Hondo (film)

Hondo is a 1953 American Western film directed by John Farrow and starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page. It was filmed in 3-D, although most viewers at the time saw it in 2-D due to the limited number of theaters equipped for 3-D projection.

The film is based on the 1952 Louis L'Amour short story "The Gift of Cochise," which was later expanded into the novel Hondo in 1953, coinciding with the film's release. The screenplay was written by James Edward Grant, with additional uncredited work by Louis L'Amour.

Hondo tells the story of Hondo Lane (Wayne), a dispatch rider and former Confederate soldier who encounters Angie Lowe (Page) and her young son Johnny (Ricky Nelson) living on a remote Arizona ranch in Apache territory. Angie's husband has abandoned her to seek gold, leaving her and Johnny vulnerable. Hondo, while initially just passing through, becomes entangled in their lives, acting as a protector and father figure as tensions rise with the Apache.

The film explores themes of survival, family, and cross-cultural understanding in the American West. It portrays the Apache, particularly their leader Vittorio, with a degree of complexity, moving beyond simple stereotypes of savage Indians. The film is notable for its strong performances, especially from Wayne and Page, and its use of the dramatic Arizona landscape.

Hondo was a box office success and received positive reviews. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Story and Best Supporting Actress for Geraldine Page, which was her first Oscar nomination. It cemented John Wayne's status as a Western icon. A short-lived television series based on the film, starring Ralph Taeger as Hondo Lane, aired in 1967.