A superb review and spotlight on a Elmore Leonard novel adapted into a western classic. I think this one just doesn’t get enough attention, and should. My western/noir blogging colleague Colin did it justice and deserves a read.
We all die, just a question of when.
I’m an unashamed fan of westerns from the 1950s, the genre’s golden years, but I’m also pretty fond of those from the following decade. By the end of the 60s, with the spaghetti western in the ascendancy, revisionism was in the air, though that movement wouldn’t come to full fruition until we pass into the 70s. For the classic Hollywood western these were the transitional years, a painful period in some ways, with the genre thrashing about in search of direction. Such times tend to bring about a combination of successes, throwbacks and misfires. When we view the era in this light, I think it’s fair to say that the 1960s was a decade that was simultaneously fascinating and frustrating for western fans. Ultimately, revisionism would strip the genre down to the bone and train a probing searchlight on its innermost workings…
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It Rains... You Get Wet 
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Thanks very much for that Michael.
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My pleasure 🙂
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Hi, Colin, Michael and company:
‘Hombre’ is not just a good, solid western. It’s a great looking western as well! With sharp, rich colors above and muted earth tones below. A ramped up, Budd Boetticher look and feel that made every shadow look cool and inviting. And the dust never more gritty, invasive and disdainful.
With a sly hat tip to Ford’s ‘Stagecoach’ early on. A superlative bad guy in Richard Boone.
And a just starting to get world weary Paul Newman as the hero everyone hates, but has to depend on. Making the most of every second of his screen time.
Kudos all the way around!
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Well said, Kevin. It is all of that. Thanks.
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