This fine colourful western was originally made in 3-D, which explains the odd look of certain segments, notably the marvellous title sequence where John Wayne just keeps on walking off the screen and, supposedly, into the audience. Wayne, in his prime, plays a grim, buckskin-clad cavalry scout, who comes across Oscar-nominated Geraldine Page and her son Lee Aaker - shades of Shane - in the wilderness and eventually helps them fend off some Apache Indians. There is a strange tendency for some scenes to fade into black as though not fully completed by director John Farrow, yet this is still a mature, good-looking western - almost a rehearsal for The Searchers - with an excellent screenplay by James Edward Grant. The film was long unseen as Wayne's son Michael owned the rights.

Army despatch rider Hondo Lane discovers a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches, and he becomes their protector.