Today’s quick review: Hondo. Hondo Lane (John Wayne), a dispatch rider for the U.S. Cavalry, is carrying an important message: After the United States broke its treaty with the Apaches, Chief Vittorio (Michael Pate) and his warriors are on the offensive. On his way to alert the Cavalry, Lane accepts the hospitality of Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page), a woman living on a ranch with her son Johnny (Lee Aaker) while waiting for her husband to return.
Hondo is a Western romantic drama about a cavalry rider who becomes involved with a woman living on the edge of Apache territory. During his brief stopover at Lowe’s ranch, Lane connects with Angie, takes Johnny under his wing, and urges them to leave the area before Chief Vittorio arrives. The movie features a capable lead and some well-managed drama, resulting in an interesting story that never feels too formulaic.
Hondo’s best feature is the way it manages its plot threads. The romantic side of the story is enjoyable but relatively static; Lane and Lowe are too honest for much to come between them. But the movie throws in some nice wrinkles with the question of Angie’s missing husband and Vittorio’s raids on the surrounding area. These plot threads tangle with each other in fascinating ways, culminating in important changes in its characters’ lives.
How much you get out of Hondo will depend on taste. The plot is not as rigidly structured or as immediately compelling as other movies, but it shows its wisdom as the story plays out. The romance is old-fashioned, a tale of blooming love between two responsible people who want what’s best for each other. The clash with the Apaches has nice tension and a couple of moral quandaries, but it lacks the intense, personal conflict seen in other Westerns.
As such, Hondo has quite a bit to offer fans of classic Westerns, but its story may not click with fans of the grittier, more ambiguous side of the genre. For another classic Western about a traveler who changes the lives of a family of settlers, try Shane. For an even darker story about a conflict with a band of Apaches, try Duel at Diablo. For a Western romance with some similar elements, try The Proud Rebel.
[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045883/). I give it a 7.0 for a simple premise that unfolds in interesting ways.