Hondo represented a somewhat more mature view of this type of show. It was not truly a “western” in the classic sense: none of the characters were cowboys, cattle were seldom seen, and the word “ranch” was never spoken. Instead, the series revolved around a small town run by a Union military post. The captain of this post functioned as the authority of law. While the main character, Hondo Lane, was an interesting variation on the classic western hero–a temperamental loner, wanted for murder he didn’t commit, and for which he had been exonerated. Hondo was employed by the Union army as an Indian scout. He had been married to an Indian woman and remained on good terms with her father, the Apache chief.

Hondo

Season 1 Ep.03: Hondo And The Singing Wire

The Calvary and Redell of the telegraph company are trying to convince Vittoro and the Apaches that the telegraph is beneficial to everyone. Half breed renegade Delgado and his small band disrupt the demonstration by cutting the wire further down the line and killing two telegraph company employees. Hondo comes across the two dead employees and is jumped by Delgado’s band. He is chased and wounded but Delgado spares his life when he finds out Hondo was married to Vittoro’s daughter. Hondo manages to get to an isolated cabin where he is healed by Doc Stanton, a wanted but innocent man. Hondo promises not to reveal Doc’s presence. Upon returning to the fort he recommends they take a small force of select men and go up into the hills after Delgado’s band, putting them on the defensive. Hondo, Buffalo Baker, the Captain, Redell and three cavalrymen encounter Delgado’s band. The Captain is seriously wounded and Hondo has to break his word to Doc Stanton in order to save the Captain’s life. Buffalo, who is considering a bounty hunting career, has a handful of wanted posters with him. Hondo tries to figure out why Redell is so obsessed with killing Delgado.

In the Arizona Territory of the 1870s Hondo Lane, ex-Confederate Calvary Captain, works as a scout. Hondo is a loner who travels with a dog named Sam. Hondo had lived with the Apaches for a while and had married the daughter of their chief Vittoro. Hondo’s Indian bride was slain in a massacre by the army and he still mourns her death. He now troubleshoots for the army, trying to avoid more killing as he faces land swindlers, renegade Indians and outlaws. The base of operations is Fort Lowell which is commanded by young Captain Richards who is watched over by Colonel Crook. Buffalo Baker is Hondo’s fellow scout and friend. Angie Dow is a widow who runs the general store with the help of her nine-year-old son Johnny. She is Hondo’s romantic interest. Many times Chief Vittoro and the Apaches assist Hondo and the Calvary with keeping the peace.

This show is based on both the original Louis L’Amour novel and the John Wayne movie. Less

Cast and Crew:

Ralph Taeger, Noah Beery Jr. and Michael Pate

Directors: Alan Crosland Jr., Harry Harris
Production Company: Andrew J. Fenady Productions, Batjac Productions, MGM Television
Audio/Visual: mono, color
Date Release: 1967
Additional details in:

Hondo in IMDB | Hondo in Wikipedia

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