I can't help with an opinion on High and the Mighty or Island In the Sky but, Hondo--I absolutely loved this movie.
John Wayne never looked better to me than in this movie. Having Ward Bond, Paul Fix and James Arness in the movie certainly did not hurt it.
Paul Fix was the Cavalry commanding officer, Ward Bond (Buffalo) and James Arness were Army scouts. Ward Bond really looked the part as well as James Arness.
The movie starts off showing a woman and her child on their ranch, when the mother notices a stanger (Hondo Lane) and his dog (Dog) approaching. After introducing himself, he proceeds to help do several needed chores there and he is invited to stay the night.
Mrs Lowe finds out that the man in her house is a famous gunfighter (Hondo) but after awhile all misunderstandings were corrected and she warms up a bit to Hondo.
Hondo borrows a horse and some supplies from her so he can report back to post. When he reached the post, he makes his report and has his first run-in with Ed Lowe (Husband of the lady he just left) Lowe was being chased from the CO's tent and was going to try to get Hondos dog (Dog) to move out of the way. The dog growled and Lowe reaches for his pistol and you see Hondo cock his Winchester and says: "I wouldn't do that" and Lowe says move your cur, and Hondo then says: "Walk around him" Well, Lowe eventually "gets the point" and walks around the dog. The cur is still in the way and Hondo tells it to: "Quit blocking the door" as he makes a motion to almost kick the dog with his boot.
(((One of my favorite scenes in the movie is where at the Saloon, Hondo, Ed Lowe and a few others are engaged in a poker game. Buffalo comes up and starts conversing with Hondo and another player. Hondo tries to get out of the game but Ed Lowe would have nothing to do with it and grabs Hondos red shirt.
Hondo then says: "These shirts are hard to come by" and precedes to punch Lowe and then turns and punches Buffalo. Buffalo said: "What'd you do that for?" and Hondo said: "Because I know you" and while this distraction goes on, Lowe attempts at making a grab for his pistol when Buffalo draws his pistol and says: "Leather it."
Hondo and Buffalo went outside where he gets ready to leave when the Cavalry Sergeant and Ed Lowe approach. Lowe was telling the Sergeant that Hondo had stolen his horse to which Hondo admits he was loaned the horse and was on his way back to give it back. Hondo walks away and leaves and Lowe tells the Sergeant to stop him and that Hondo is a liar. The Sergeant says: "I'm not about to call Hondo a liar, to his face or to his back."
The Apaches visit the Lane ranch where Vittorio (their Chief) says that the mother needs a husband and the boy a father. He also mentions that he will be back in time for the planting rains and that if her husband is not back by then, that she will have to take an Apache for a husband.
Unknownst to Hondo, he is being followed by Lowe and a hired gun. Hondo is sitting at a creek when the dog growls. Lowes gunman is killed by an Indian and Hondo shoots another Indian. Lowe was attacked and knocked to the ground by another Indian and is about to die when Hondo shoots the Indian. Lowe feigns being appreciative and then is trying to reach for his pistol when the dog growls warning Hondo who then whirls about and shoots Lowe with his Winchester before Lowe can get a shot off.
In the dirt Hondo finds a tin type that shows someone he recognizes as the boy and mother, who were at the ranch he had previously left. He also figures out that Ed Lowe was her husband and the boys father.
After this, Hondo gets captured by Apache Indians and is tied to an ant hill. Next he is tortured with hot coals placed in his bare hands. Vittorio then sees the tin type showing the little boy (who needed a father) from that ranch. He kicks the burning coals from Hondos hands and cuts him free. Hondo then has to fight another Apache Indian who had a "Blood right" meaning that he was to fight Hondo to the death because he claims that Hondo killed his brother.
Chief Vittorio then gets a scarf and wraps Hondos burnt hand so he can use it for the coming knife fight. The Indian and Hondo are placed amongst the Indians and each makes a grab for a knife to fight with. Hondo and the Indian start fighting and soon Hondo gets stabbed in his chest after the Indian threw dirt into his eyes. Hondo manages to overcome the Indian and holds his knife at the Indians throat saying that he will either die or can end this blood feud. He then passes out from loss of blood.
The Apaches in the rain, then visit the Lowe ranch and drop of the wounded Hondo at Mrs Lowes feet. She is asked by Vittorio if he (Hondo) is her man, and she lies and says yes he is. Vittorio then says as long as he lives, they will not be bothered by other Apaches. Mrs Lowe and Johnny (the boy) help Hondo into the house and they hear a yelp and go to the door. They see one of Vittorios warriors sitting on his horse just after killing Hondos dog with his lance and then he turns and leaves.
Mrs Lowe then helps Hondo get better. At some point in time, a column of Cavalry make it to the Lowe ranch where they have a few wagons with civilians with them. Their mission was to get all the settlers out of the valley and get them to the fort. Well, they are commanded by a very young Lieutenant who is seriously wounded. Hondo learns that Vittorio was killed during the Indians last charge.
When Hondo and Buffalo go to the workshed, they talk and Hondo tells of having been forced into killing Lowe when he is overheard by the James Arness character. He asks Hondo who does he not like talking with him and Hondo says: Because I don't Like You."
Well, Hondo later send the Arness character with some men to gather any other settlers up and bring them to the ranch. After patching up the wounded and gathering all about them, they set off for the fort. They are soon joined by the other group of settlers.
While passing in a valley, the Apaches spring an attack in which the wagon train gets encircled and they fight off a wave of Indians. When the Indians least expect it, the wagon train makes a run for it for a ways, and then stops to circle the wagons and they again are fighting the Apaches.
They then make another dash and are chased by the Indians when Hondo stops to attempt to help out a wagon that lost its wheel. He is soon attacked by a few Indians. While busy fighting them an unseen Indian is about to get Hondo when he is felled by a bullet from his own Winchester rifle, by the man he dislikes.
In the meantime, the newest Chief is killed and the Apaches break off the fight. Hondo and everybody make ready to leave. Buffalo tells Hondo that (the James Arness character) saved his (Hondo's) life by shooting that Indian about to get Hondo. Hondo then says that the rifle is his to keep.
TRK.
I might have skipped some details of the movie but, this is the gist of it.