Hombre (1967)

Paul Newman is the blue-eyed "savage," a white man raised by the Indians who rejects so-called civilized society for his spiritual family, in Elmore Leonard's take on Stagecoach. It's not exactly Grand Hotel on wheels. The hypocrites, crooks, and racists Newman travels with cast him out of their polite company in the coach, then turn to him for salvation when outlaws hold up the stage and hunt them through the desert. It's hard to "like" Newman's cold, hard survivor, but you can't help but respect his cunning and his unsentimental directness. Fredric March is sweaty with corruption as a crooked Indian agent, and Richard Boone smiles his deadly charm as a lusty bad man. While this 1966 Western wears its social politics on its dusty sleeves, director Martin Ritt tempers the revisionist moral of the tale with a stripped-down ruthlessness befitting the rugged, unforgiving landscape. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Hombre

Paul Newman is a half breed brought up by Indians in an unforgiving environment where patience, endurance and serenity count far more than bluster and bravado. Here he helps a mixed bunch of people survive through a hostile environment as they are chased and beaten by some rough characters. Though he appears to be selfish and self-centered, Hombre displays qualities that enable others to survive and not give up easily and where death is only one of many options. December 17, 2008

Newman & Ritt make a memorable Western

Elmore Leonard wrote a few Westerns in the '50s that became successful films and this one along with "3:10 to Yuma" still stands out as one of the best of its kind. Kevin Costner has stated in interviews that this film really influenced him in the making of his revisionist Western "Dances with Wolves"--and one can see why. A suspenseful Western with a social consciousness rarely found in films of that era, "Hombre" scored with a solid cast of pros, with Newman in his best Western role ever even over "Butch Cassidy" or "The Left-Handed Gun". Though he plays a stoical character who was raised by the Indians, his John Russell finally reveals himself in the end to be a man of compassion even over his apparent hatred of the White man when he takes action to save a white woman who professed prejudice over the Indians and humiliated him in an earlier scene. A excellent story with great dialogue and a fine villainous turn by Richard Boone--how can you miss? September 21, 2008

Hombre

Based on an Elmore Leonard novel by the same name. the story is somewhat typical for Elmore Leonard which means it's somewhat eccentric for anyone else. Paul Newman is Hombre & he's a half-breed (no offense meant) who has been living as an Indian. He's approached by a white acquaintance who tells him that his white father has died & that he should look into his inheritance. Hombre cuts off his long hair & dons the white man's clothes but not the white man's ways. He ends up on a stagecoach with other passengers who don't appreciate who or what he is. To them he's a cold-blooded individual seeking only his survival. Of course he gives in but not completely; it will be his way which is the Indian way. The ending is a good one.

Paul Newman is excellent in his title role. This is his most dramatic western & perhaps his best, not counting Butch Cassidy... which wasn't a "straight" western. Richard Boone co-stars as the sadistic heavy & is very good also. Frederic March, in a character role, is good. The film is directed by the underrated Martin Ritt who directed Newman in five previous movies; in fact, this one made four movies in a row for the pair. Hombre might be the best of the bunch. January 1, 2008

hombre

very good movie and quality of product very good.paul newman great actor and richard boone very good bad man. November 24, 2007

A Man by any other name...

Hombre (1967)


Hombre (1967) staring Paul Newman as John Russell is one of my favorite westerns. It is based on the book by the same name written by Leonard Elmore.

In it Russell a blue-eyed white raised in part by a white man, then by the Indians, inherits a house in town.

He boards a stagecoach and tries to sit with the Whites inside, but the Whites don't want to have anything to do with him. He is asked to ride up top (kind of like sitting in the back of the bus). Later on the stagecoach is robbed by several white men and a Mexican. Russell manages to shoot one of the White men and recover the gold stolen by the Indian Agent riding inside the stagecoach. The Whites are only too glad to walk with Russell now, but wouldn't ride with him before.


*************SPOILER ALERT******************************


In The end Russell kills the banditos trailing the party and the Mexican asks with his dying breath, "What was his name"? He'd been calling him Hombre up to that point which is Spanish for Man. The Mexican thought of Russell as a Man even if the Whites did not.


Gunner May,2007




May 14, 2007

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