After years of waiting, John Wayne's 1953 Western "Hondo" has come to home video.

MPI Home Video, in association with the Wayne estate, is offering the film at a suggested retail price of $19.98.Not only has "Hondo" never been available on video before; it has, with two exceptions, been out of circulation for more than two decades.

One exception was in 1980 when it aired on HBO. The other came during the summer of 1991 when Republic Pictures syndicated "Hondo" for television with proceeds going to benefit the Leukemia Society of America. And it was televised in its original 3-D format.

Special glasses, of course, were required to enjoy the 3-D effect. You won't have to worry about needing glasses to watch the video. It has been released in the "flat" version.

Video companies have yet to find a way to successfully use the true 3-D process on cassettes. The effect on video always has been spotty and less than satisfactory. Those who saw "Hondo" in 3-D during its initial theatrical run know how effective the process can be when it's projected right.

A 3-D laser disc version is planned for the near future. Perhaps that technology can successfully showcase the third dimension.

Based on a Louis L'Amour story, "Hondo" features Wayne in his prime and ranks among the actor's best outings.

Wayne, looking trim and fit, is Hondo Lane, who befriends a woman and her son caught in the dangerous Apache territory of 1874. The whites have just broken another treaty with the Apache nation and the American Indians are getting ready to go on the warpath.

Hondo has mixed feelings about the situation. He once lived with the Apaches and is saddened that their way of life is vanishing. Yet when the showdown comes he sides with the whites.

"Hondo" is a good Western with plenty of action and stunning scenes of the vast Southwestern landscape. Also in the cast are Geraldine Page (making her screen debut), Ward Bond and James Arness.

The release of "Hondo" means only two major Wayne films remain unavailable on videotape. The others, "The High and the Mighty" and "Island in the Sky," are scheduled to be released in 1995 and 1996, respectively.

"The High and the Mighty," released in 1954, cast Wayne as an airline pilot. It was an "Airport"-type film with a large cast that included Robert Stack, David Brian and Jan Sterling. Its theme song became a hit.

"Island in the Sky," released in 1953, is the story of the survivors of a transport plane that crashes in Greenland during World War II. Joining Wayne in the cast are Lloyd Nolan, James Arness and Andy Devine. Neither it nor "The High and the Mighty" have been aired on television in recent years.

Both films were directed by William Wellman.

- A Duke checklist: For nearly 50 years, John Wayne rode the cinematic screen, and thanks to video you can study the development of his career. Here are some of the films that should be watched when studying the early part of Wayne's career.

- "The Big Trail" (1930). Raoul Walsh directed this big-budget film with a 23-year-old Wayne playing the leader of a wagon train heading west. Wayne's not bad in his first starring role. And there are some spectacular sequences in this one. When the film flopped, Wayne was regulated to the world of B pictures.

- "Texas Cyclone" (1931) has Wayne playing second fiddle to then cowboy star Tim McCoy in this Columbia B Western.

- "Hurricane Express" (1932). One of three 12-chapter serials Wayne made for Mascot Pictures. In this one, he battles a mysterious railroad terrorist know as The Wrecker.

- "Ride Him Cowboy" (1932). The first of six above-average "cowboy pictures" Wayne made for Warner Brothers. Wayne was billed as "the King of the Cowboys" (sorry about that, Roy) and rode his miracle horse Duke.

- "Man from Utah" (1934). Wayne and his pal George "Gabby" Hayes bring to justice a gang of rodeo bandits. This was one of 16 cheapie Westerns Wayne made for Lone Star/Monogram. "Three-day wonders," Wayne used to call them.

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- "King of the Pecos" (1936). Wayne tracks down the murderer of his parents and the kidnapper of his brother. One of eight Westerns in a series for Republic.

- "Santa Fe Stampede" (1938). By now, you can spot some of the developing Wayne mannerisms - the walk and the deliberate drawl.

- "Stagecoach" (1939). Still one of the greatest Westerns ever made. This was the film that rescued Wayne forever from the world of the Bs. Directed by John Ford.

Later Wayne films that are essential include: "The Dark Command" (1940), "Flying Tigers" (1942), "They Were Expendable" (1945), "Red River" (1948), "Fort Apache" (1948), "Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949), "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" (1949), "The Quiet Man" (1952), "The Searchers" (1956), "Rio Bravo" (1959), "The Alamo" (1960), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962), "McLintock" (1963), "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965), "True Grit" (1969), "Big Jake" (1971) and "The Shootist" (1976).

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