Based on the character created by Louis L'Amour and the John Wayne film of the same name, Hondo depicts the adventures of former cavalry scout Hondo Lane (Ralph Taeger) and his dog, Sam (himself), as he tries to broker a peace between the white settlers and the Native Americans fighting to keep their land and way of life. Ex-scout, ex-Confederate officer, and widower of a massacred Apache bride, Hondo has the right mix of perspectives needed to troubleshoot the dangers found in the lawless and powder-keg atmosphere that envelopes the Arizona Territory of the 1870s. Aiding Hondo is frontier widow Angie Dow (Kathie Brown), her son Johnny (Buddy Foster), grizzled sidekick Buffalo Baker (Noah Beery Jr.), Apache Chief Vittoro (Michael Pate), Colonel Crook (William Bryant) and Captain Richards (Gary Clarke). Notable guests include Robert Taylor, Nick Adams, Annette Funicello, Robert Reed,Claude Akins, John Carradine and Farley Granger.