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!

"You'd eat dog. You'd fight for the bones too."

"You ever been hungry? I don't mean 'ready for supper' hungry. I mean when your belly swells."

"What do you expect me to take with me?" "Your life. How's that? And if you make it, we'll drink to your good luck."

"That Grimes. He think it going' to be easy. He doan brink no water, only whiskey." "Well, it's going to get a lot harder."

"I would like at least to know what his name was." "He was called John Russell."

These were all just off the top of my head not having seen the movie in over 8 years. (not counting the ones that have already been posted)

One of my favorite movies ever.

I am pleasantly surprised that there are other people out there that have seen it recently and/or remember it. Many other lines. I'll post when I watch it 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.

Is this movie not a micro-view of society? We have a certain class structure. We have heroes and villains. We have one man, who, perhaps by virtue of his Apache affinity, is essentially "at one" with himself. He tells the person who comments that they had mistakenly believed that he was taking the money for himself, "What you think is your business." He is unaffected. He knows who he is, what he's about, and is not "on the string," dancing to the tune that others would call for him. He has his own code; his own values, and he demonstrates them -- in action -- throughout this fine film. Richard Boone is great as Grimes, and the overall cast is very good. This movie, in some ways, could be taken apart, viewed, and reviewed much the same way as Henry Fonda's "12 Angry Men." There is much to admire about this movie . . . much to admire in the character, John Russell.

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.