Hondo is a 1953 American western movie directed by John Farrow. An uncredited John Ford directed the final scene after Farrow had to leave due to contractual obligations.
Hondo Lane (John Wayne) arrives at the doorstep of homesteader Angie (Geraldine Page) and her young son Johnny (Lee Aaker). Hondo was running dispatch for the cavalry when he lost his horse to an Apache attack. He warns Angie that she and her son could be next, but she's confident in the peace treaty and her friendship with the Apaches. After Hondo leaves, Angie and Johnny are attacked by an Apache tribe led by Chief Vittorio (Michael Pate). Johnny stands up to them to protect his mother, which impresses Vittorio so much that he declares Johnny a member of his tribe and elects to leave them alone, for now. Meanwhile, Hondo encounters Angie's wayward husband Ed (Leo Gordon) and has his own confrontations with the Apaches that eventually lead him to Angie and Johnny once more.
Tropes:
- And Now You Must Marry Me: Variation. Vittorio wants to force Angie to marry a member of his tribe because he thinks Johnny needs a father figure, especially now that he's been made his blood brother and an Apache. It probably doesn't help that Vittorio's sales pitch for one of his warriors is that he doesn't beat his wives much.
- Blood Oath: Vittorio cuts his and Johnny's thumbs to mix their blood in a ritual that makes them into blood brothers.
- Canine Companion: Hondo is accompanied in his adventures by a Collie named Sam. Hondo insists Sam is independent and doesn't belong to him, but still keeps the dog around because he's good at sniffing out Apaches.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: The Apaches torture Hondo for information on the cavalry's movements by burning his hands.
- Intermission: The movie unusually has an intermission despite not being even 90 minutes long. This is because it was a 3-D movie and the projectors required extra maintenance.
- Kick the Dog: Silva is defeated by Hondo in a knife fight, so he kills Hondo's dog Sam to spite him.
- The Savage Indian: The Apaches are the main antagonists of the movie and are determined to drive out or kill the white people in their territory. Hondo admits that the reason this is happening is the white people's fault, since they were the ones to break a treaty they had with the Apaches.
- Sink or Swim Mentor: Hondo is shocked that Johnny is six years old but still doesn't know how to swim, so he throws the boy into the river for an impromptu lesson. Hondo gives Johnny instructions on how to swim while the boy is struggling in the water. He does learn how to swim from this.
