Hondo (film)

Hondo is a 1953 Warnercolor 3D Western film starring John Wayne and directed by John Farrow. The screenplay is based on the July 5, 1952 Colliers short story The Gift of Cochise by Louis LAmour. The book Hondo was a novelization of the film also written by LAmour, and published by Gold Medal Books in 1953. The supporting cast features Geraldine Page as Waynes leading lady, Ward Bond, James Arness and Leo Gordon.

At a remote ranch in the New Mexico Territory, homesteader Angie Lowe Geraldine Page and her sixyearold son Johnny Lee Aaker come upon a stranger John Wayne on foot, carrying only his saddle bags and a rifle. The man tells them only his last name, Lane, and that he was riding dispatch for the US Army Cavalry. He had lost his horse in an encounter with some Indians. Angie tells Lane her ranch hand had quit before he had a chance to break her two horses for riding, so Lane offers to break a horse himself. He asks where her husband is, and she says he is rounding up cattle in the mountains and should return soon. Lane deduces from the neglected ranch that her husband has been away for some time, a fact she confesses is true. When night falls Angie offers to let Lane sleep in her home. Angie sees his rifle is inscribed Hondo Lane, whom she knows had killed three men the year before. She attempts to shoot him, but due to the first chamber being empty, Hondo is not hurt. He loads the chamber and tells her to keep it that way.Hondo returns to his Cavalry post, where he meets up with his friend Buffalo Baker Ward Bond. He reports to his commanding officer that C troop, which was sent to gather and bring in settlers to the north, was killed by Apaches. It is clear to the Major Paul Fix that the Apaches are raiding and killing settlers. At the ranch, Angie and Johnny are beset by Apaches, led by Chief Vittorio Michael Pate and his main underchief, Silva Rodolfo Acosta. Angie is not nervous in their presence as they have never attacked her family before. This time, they begin manhandling Angie. Johnny emerges from the house with the pistol and shoots at Silva. As Silva recovers and approaches him, he throws the pistol at Silva. Vittorio is impressed by Johnnys bravery and makes him an Apache blood brother. Vittorio wonders where Angies husband is and tells her that unless he returns soon, she must take an Apache husband as the boy needs a father. ........

Source: Wikipedia