Movie Review: Hondo (1953)

Genre: Western  

Director: John Farrow (and John Ford, uncredited)

Starring: John Wayne, Geraldine Page  
Running Time: 84 minutes  

Synopsis: With tensions rising in Apache territory, US Cavalry dispatcher Hondo Lane (John Wayne) stumbles upon the isolated ranch of Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page). She is living with her young son Johnny and unsure about the fate of her husband. Hondo helps her with errands in return for a horse, and an attraction grows between them before he rides off. Apache leader Vittorio grows fond of Johnny and allows Angie to stay on her land, but only if she finds a father figure for the boy. Hondo tangles with Angie's no-good husband, before returning to her ranch with war about to break out.

What Works Well: Cultural tensions reside within the character of Hondo Lane, a half-Apache raised by the tribe and now straddling the uneasy line between representing the cavalry and acknowledging the government's record of breaking treaties. Unable to trade in lies, Lane's moral code is both a point of pride and source of trouble on a frontier beset with contradictions. The small and personal story focused on the complex dynamics between Lane, Angie, and young Johnny is rich enough to probe the essentials of family within turbulence. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The Apache portrayal oscillates wildly between honourable and ridiculous, and the dark skin make-up does not help. The circle-the-wagons battle scenes (directed by an uncredited John Ford) retreat towards unfortunate simplifications, discarding opportunities uncovered by the good set-up work. The short running time (the movie is based on a Louis L'Amour short story) sacrifices all secondary character definitions, but still features an intermission to accommodate unfulfilled 3D ambitions, also apparent in some gimmicky throw-stuff-at-the-screen sequences.

Key Quote:

Hondo: A man oughta do what he thinks is best.

All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.