Hombre (1967)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel)
Irving Ravetch (writer) ...

Release Date:

21 March 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

Hombre means MAN... Paul Newman is HOMBRE!

Plot:

John Russell, disdained by his "respectable" fellow stagecoach passengers because he was raised by Indians, becomes their only hope for survival when they are set upon by outlaws.

Plot Keywords:

Stagecoach | Lodging House | Apache | Inheritance | Betrayal

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	John Russell
Fredric March	...	Dr. Alex Favor
Richard Boone	...	Cicero Grimes
Diane Cilento	...	Jessie
Cameron Mitchell	...	Frank Braden
Barbara Rush	...	Audra Favor
Peter Lazer	...	Billy Lee Blake
Margaret Blye	...	Doris Blake
Martin Balsam	...	Henry Mendez
Skip Ward	...	Steve Early
Frank Silvera	...	Mexican bandit
David Canary	...	Lamar Dean
Val Avery	...	Delgado
Larry Ward	...	Soldier

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bell Ranch, Santa Susana, California, USA

Company:

Hombre Productions

Trivia:

The photo in the closing credits of the film was taken in 1886 by Camillus Fly, the famous Tombstone (AZ) photographer. The white boy in the photo is Jimmy (Santiago) McKinn, captured by the Apaches in 1885. Like the Paul Newman character in the film, McKinn was totally assimilated in the tribe and was rescued against his will when Geronimo surrendered in 1886.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene, the sheriff bemoans the risks of his job, saying that he's a target for some "punk" looking to make a reputation for himself; the term, meaning a young hoodlum, did not come into use until 1917, long after the time period of the film.

Quotes:

Mexican Bandit: [coming up the hill, waving a red handkerchief tied to a stick] Hey, hombre!
John Russell: [Russell finishes loading his rifle and goes to see what the Mexican Bandit wants]
Mexican Bandit: Look amigo, how close you come!
[indicating the wound on his stomach]
John Russell: I tried to do better; I think you moved.
Mexican Bandit: You can be sure I move! How do you prefer them, eh, tied to a tree?
John Russell: That'd be nice.
Mexican Bandit: You like to pull the trigger, eh?
John Russell: I can do it again for you.

Best Paul Newman Movie

There are so many rave comments here about Hombre I won't repeat them. I'll just say this is my favorite Paul Newman movie of them all, and one of the best Western's ever made. Richard Boone is terrific as the villain. Newman's low-key performance is remarkably powerful and authoritative. Great cast, story, mood, with an almost Zen like quality in the unfolding and resolution. Hombre has stayed with me for 33 years.