Style: Western
Director: John Farrow (and John Ford, uncredited)
Operating Time: 84 minutes
Synopsis: With tensions rising in Apache territory, US Cavalry dispatcher Hondo Lane (John Wayne) stumbles upon the remoted ranch of Angie Lowe (Geraldine Web page). She resides together with her younger son Johnny and uncertain concerning the destiny of her husband. Hondo helps her with errands in return for a horse, and an attraction grows between them earlier than he rides off. Apache chief Vittorio grows keen on Johnny and permits Angie to remain on her land, however provided that she finds a father determine for the boy. Hondo tangles with Angie’s no-good husband, earlier than returning to her ranch with struggle about to interrupt out.
What Works Nicely: Cultural tensions reside inside the character of Hondo Lane, a half-Apache raised by the tribe and now straddling the uneasy line between representing the cavalry and acknowledging the federal government’s document of breaking treaties. Unable to commerce in lies, Lane’s ethical code is each some extent of pleasure and supply of bother on a frontier beset with contradictions. The small and private story targeted on the complicated dynamics between Lane, Angie, and younger Johnny is wealthy sufficient to probe the necessities of household inside turbulence.
What Does Not Work As Nicely: The Apache portrayal oscillates wildly between honourable and ridiculous, and the darkish pores and skin make-up doesn’t assist. The circle-the-wagons battle scenes (directed by an uncredited John Ford) retreat in direction of unlucky simplifications, discarding alternatives uncovered by the great set-up work. The brief working time (the film is predicated on a Louis L’Amour brief story) sacrifices all secondary character definitions, however nonetheless options an intermission to accommodate unfulfilled 3D ambitions, additionally obvious in some gimmicky throw-stuff-at-the-screen sequences.
Key Quote:
Hondo: A person oughta do what he thinks is finest.
All Ace Black Film Weblog opinions are right here.