Hondo

Based on Louis L'Amour's story “The Gift of the Cochise,” this masterful 1953 Western—one of John Wayne's very best star vehicles—finds the Duke playing a rugged, principled, taciturn cavalry scout named Hondo Lane. As the story opens, an Apache warrior chief (Michael Pate) is waging war on all whites—soldiers and settlers alike. Hondo, coming across a strong-willed housewife (Geraldine Page) and her young son (Lee Aaker) in their desert homestead, urges them to leave but stays to offer help when they refuse. There's an undeniable attraction between the nurturing mother and the self-sufficient scout, but romance doesn't stand much of a chance after the woman learns that Hondo has killed her ne'er-do-well husband (Leo Gordon). Originally shot and presented in 3-D, Hondo boasts terrific location cinematography, but it's the script and acting that really carry the day, with the relationship that develops between Wayne and Page coming across as natural and unforced. Debuting on DVD in a handsome special edition, extras include audio commentary with Leonard Maltin and others, featurettes, and a photo gallery. Saddle up, pilgrim, this one's highly recommended. [Note: also newly available in the John Wayne Collection is McClintock!] (E. Hulse)[Blu-ray Review—June 5, 2012—Paramount, 83 min., not rated, $24.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1953's Hondo sports a fine transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound. Extras include an introduction by critic Leonard Martin, audio commentary (by Martin, Western historian Frank Thompson, and costar Lee Aaker), a "making-of" featurette (20 min.), production featurettes on "The Apache" (15 min.), "Profile: James Edward Grant" on the screenwriter (13 min.), "The John Wayne Stock Company: Ward Bond" on the actor (10 min.), and "From the Batjac Vaults" featuring Maltin interviewing Wayne's son Michael (3 min.), a well as a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for this classic starring the Duke.]