Hombre (1967)

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 | Apache | Lodging House | Beautiful Woman | Abandoned Mine

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:

Revealing mistakes: Before "Hombre" is asked to ride with the coach driver outside, there are actually more passengers (7 - Russel, Dr. Favor, Audra Favor, Billy Blake, Doris Blake, Cicero Grimes and Jessie) in the coach than available seats (6). You can see all passengers sitting inside the coach, which is impossible until Russel is forced out. One does not notice as because you never see more than 3 people at once during a shot.

Quotes:

Jessie: That soldier would have helped you and you know it.
John Russell: I didn't ask for any.
Jessie: He didn't even have a gun.
John Russell: That's his business he don't wanna carry one.
Jessie: It takes a lot to light a fire under you, doesn't it.
John Russell: If it's alright with you, lady, I just didn't feel like bleeding for him. And even if it isn't alright with you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.69)" (2005)

My Favorite Western

This was a great production, with a fantastic cast, unforgettable script and an excellent director and cinematographer. My hat goes off to Paul Newman for taking a role that goes against his normally expected "cutesy" performances and portraying a character we all wish we could be more like. I will also applaud the performances of Diane Cilento, Frederick March, and Richard Boone. You all "can cut it".

When "Hombre" was released, it received mixed reviews especially in the foreign markets. I really have a hard time believing this considering it's competition. I love a good western and I have always had a problem with foreign made "spahgetti westerns" and never understood the popularity of "Fistful of Dollars" or "The Good, Bad and the Ugly". Not taking anything away from Clint Eastwood (because his presence was the only thing that saved those films), but there was no credible dialog or memorable cliché's to ever make me want to watch them more than once.

In my mind this has to be one of the top five westerns ever made and ranks up there with "High Noon" or "Stagecoach". It always amazes me that people can criticize the performance of Paul Newman. I have a hard time envisioning anyone else that could have delivered as good a performance. (Possibly Gary Cooper} Newman has made many great films and just because he is so handsome, we have a hard time relating to him as the cold, unpretentious, supporter of the weak as was John Russell.