Now perhaps this omission is because it's really more of a reworking of the original film--with quite a few changes to the plot--but still, the original story is easy to notice.

The film begins with Paul Newman dressed like an American-Indian. I thought the film was stupid as the idea of the blue-eyed Newman playing an Indian is ridiculous. But, you then learn that Newman was NOT an Indian but had been raised by them--and this was an interesting twist. That's because there's a lot of prejudice he faces throughout the film--and it makes sense to have a plot line like this as the film was made in the 1960s--when racial matters were at the forefront.

Later in the film, a motley group (again, very much like those from "Stagecoach") are stuck in the desert when a group of robbers attack. But, it turns out to be a bit of a standoff--and the stupid folks now have to rely on Newman--a guy they'd treated like dirt because of his Indian ways. And, the 'savage' turns out to be their best friend in this predicament--whether he wants to be or not! While some may find the film a bit downbeat (particularly the ending),I liked the film quite a bit because of its plot about racism. Also, Newman, as usual, does a fine job. The only reason I didn't score it higher is because the plot isn't exactly new--but they did manage to breathe some life and originality into it.

Martin Ritt made a lot of good movies. This is one of his best. It deserves to be remembered and to live forever. Elmore Leonard wrote this wonderful western of a man who is no hero in the classical western-style. He is of white origin, brought up by Indians. He wants to live in peace with his fellow man, and faced with violence he withdraws, but when it comes to injustice or survival he turns out to be some sort of hero just the same. Paul Newman's leading role as Hombre is a performance as convincing as ever. And all other leading characters are played by wonderful actors too. Richard Boone's bullying criminal is almost to be smelled through the screen. Even in the smaller roles there are some real gems. See this movie again and again - and again!