Disc Details
Special Features:	Widescreen anamorphic format Chapter selection Theatrical trailer Still Gallery.
Video Format:	Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) [SS-DL]
Languages:	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles:	English, French.
Captions:	Yes
Casing:	1-Disc Keep Case

John Russell (Paul Newman) was kidnapped and raised by Apache Indians. He was rescued as a teenager, but returned to his Indian family after a couple of years. The film starts out when John is an adult. Mr. Russell, the man who rescued him has died. John receives word that he has inherited a rooming house that old Mr. Russell owned. Henry Mendez (Martin Balsam), the stage coach station manager tells John that he should pretend to be a White man for a few days and check out the rooming house. John does check out the rooming house, but he doesn’t do as Mendez hoped he would. Instead of be3coming White again, John Russell sells the rooming house to buy a heard of horses.

The sale of the rooming house displaces all of the occupants. These include Jesse (Diane Cilento), the sexy woman who runs the house, Braden (Cameron Mitchell), the alcoholic sheriff who is Jesse’s part-time lover, Billy Lee and Doris Blake (Peter Lazer and Margaret Blye), a young married couple. Jesse and the Blakes decide that it is time to leave the dying town. The stage line is also shutting down. There is one last stage leaving that night. The stage has been chartered by Mr. and Mrs. Faver (Frederick March and Barbara Rush). Mr. Faver was the Indian Agent assigned to the Apache reservation. Unknown to the others on the stage, Faver has embezzled most of the money he was given to administrate the reservation. However, there are some that know what Faver is carrying. At the last minute, Grimes (Richard Boone) forces his way onto the crowded stage. John Russell is also along.

Once the stage is in the desert, Grimes is joined by several other bandits. They rob Faver of his money. John Russell pulls his rifle and kills one bandits and drives off the others. Faver gets his money back, but not before Grimes kidnaps his wife. The rest of the movie is a cat-and-mouse hunt as Grimes stalks the band of travelers led by John Russell.

“Hombre” is a modern era Western classic. Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. adapted Elmore Leonard’s novel, keeping much of Leonard’s sharp dialogue. Martin Ritt directs with epic flare. The film is claustrophobic and airy at the same time. Never have the vast Western expanses seemed so foreboding due to the pursuing bandits.

Paul Newman delivers one of his best performances as the conflicted John Russell. As a police man on the Apache Reservation, he saw first hand the pain and suffering that Faver let happen. He would like nothing better than to leave Favor and the others to rot in the desert. John Russell just happens to be a moral man. He leads the others to safety the best he can. Ironically, the object of the other passenger’s hate and prejudice turns into their savior. Diane Cilento is earthy and sensual as the worn but wise Jessie. Richard Boone delivers his best performance ever as the aptly named Grimes. Grimes is the personification of evil. Frederick March plays against type as the vain and pompous Faver. The always-excellent Martin Balsam is great as Mendez. “Hombre” is a must see film. If you are unaware if this film you may be about to discover your new favorite film.

Picture Quality: 10/10
The remastered picture is outstanding. Sweeping Western vistas fill the screen. The flesh tones are excellent. I didn't notice any artifacts or pixilation. Nice delineation of colors.

Sound Quality: 8/10
The 2.0 stereo is nice. There are only a couple of scenes which would have been better in 5.1 surround sound. There is no loss of dialogue.

Menu: 6/10
Nothing special. Except for the still gallery, the navigation is easy. The still gallery was hard to access.

Extra Features: 2/10
All you get is a trailer and a small still gallery.

The Final Word:
Even though there are few extras, this DVD is worth the price of admission for the movie alone. One of the best films of the 60s!

Rusty White