It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

. . . which emphatically nullifies the entire feature flick. HONDO screenwriter James Edward Grant obviously did not attempt to learn the First Thing about Real Life Apache Native Americans, Then or Now. Clearly, this sort of stubbornly willful ignorance is what made Grant John Wayne's kind of guy. Since no "Indian" actor with a brain in his head would consider portraying Hondo's lead Native American, Real Life Apache guerrilla warfare operative Vittorio, White dude Michael Pate wore the Western version of "Blackface" for HONDO's ludicrous attempt at Character Assassination. In the 1800s, APACHE teaches us, these Indigenous Peoples were organized as Matriarchal Societies. Women planned where and when to launch survival raids against a U.S. Cavalry with orders to starve them all to death (violating the U.N. Charter against Genocide). In Real Life, Vittorio was actually killed in Mexico because 1)His wife was ill that day, and 2)The marathon-running Tarahumara Indians were conniving against the Apache with the Mexican Army. Apache Women ALWAYS had their men attack from AMBUSH--NEVER OUT IN THE OPEN AGAINST CIRCLED WAGONS (like in HONDO)! But as the current TV show HIGH CASTLE proves, the lies of War Criminal "Winners" are usually mislabeled as "History." Just because what passed for the American Government in the 1800s stupidly negotiated "treaties" with the Worker Bee Class instead of the Apache Hive Queens was no excuse for Mr. Wayne and Mr. Grant to get virtually EVERYTHING dead wrong about the Apache a full century later!

This is a John Wayne Western that has been Overlooked Somewhat, maybe because it was Unavailable for almost 40 Years, but More Likely because it wasn't Directed by Ford or Hawks. It was also Overshadowed by the Overrated Shane that came out about the Same Time. As a Whole and Scene for Scene it is a Better Movie than Shane and is Richer and has a Broader Scope, is More Violent and Action Packed and is just More Entertaining. The Violence in Hondo is Blunt and a Bit Brutal at Times. The Battles with the Indians Show some Very Effective Fighting and there are also Scenes of Fistitcuffs and Knife Wielding that are Up Close and Personal. Sam, the Dog has Many Memorable Scenes and One is a Clincher.Geraldine Page does Fine as the Western Widow and Her Scenes with the Duke are Outstanding. The Kid is not as Irritating as the Kid in Shane just to put an Amen to it. Overall this is One of John Wayne's Best and is a Colorful, Thoughtful, and Well Written Movie that is the Duke at His Most Likable.

Army dispatch rider Hondo Lane (John Wayne) lost his horse to the warring Apaches. He wanders onto the homestead of Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page) and her little boy Johnny. Her husband Ed is supposedly up in the hills rounding up strays, but Ed's actually been gone for a long time. She is certain that the Apaches are still friendly to her family. The new Apache Chief Vittorio (Michael Pate) claims the boy as a brave after he courageously defends his mother. He suspects the husband is dead and pushes her to choose a new mate. Meanwhile after leaving Angie, Hondo finds Ed at the fort playing cards having abandoned his family. After several confrontations and with Hondo coming to the rescue, Ed tries to kill him forcing Hondo to kill Ed. When Hondo is captured by the Apaches, Vittorio mistakes him for Angie's husband and Angie pretends that he's her husband. Now Hondo must keep secrets from both Angie and Vittorio.It's an old fashion John Wayne western. John Wayne is the John Wayniest of John Waynes. According to the trivia, John Wayne joked "I'll be damned if I'm not the stuff men are made of!" I don't know the truth of that trivia but it sounds very true. On the other hand, I didn't care much for Angie and Hondo together. Her character swings wildly with Hondo. It doesn't put her character in good stead. Sometimes she's played as a joke. The romance doesn't work that well. As usual for the era, Michel Pate is playing brown-faced. It's a very traditional old western. The most fascinating character is actually Vittorio but he doesn't get that much screen time. There are lots of action, some stunts, and some attempted 3-D. It's old fashion popcorn fun but just not very compelling drama.

Army scout Hondo Lane (John Wayne) and his trusty dog Sam protect a woman (Geraldine Page) and her son from Apaches. Good western but not without flaws. Duke is excellent in a particularly talky role. This is one of those types of parts you expect the hero to be the strong, silent type. But Wayne's Hondo is quite talkative. That isn't to say he's not a man of action, because he is. He just talks a lot in between the action. Film debut of Geraldine Page and she was nominated for an Academy Award. I gotta say, I wasn't a big fan of her performance. There's something stiff and unnatural about it. Ward Bond is fun as Wayne's crusty army buddy. Michael Pate is good as the Apache chief Vittorio. It's not one of my favorite Wayne westerns but it's still worth trying out.