Hondo and the Apaches (1967)
Overview
Two episodes from the TV series "Hondo" edited together and released as a feature.
Cast
Ralph Taeger
Hondo Lane
Kathie Browne
Angie Dow
Michael Rennie
Tribolet
Noah Beery Jr.
Buffalo Baker
Gary Clarke
Capt. Richards
Randy Boone
Sean Gallagher
Gary Merrill
General Philip Sheridan
John Smith
Ed Dow
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- Reviews
John Chard
A Gift of Cochise.
Hondo and the Apaches is directed by Lee H. Katzin and adapted to screenplay by Andrew J. Fenady, which is based from a work by James Edward Grant, from a story titled A Gift of Cochise written by Louis L'Amour. It stars Ralph Taeger, Noah Beery Jr., Robert Taylor, John Smith, Kathie Brown and Michael Pate. Music is by Richard Markowitz and cinematography by Lester Shorr.
Not released theatrically in America, this is two episodes of the TV show "Hondo" spliced together for a release in Europe. Derived from the John Wayne character that headed up Hondo (1953), the plot pitches Hondo (Taeger) as a frontier scout who has a justifiable affinity with the Native Americans. He is sent to broker peace with the Apaches, but a renegade band want no part of it and Hondo must do all he can to avert a war.
It actually is better than it had right to be, because it's nicely performed, has pleasant scenery, and the characters in the main are not just throw away types. Throw in some decent action, a grumpy canine partner for Hondo and a musical score lifting from Bernstein's Magnificent Seven classic, and yer good to go. Taeger is appealing, the character fun (he punches a lot of people out/the rapport with the dog), whilst Taylor is on hand to add a bit of reassuring quality.
It is what it is really, a safe enough production for Western fans to enjoy while it's on. 6/10
