Hombre (1967)

100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(3,539 ratings)

Yes, Paul Newman is a blue-eyed Indian in Hombre, but this apparent ethnic error is carefully justified in the body of the story. Newman plays a white man who was raised by the Apaches, and ever since has straddled two worlds, feeling truly comfortable in neither. While riding a stagecoach, Newman… More Yes, Paul Newman is a blue-eyed Indian in Hombre, but this apparent ethnic error is carefully justified in the body of the story. Newman plays a white man who was raised by the Apaches, and ever since has straddled two worlds, feeling truly comfortable in neither. While riding a stagecoach, Newman is subject to the racial bias of banker Fredric March and his snooty wife Barbara Rush. In truth, March is an embezzler, and has no reason to feel superior to anyone. This fact comes out when the coach is held up by murderous bandit-chief Richard Boone. When the passengers fight back, Boone takes Rush as a hostage. Newman, who by rights should be supremely satisfied that his tormentors are themselves tormented, proves himself the bravest of the passengers, sacrificing his own life to save Rush and put an end to Boone's reign of terror. Hombre is based on a novel by suspense specialist Elmore Leonard. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Elmore Leonard, Irving Ravetch
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1967 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
For this is a first-rate cooking of a western recipe-not a great Western film nor a creation, but an excellent putting of heat to a fine selected blend.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The performances are uniformly excellent...It's intelligent and has a certain grace as well.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Martin Ritt's movie set a new trend in American Westerns in its criticism of the White men and in suggesting that the Native Americans are morally superior.
Derek Adams, Time Out
One of Ritt's best films, with fine performances all round, impressive Death Valley locations, and superlative camerawork from James Wong Howe.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Superior western, with a liberal slant, based on the novel by Elmore Leonard.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Sun-blaring Newman western; gritty action
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Como em todo filme inspirado em obra de Elmore Leonard, Hombre conta com diálogos afiados - que acabam se tornando ainda mais marcantes graças à brilhante atuação de Paul Newman.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
Those looking for an intelligent and bittersweet western should search out Hombre, a somewhat overlooked (yet still fondly remembered) mini-classic of the genre.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
For as much as Hombre is a film of its time, it endures as an example of how deeper examinations of the rifts that divide individuals and nations are forever contemporary.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Paul Newman is very Eastwood-esque in this classic '60's western that features Fredric March, Martin Balsam and Richard Boone.
xGary X

Paul Newman plays a horse trader raised by the Apache who finds himself the protector of a group of travelers when they are ambushed by outlaws. Obviously another variation on the Stagecoach theme, Hombre instead casts the "Indian" as the anti-hero and the white men as the… More
Paul Newman plays a horse trader raised by the Apache who finds himself the protector of a group of travelers when they are ambushed by outlaws. Obviously another variation on the Stagecoach theme, Hombre instead casts the "Indian" as the anti-hero and the white men as the villains. This switch-around forms the basis of the story as the main topic is that of racism; the steely-eyed Newman is initially shunned and vilified because of his native American heritage but finds himself emotionally blackmailed into becoming their saviour as soon as they need his help. Newman is extremely charismatic as the enigmatic frontiersman, the irony being that the actions the whites see as "savage" are in fact born of the cold logic of a lifetime struggling for survival. The white characters are shown as either hypocritical or naive and soon forget their moral outrage when they find their lives on the line. The plot may be a little predictable but it's also a very interesting character study and social commentary with a superb central performance from Newman. Well worth a look for those who like westerns with a brain.
jay n

Talky western with Newman miscast but doing what he can, Richard Boone as a hissable villian and Frederic March offering a more subtle form of villianry. However the real standout is Diane Cilento as a real tower of strength, an excellent performance. A side note Barbara Rush's… More
Talky western with Newman miscast but doing what he can, Richard Boone as a hissable villian and Frederic March offering a more subtle form of villianry. However the real standout is Diane Cilento as a real tower of strength, an excellent performance. A side note Barbara Rush's fright wig has to be seen to be believed!
Deb S

John 'Hombre' Russel (Paul Newman) is a man raised by the Apaches. When his heritage is discovered by a handful of stage travelers, none of the white folks want to sit next to him he's relegated to sitting out the journey atop the coach next to driver Mendez. During the… More
John 'Hombre' Russel (Paul Newman) is a man raised by the Apaches. When his heritage is discovered by a handful of stage travelers, none of the white folks want to sit next to him he's relegated to sitting out the journey atop the coach next to driver Mendez. During the journey, they are ambushed by outlaw Richard Boone who knew that one of the passengers Dr. Favor had been carrying money that he stole from the very Apaches Newman grew up with. Hombre is forced to help the scared travelers out despite their bigotry towards him. He puts his cunning and survival skills to good use escaping with little water, the money that the bandits want and having them hot on their tail.
Grifty G

Enjoyable western, Paul Newman plays a white man raised by Injuns, and kicks some ass. Martin Balsam plays a very convincing Mexican, but the standout performance is Richard Boone, who plays a complete asshole cowboy to end all complete asshole cowboys.