Hombre

Paul Newman did a whole bunch of films with Director Martin Ritt and Hombre, one lean and mean western ranks as one of the best.

Newman is John Russell, the ultimate in the Stockholm Syndrome in the western film. He's a man who was kidnapped by the Apaches as a child, raised among them, and then when he was rescued from the Apaches, turned his back on his rescuers and went back to live among them. The opening of the film has some closeup shots of Newman as an Apache and he does look like a figure of interest with those baby blue eyes of his. The viewer is already involved, this is a person of interest, there's a story here, let's find out about him.

Circumstance has put him on a coach with several other passengers, including the Indian agent at the San Carlos Reservation, Fredric March and his wife Barbara Rush. Unbeknownst to everyone else, March has embezzled a whole stash of money from the tribe and is on the run, like Berton Churchill in Stagecoach. Of course Churchill is not taking his young pretty wife along with him.

The outlaws led by Richard Boone know about the loot and they ambush the coach, but the holdup is unsuccessful. Nevertheless the passengers are left afoot with the loot, but limited water on the Arizona desert.

It falls to Newman to lead them to safety, a guy they had previously snubbed. Hombre gets deliciously ironic that way.

Next to Newman, I'd say the best performance in the film is easily that of Diane Cilento, the very wise and earthy boarding house keeper. She's one experienced with life woman who if everyone heeded it would have been better all around.

Why are they with Newman, cause he can cut it. And as a film, Hombre definitely cuts it.

Superbly written and acted, Hombre is one of the two or three best end-of-the-West Westerns ever made.

Based on the Elmore Leonard novel and starring Paul Newman, Hombre is the story of John Russell, a white man raised by Apaches forced by circumstances to be responsible for the lives of a group of people who despise him.

Dr. Faver: You've learned something about white people. They stick together. John Russell: They better.

Newman is sterling as Russell, whose sense of honor puts him into a no-win situation, and whose tenacity will not allow him to back off. Richard Boone was rarely better than as Cicero Grimes, who matches Russell, steely-eyed glare for steely-eyed glare. His performance here is on par with his portrayal of gang-leader John Fain in Big Jake, just a few years later.

Grimes: Well, now. Now what do you suppose hell is gonna look like? Russell: We all die. It's just a question of when.

Also outstanding are Diane Cilento, Barbara Rush, and Martin Balsam. A strong performance by character actor Frank Silvera as an unnamed Mexican bandit is one of the film's many gems.

Russell: (after wounding the Bandit)I would have done better, but I think you moved. Bandit: You can be sure I moved!

The magnificently desolate northern Arizona desert becomes an additional character in the film.

If you are looking for the ultimate tough-guy film, you need look no further than Hombre.

Martin Ritt made a lot of good movies. This is one of his best. It deserves to be remembered and to live forever. Elmore Leonard wrote this wonderful western of a man who is no hero in the classical western-style. He is of white origin, brought up by Indians. He wants to live in peace with his fellow man, and faced with violence he withdraws, but when it comes to injustice or survival he turns out to be some sort of hero just the same. Paul Newman's leading role as Hombre is a performance as convincing as ever. And all other leading characters are played by wonderful actors too. Richard Boone's bullying criminal is almost to be smelled through the screen. Even in the smaller roles there are some real gems. See this movie again and again - and again!

The movie is set in Arizona , circa 1880 . John Russell (Paul Newman) is a tough Indian-raised man , he's disdained by his respectable stagecoach passengers : Dr Favor (Fredric March) and wife (Barbara Rush) , among others (Diane Cilento , Martin Balsam , Margaret Blye) . He's enticed into helping when some bandits (Richard Boone , Frank Sivera , David Canary's film debut) attack the stagecoach . Russell becomes involved and results to be the only hope for survival when they are assaulted by cutthroats , facing off dangerous outlaws across the treacherous country .

Exciting Western plenty of thought-provoking drama , shootouts , action and being quite entertaining . Various character-studios furnish the basis for this Western-drama . Terrific Paul Newman in an enjoyable performance , though using the Stanislawski method , as he plays a disdained person that's why he was raised by Indians , but he becomes the saviour and only hope for survival when they are set upon by outlaws . Richard Boone gives a superb acting as a cruel baddie . Colorful cinematography by James Wong Howe , he's a classic cameraman who won two Oscars (Hud and Rose tattoo) , working from silent cinema . Interesting screenplay dealing with racism theme by Elmore Leonard , he's a noir film (Jackie Brown , Get shorty , 52 pick-up) and Western expert (3.10 Yuma , Tall T , Valdez is coming , Joe Kidd), and , nowadays , working too . The motion picture was well produced and directed by Martin Ritt , who worked with Paul Newman in ¨Hud¨ and ¨Outrage¨. The film will appeal to Western enthusiastic and Paul Newman fans . Rating : Above average, well worth watching.

This film made Paul Newman my favorite male actor for decades. It affected the way I have seen every one of his roles, even his salad dressing. The story line brings John Russell's (Newman) personal strength of character and survival into sharp contrast with many of the other characters' own sense of strength, and therefore the viewers' as well. There are villains all around and innocent (and not so innocent) victims for the taking. Personal values of all kinds (racial, greed, criminal) are set up for display and comparison against Russell's simple personal strength and integrity like a painting competition at a state fair.

My most remembered quote from this film is Russell's response to Dr. Favor(the embezzler)when Favor attempts to educate Russell that white (implying civilized) people stick together and help each other out and Russell responds, "They better".