Review of Hondo (1953) by Grant S — 08 Dec 2017

Army scout Hondo Lane (played by John Wayne) stumbles across an isolated homestead in the middle of Apache territory. The inhabitants - a woman and her son - believe they are safe, as there is a treaty with the Apaches. Lane knows better though, as the Army has just broken the treaty, causing the Apache to seek revenge on settlers. Despite being a scout for the US Army, Lane has sympathies for the Apaches, having been married to a native American woman and living with her people for five years. With divided loyalties he now has to tread a fine line.

Based on a Louis L'Amour novel, this is one of John Wayne's lesser-known movies. It's easy to see why - is quite short and doesn't have the grandness and epicness of his classics. Plot is quite simple, almost too simple at times.

Yet, for the most part, it works. Good action scenes, some profound, even emotional, moments and John Wayne even gets to be more than just an action hero at times, showing some vulnerable moments.

Not brilliant - the simplicity and lack of depth in the story prevents that, as well as some scenes being fairly clumsily written. Geraldine Page, in her feature film debut, isn't entirely convincing either. Still, reasonably entertaining.