This exciting Western was released in three dimensional (3-D with some gimmickry) in the 50's, a highly topical exhibition mean , nowadays being successfully going back and including polarized glasses. It was the time when introduced Cinemascope and 3-D to compete with TV and attract people to movie theaters . It deals with Hondo Lane (John Wayne) , a scout for the US cavalry, he meets Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page)and falls in love with her , in this typical and entertaining western of the the 50's . The drumbeats of the Apaches sound a grim warning to a woman living in an isolated farm with her son . Hondo Lane becomes stubborn guard Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page in her first movie character) alarmed about the pending Indian uprising and then he turns into a figure father to her son named Johnny. The homesteader Angie, decided to await the return of his gruff husband, refuses to leave his property in spite of the imminent danger from a nearby Indian tribes. The woman living in the wilderness presumes she is safe because the Apaches (led by Michael Pate and Rodolfo Acosta) , under their leader Vittorio, have always left them alone. Later Lane has a run-in with Angie's reprobate husband (Leo Gordon) and is forced to murder in self-defense, not knowing who he is. Vittorio (Michael Pate) captures Lane and to save his life, Angie tells the Apache chief that Lane is her husband, unaware that Lane has murdered her real husband. In order to protect her from a forced marriage with one of the Apache, Lane reluctantly goes along with the lie and both of them fend off the violent Indians .

This classic western contains thrills , action , fights , brawls , impressive battles and spectacular scenarios . Wayne interpretation is the major plus , he's frankly sensational and awesome. This picture, being filmed in 3-D scenery and that it more attractive and impressive look for the legendary John Wayne whom was a novelty the shooting in this system. Interesting screenplay by James Edward Grant , Western's usual writer , though results to be a variation on ¨Shane¨. The film is a well-made Western with a fine result, a colorful photograph and an enjoyable love story . Furthermore , it shows a human view of the Indians and their relations to the American west settlers. This apparently unknown western was nominated for two Academy Awards, a nomination prize for the magnificent acting by Geraldine Page (her first nomination in her long career),and another for Louis L'Amour, well-known writer of novels set on the wild west. Glamorous and glimmer cinematography in superb Technicolor by Robert Burks (Hitchcock's ordinary) and Archie Stout . Lively and sensible musical score by Hugo Friedhofer . The motion picture is compellingly directed by John Farrow (Big clock , Wake Island , Copper cannon ,Captain Jones , among others) . The film was restored by the John Wayne Society for re-release in 1995 and todays is considered as the Duke at his best . Followed by a short-lived TV series . Rating : Above average .Worthwhile watching and a John Wayne's favourite .

"Hondo" is one of John Wayne's best westerns, yet I rarely have seen it listed among his films like "The Searchers", "The Man Who Fought Liberty Valance" or "Fort Apache". I have a theory about this. First, unlike these other films, after "Hondo" came to theaters, it and a few other Wayne films were not released to television until the 1980s. So, for 30-odd years, no one saw them...while they DID see his more famous films many, many times. Second, the story in "Hondo" is much smaller in scope and isn't a grand spectacle like many of Wayne's other westerns. But despite this, it's is a great western...with many things to love.

Wayne's character, Hondo, in this film is pretty amazing. First, he's part-Indian and has a positive attitude towards Native Americans. And, even while the Apaches are on the warpath and don't like Hondo all that much because he's white, he respects and understands their anger, since the white men have lied to them and broken treaties. Second, he is the most no-nonsense and tough of all his cowboy characters. He has a simple outlook on life and lives by this code. So, he's decent and honorable...but also will put up with no crap from others and he expects folks to treat him in kind. You can't help but respect the character.

When the story begins, Hondo arrives at a lone cabin where a woman (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and her young son live. The Apache had been chasing him and shot his horse...so he's on foot. When she learns he's the notorious Hondo, she assumes the worst...but over time with the family, she comes to realize she has nothing to fear. However, she should be afraid, as she lives near the Apache and her husband is gone...and she might be killed if she remains. But she's determined to stay and insists she gets along fine with the natives.

After Hondo leaves and heads to town, he happens upon the woman's husband...and he turns out to be a real jerk and ne'er-do-well. Repeatedly, he insults Hondo and picks a fight...which Hondo soon finishes. Later, after leaving town, Hondo comes upon some Apache trying to kill this man...and Hondo saves his life. To repay Hondo, the jerk then tries to kill him...and Hondo is forced to shoot him first...leaving the woman a widow. So, he heads to her home to let her know what happened....and the Apache soon give chase. What's next? Well, a lot!

This film has less 'fireworks' than many Wayne westerns. But it has one finely crafted scene after another....all which reinforce the ideal that is Hondo. A truly memorable film that I'd place up with Wayne's best films, such as "Stagecoach" and "The Quiet Man". Yes, it's THAT good...without a single misstep in the picture. I cannot believe it's not considered among his very best....and with a most unusual and sweet romance as well.

By the way, look for the swimming scene...it's a real hoot!

It don't get much better for western fans than a Louis L'Amour story brought to the screen by John Wayne. I'm sure when this novel came out, the Duke saw it and said this one's for me as it was his Wayne-Fellows Production company that bought it and produced it.

John Wayne must have been some sight on the big screen when Hondo came out in 3-D as originally filmed. That entrance of him walking up to Geraldine Page's small ranch must have put his large frame practically in the laps of the theater audience.

Wayne plays Hondo Lane an army scout who is part Indian himself. His horse died and he's on foot when he arrives at Page's ranch where her husband is gone and she's left with young son Lee Aaker. There's an immediate attraction between the two of them, the sexual tension fairly crackles, Page hasn't had any male companionship for a while. A bond also forms between Lee Aaker and the Duke.

For one of John Wayne's major films, Hondo has a remarkably short running time as compared to some of the epic westerns he did for John Ford. In fact Ford was slated for this film, but dropped out and John Farrow took his place. In the less than 90 minute running time for Hondo, it deals with Page's no good husband Leo Gordon and the trouble the Apaches are giving the local settlers.

Playing the head of the Apaches, Chief Vittorio, is Australian actor Michael Pate. He plays the role with dignity and strength, much like Jeff Chandler as Cochise in Broken Arrow. Indians were now being seen as three dimensional human beings on the screen, Pate's characterization certainly helped that trend along. In contrast to Pate is Rudolfo Acosta as Silva whose hate for the white man crackles on the strength. His hand to hand duel with Wayne is one of the high points of all John Wayne westerns.

Michael Pate was the only one from the original cast who made it to the short lived Hondo television series. Hondo remains the only one of two John Wayne films that got made into a television series, the other being The Cowboys. Wayne's Batjac productions did the Hondo television series with Ralph Taeger as Hondo Lane. It lasted for two seasons but got canceled when TV went through one of its periodic anti-violence kicks.

The cast included a whole bunch of John Wayne regulars like Ward Bond, James Arness, Paul Fix in addition to others mentioned. No wonder Geraldine Page fresh from the Actor's Studio in New York felt an outsider in this bunch. Reportedly she didn't get along with Wayne on the set. But I'm sure her antagonism must have softened when in her motion picture debut she got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Hondo is one of John Wayne's classic roles it should not be missed by any who call themselves fans of the Eternal Duke.