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Geraldine Page, James Arness, John Wayne

Although scarcely seen in its original 3-D, and entirely out of sight for a decade and a half after its producer-star died, Hondo has maintained a high rep among John Wayne fans--and it wasn't ...( read more  read more... )even directed by Howard Hawks or John Ford. (Actually, Ford did shoot some second-unit stuff while visiting Wayne on location.) Half-breed Hondo, companioned only by an antisocial dog, tends to be more sympathetic toward the Apaches than toward the white society he occasionally scouts for. He falls into uneasy friendship with a New Mexico farmwoman (Geraldine Page) whose husband deserts her for long stretches, and whose son (Lee Aaker) is blood brother to the local Apache chieftain. A good, spare frontier tale--Louis L'Amour via James Edward (Angel and the Badman) Grant--in which danger and solace come in unexpected ways. John Farrow, who did direct, brings it in at a lean 84 minutes. Page was Oscar®-nominated for this first film role. --Richard T. Jameson

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75% liked it

6,553 ratings

Unrated, 83 min.

Directed by: John Farrow

Release Date: January 1, 1953

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DVD Release Date: October 11, 2005

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John Wayne and Geraldine Page Hondo Hondo 'The Duke' in Hondo
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Flixster Reviews (191)

  • harrycaul
    May 21, 2008
    harrycaul
    On a remote ranch in the heart of Apache territory, a U.S. cavalry dispatch rider (John Wayne) befriends a mother (Geraldine Page) and her young son, falling in love with the former and becoming idolised by the latter. However, he harbours a guilty secret, having killed the pair'...( read more)s absent, good-for-nothing paterfamilias in an act of self-defence. Meanwhile, treacherous palefaces have rescinded a treaty with the Apaches, setting them on the warpath. In certain respects, "Hondo" feels like Wayne's answer to "Shane", though it's sufficiently different and well enough crafted to be enjoyed as a lovely little western, in its own right. The sight of John Wayne sharing substitute parenting duties with an Apache chief was novel enough to make me overlook any 'join-the-dots' plotting. Originally shot in 3-D, the film contains a few awkward relics of that process, most noticeably the blocky opening titles, an unintentionally funny knife-fight and the occasional arrow or spear aimed squarely between the viewer's eyes. Page and Wayne give excellent performances, and director John Farrow handles the romantic aspect of the plot with aplomb, but the Apache uprising and most of the action scenes are very flat and pedestrian. The main problem I had with "Hondo", however, was that it wanted to have its cake and eat it, too. For most of its running time the film is surprisingly generous toward the Apaches, but the greedily inserted wagon train attack - which conveniently turns the young lad off being an honorary Apache, reasserting Wayne as his male role model - undoes much of the good that has gone before.
  • SageSlowdive
    August 15, 2009
    SageSlowdive
    Page saves this movie.
  • shchase2000
    July 25, 2009
    shchase2000
    Saw it before and really love his movies
  • Bluec45
    May 18, 2009
    Bluec45
    5/18/09 As a matter of fact I have this CD, loaned to me by a friend. Will watch it again tonight. Fantastic film. Loved the dog in this movie. So well trained.
  • Soundsofmadness
    March 28, 2009
    Soundsofmadness
    No thankyou - Not interested
  • ima365ryder
    March 11, 2009
    ima365ryder
    Outstanding movie John Wayne is my family favorite actor
  • grnled1620
    March 5, 2009
    grnled1620
    one of his best i loved it
  • NIGHTRIDER111
    October 1, 2008
    NIGHTRIDER111
    GOOD MOVIE WORTH WATCHING.
  • raglanjames13
    September 18, 2008
    raglanjames13
    Maybe I was in the mood for a Western? Highly enjoyable
  • Ghw12158
    September 5, 2008
    Ghw12158
    good stuff little sister!

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Hondo Trivia

  • In the movie S.W.A.T., when Jim Street asks Hondo why he picked him to be on his team, what was Hondo's response?  Answer »
  • Which John Wayne movie filmed in 3-D was based on the Louis L'Amour story "The Gift of Cochise"?  Answer »
  • Who plays Stg Hondo in the movie S.W.A.T  Answer »
  • Which actor had played the role of Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson in movie "SWAT"  Answer »
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