Hondo

“Hondo” – a John Wayne movie that wasn’t available for 37 years!

“Hondo” is a classic John Wayne western that was unavailable for a long time because it was tied up in the John Wayne estate.  Originally, Glenn Ford was going to star in “Hondo.”  But because he did not like working with director John Farrow, Glenn Ford turned down the role.  John Wayne was already producing the movie, so he agreed to replace Ford as the star.

In “Hondo,” John Wayne plays Hondo Lane, a cavalry officer who comes across a woman and her son while scouting the territory.  He warns the woman, Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page), that she and her son are in danger and urges her to leave with him. But, Mrs. Lowe refuses to leave because she is waiting for her husband to return.  Also, she believes that the Indians will not hurt her and her son because she and her family have been living peacefully in the area for some time.

Hondo stays with the woman and her son for awhile, but he eventually he has to leave.  But not before Mrs. Lowe and her son take a strong liking to him and Hondo starts feeling responsible for their well-being and safety.

The movie takes an interesting twist when Hondo eventually encounters Mrs. Lowe’s husband.

•  “Hondo” is considered one of John Wayne’s best films, but it is also one of the least mentioned because the movie was not available for public viewing for many years. “Hondo” was not released for distribution until 1990 (37 years after its initial showing) because it was tied-up in the John Wayne estate.

• “Hondo” is based on the short story "The Gift of Cochise" by Louis L’Amour.  The story was first published in Collier's magazine in July 1952.  “The Gift of Cochise” was later made into the novel “Hondo” and the movie is based on this book.  Louis L’Amour is one of the greatest Western story writers of all time.  By the time he passed away in 1988, he had sold over 200 million books. His first novel was “Hondo” and you can purchase it in The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 1: The Frontier Stories.

• “Hondo” was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Geraldine Page) and Best Motion Picture Writing (Louis L’Amour)