Hondo (1953)

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

Louis L'Amour (short story "The Gift of Cochise")
James Edward Grant (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 April 1954 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

...They called him 'HONDO'

Plot:

Army despatch rider Hondo Lane discovers a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches, and he becomes their protector.

Plot Keywords:

Apache | Cavalry | Swimming | Torture | 1870s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

John Wayne	...	Hondo Lane
Geraldine Page	...	Angie Lowe
Ward Bond	...	Buffalo Baker
Michael Pate	...	Vittorio - Chiricahua Apache Chief
James Arness	...	Lennie - Army Indian Scout
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Silva
Leo Gordon	...	Ed Lowe
Tom Irish	...	Lieutenant McKay
Lee Aaker	...	Johnny Lowe
Paul Fix	...	Major Sherry
Rayford Barnes	...	Pete - Card Player in Saloon

Also Known As:

They Called Him Hondo (USA) (pre-release title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Athapascan languages

Colour:

Colour (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Australia:M | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #16575) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico

Company:

Wayne-Fellows Productions

Trivia:

Geraldine Page, a left wing liberal actress from Broadway, was horrified by the right-wing views of John Wayne, Ward Bond, James Arness and John Farrow.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final battle scene at the end of the movie, the wagon being driven by Buffalo Baker has one of its lead horses go down. John Wayne cuts the animal loose and the wagon takes off with three horses pulling it. In the final scene of the movie, after the battle has concluded, the wagon rides off with a full compliment of four horses.

Quotes:

Hondo Lane: That dog don't take to pettin', son.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Assault and Batteries (#8.24)" (1994)

Outstanding John Wayne Film

This 1953 starring John Wayne as (Hono Lane),"She Wore A Yebbon",'49, is truly a great classic about Native Americans and how the early settlers and various Indian tribes struggled to live together and also tried to destroy each other. There is great battle scenes with Indians circling around the pioneer wagons and Hono Lane using tricky battle skills in order to protect the men and woman. There is romance between Hono and Geraldine Page,(Angie Lowe),"The Three Sisters,"'66, who admits she is not an attractive woman and has a young son which Hono grows fond of while showing him how to fish and hunt. Ward Bond,(Buffalo Baker)," Johnny Guitar",'54, gives a great supporting role as Hondo's old friend. James Arness,(Lennie),"Them",'54 makes a brief appearance and seems to dislike Hondo for some killing he had done in the past. There is a sweet dog in the picture who follows Hondo every where he goes, which shows the kind of person Hondo really is in life. A very well produced picture and a great Wayne Classic.