1953 Western Classic Among John Wayne's Best - But He Was The Second Choice
- John Wayne was not the first choice to play the lead role in the film "Hondo," as Glenn Ford was initially cast but backed out due to a previous unpleasant experience with the director John Farrow.
One of the most iconic Western roles from John Wayne came from a film he reportedly described as his personal favorite, but he wasn't the initial first choice to lead the film.
Hondo was supposed to feature Glenn Ford, but his tumultuous relationship with director John Farrow spoiled his involvement.
"Interestingly enough, Wayne was not the first choice to play Hondo ; it was Glenn Ford but the actor backed out when he realized John Farrow was slated to direct. Ford had previously had an unpleasant working experience with the director on Plunder of the Sun (1953)," Turner Classic Movies wrote .
'Hondo' Named Among Best John Wayne Westerns
Collider celebrated Hondo as a "groundbreaking Western" thanks to its "eye-popping visuals and stylized approach to the genre, as it even earned a select release in 3-D."
"The film also marked one of the rare occasions in which Wayne had a female co-star who was just as awe-inspiring as he was; Geraldine Pagegave such a memorable, feisty performance that she actually earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, an honor that is not often bestowed upon Westerns," it wrote.
The 3-D filming process was laborious requiring two cameras mounted side by side, but the unpredictable machines could break down at a moments notice. After Warner Bros. ordered the crew to return one of the cameras which was on loan, Wayne exploded into a fit of anger.
"We're spending around $30,000 a week down here keeping this troupe running. If you don't want to cooperate in this, just call me up and tell me to bring the camera back, and I'll bring it back and cancel our relationship," he reportedly said .
The film owns a strong 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and is available to watch for free on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.
Related: 1957 Classic, Originally a Box Office Flop, Named Among Greatest Westerns of All Time
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
