When you have John Wayne in a Western movie, then you know it’s the real deal. And Hondo (1953) was undoubtedly one of John Wayne’s finest westerns. Interestingly, the classic Western drama movie was filmed in multiple locations. Would you like to know about those fantastic filming spots? If yes, then stick with me. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Hondo filmed.
Hondo recounts the story of Hondo Lane, who works for the US Cavalry. When he stumbles upon a mother and her son in the middle of Apache territory, he decides to stay back and protect them. The Western drama film stars a cast of veteran actors, including the legendary and celebrated John Wayne and other renowned senior artists like Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate, James Arness, and Rodolfo Acosta.
John Wayne, nicknamed The Duke, was one of the most prominent actors in the Hollywood industry. He was known for his larger-than-life stature and numerous movies, including several westerns. Wayne received several awards during his movie career, including an Academy Award. President Jimmy Carter also awarded him the Presidential Medal of Honor.
Now let’s discuss where was Hondo filmed. The classic Western drama movie was filmed in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Utah, United States of America.
Helmed by legendary filmmaker John Farrow, Hondo was first released in Houston, Texas, on 25th November 1953, followed by its wide theatrical release in the United States on 27th November 1953. The Western drama flick was released on digital platforms on 1st January 2011. However, let me give you a detailed account of the movie’s filming locations.
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Where Was Hondo Filmed? Hondo Filming Locations!
John Farrow’s Hondo was well-received by critics back in the day, who were impressed with Geraldine Page and John Wayne’s stellar performance. Over the years, the movie has become one of the best John Wayne westerns with a brilliant screenplay. The movie was made on a budget of $3 million and earned over $4 million.
Farrow was an Australian filmmaker, writer, and producer who received several prestigious awards, including an Oscar. He was best known for his westerns and action-adventure films. Hondo got an incredible score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7 on IMDb.
Utah, United States Of America
The classic Western drama film Hondo was filmed in multiple locations. A portion of the film was shot in the state of Utah. The production team filmed in several places across the American state. Principal photography began in the summer of 1953.
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of western America. It borders Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Idaho. Utah has several national parks, including Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Zion, and Capitol Reef.
Filming in Utah primarily occurred in Skull Valley, Tooele County, Delle, Lonerock, and Snow Canyon State Park, which is situated at 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, Utah. Apart from filming in Utah, some sequences were filmed in Arizona’s Patagonia and Sasabe.
Chihuahua, Mexico
The Mexican state of Chihuahua also served as an essential filming location for Western drama movies. Several vital scenes were filmed in the San Francisco de Conchos region. In the present day, the region is best known for its tourist attractions, which include Los Filtros and Lago Colina.
John Wayne and producer Robert Fellows wanted Farrow to shoot the movie in 3D format. Warner Brothers provided the production team with the newly developed All Media Camera, which could also shoot in 3-dimensional format with the help of twin lenses. The new camera was bulky and quite heavy, making filming difficult.
Not many people know this, but the last portion of Hondo was directed by John Ford instead of John Farrow, as he had to leave the production because he was contractually obligated to film another movie. Ford completed the movie and shot the final sequences, including the Apache attack scenes.
Plot Of Hondo (1953) | Let’s Meet Hondo Lane!
The story of Hondo revolves around the character of Hondo Lane, played by John Wayne. Hondo works as a dispatch rider for the US Army Cavalry. While on duty, riding through Apache territory, he notices a house and comes across a homesteader, Angie Lowe, played by Geraldine Page, and her young son. After talking to them, Hondo finds out that her husband, a coward, left them alone during an Apache attack.
Hondo asks Angie to leave the Apache territory along with her son so that he can take them somewhere safer, but she refuses. Not having much of a choice left, he decides to stay back and protect them until Angie makes up her mind. Soon, after spending time together, both of them form a strong bond.
Final Words
Hurry up if you haven’t watched the classic Western drama film yet. Missing out on a John Wayne movie like Hondo is a crime. Most importantly, now you know all about the movie’s filming locations. If you ever wish to check out the locations I mentioned, well, in that case, you know where to find them. Having said that, if you liked going through the article, please let me know.
When Did John Wayne Die?
John Wayne died in June 1979.
For Which Movie Did John Wayne Receive An Oscar?
John Wayne received an Oscar for his role in True Grit.
What Is The Tagline Of The Movie Hondo?
The tagline of the movie Hondo is “…They called him HONDO”.
Where Can You Watch The Movie Hondo Online?
You can watch the movie Hondo on FuboTV, Prime Video, Paramount+, and YouTube Premium.
