The storyline isn’t groundbreaking, yet I consider this to be among John Wayne’s stronger performances. He portrays the man identified in the title, an army scout who discovers a secluded ranch where "Angie" (Geraldine Page) and her little boy "Johnny" (Lee Aaker) reside, seemingly abandoned by their husband. He's aware that the Mescalero Apache are upset because the military violated the agreement, but he’s unable t…

Leonard Maltin introduces the DVD special edition of Hondo with clear admiration for the film. He also provides commentary, discussing how Hondo reflects a change in Western movies during the nineteen fifties—a shift away from simplistic stories of cowboys and cavalry defeating enemies (Native Americans) just for entertainment. But does Hondo hold up? And is it as significant as Delmer Daves' Broken Arrow, which Malt…