Paul Newman plays a half breed Apache caught in a tight spot, and one who shows his mettle when the chips are down. Trapped on a stage that is robbed by a gang of thieves, he is forced into a situation where he must defend people he doesn't respect, and fight people he has no quarrel with. In typical Elmore Leonard fashion, the lone quiet man is far more than he seems to be, and honor and simple dedication to truth are the shining jewels of human existence. (See also "Valdez is Coming".) Elmore Leonard's westerns are the very best of the genre, as long as you include "The Searchers" and "The Wild Bunch" and "Monte Walsh". Paul Newman's performance is all fierce inner fire and incredible fury at injustice, never losing control even when he is lashing out with devastating effect. The special highlight here is Richard Boone, always a great performer, but in this movie he is just fabulous. The scene where he verbally bullies the last spot on the stage away from an Army officer just drips with a finely tuned malevolence that you can feel in the air. Brilliant movie, one you shouldn't miss.
Review of Hombre
