Two Rode Together (1961)

No wonder director Ford considered the movie "crap". That may be a little too strong, but the results are definitely sub-par for the legendary filmmaker. If The Searchers (1956) dealt with whites kidnapped by Indians, the plot here is a reversal: Whites raised as Comanches are ransomed back into the white world, and in the process of reintegration, settler bigotry is exposed. That's a good thoughtful premise but the screenplay can't seem to provide a focus on anything. As a result, the story meanders from event to event in generally unfocused fashion. For whatever reason, writer Nugent can't seem to organize the elements into a coherent, effective narrative.Then there's the miscasting, especially Widmark as a 45-year old West Point lieutenant, who's supposed to romance a 26-year old Shirley Jones, who looks and acts like she just stepped out of a malt shop. And shouldn't forget poor 55-year old Andy Devine, a very un-cavalrylike cavalry sergeant. Somehow, his grossly over-weight figure is just not that funny. On the other hand, Stewart's not miscast, but this may be the only movie where his usual low-key style gives way to some serious over-acting, which unfortunately overshadows his low-key co-star Widmark. His character is, however, surprisingly dark and combative, an interesting feature.At the same time, for a western, there's little action, mostly just palaver and clumsy stabs at humor. However, the lynching scene is well staged and a real grabber. Anyway, it's pretty clear that director Ford's heart wasn't really in the production for whatever reason. Unfortunately, the end result is one of the least of his many fine Westerns.

It's big, loud, blowsy, breezy, glib, heartening and heartrending, larger than life, colorful, fulsome, winsome, .... all the schmaltz and schlock and superficial sentimentality that Hollywood loves to throw at you.James Stewart plays James Stewart. He's corrupt, heartless, cynical, cold; he drinks, he smokes, he offers to buy and sell people .... but, wait, we know, don't we, that he's the guy who opened the doors to the bank ... It's an act, isn't it? James won't let us, and America, down.Widmark, sadly underrated throughout his career, does an amazing job but he's the only bright spot. Ford's stock actors play the stock characters they always play. Ken Curtis plays that there hillbilly rebel guy who aw-shuckses and darns-its you to death.John Ford became the Norman Rockwell of movies after doing some harder stuff. Real shame. This should probably be rated a 2-3 given Ford's reputation.

Whiskey-soaked Texas lawman James Stewart (as Guthrie McCabe) and young Calvary lieutenant Richard Widmark (as Jim Gary) are hired to retrieve White people kidnapped by Native American "Indians". Finding these abducted people is difficult, but even harder is expecting them to revert to their birth culture. Comanche "Indians" assimilate their acquisitions, especially vulnerable young children. Little girls and boys typically grow up to be squaws, rapists and killers. One woman is advised her long-lost relative would probably rape her, or worse...Of the Ford regulars, screen veteran Mae Marsh (as Hanna Clegg) gets one of her better late-career roles...Among the Comanche, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Widmark manage to locate some missing White folk. However, returning them to civilized society is predictably difficult. The film's most interesting storyline involves pretty blonde Shirley Jones (as Marty Purcell) and potential brother David Kent (as "Running Wolf"). She also serves as a romantic interest for Widmark. Less satisfying is watching Stewart hook up with beautiful young Linda Cristal (as Elena de la Madriaga). You begin to wonder how seriously director John Ford took this topic...***** Two Rode Together (7/26/62) John Ford ~ James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Shirley Jones, Linda Cristal

One of several films of the '50s and '60s that dramatized the difficult and usually disappointing quest to rescue long term captives of Great Plains Native Americans(NA) tribes. This was John Ford's second venture into this subject, the first being the much better known "The Searchers". He only reluctantly agreed to direct this film. Unlike "The Searchers" and the previous "Charge at Feather River", in which the long term captives were rescued/abducted by stealth, in this film, the much more common method of bartering was attempted, except for Mexican Elena. All 3 films dramatize the frequent disappointment in discovering that long term captives usually didn't want to be rescued, at least initially, usually having forgotten their natal language and considering themselves culturally a NA by preference.. Those children who were not killed in NA raids usually were treated well , as potential tribal members. Older teens and adults usually were killed or kept for ransom or barter, slaves in the meanwhile.. Thus, in the film, Jimmy Stewart, as sheriff McCabe, and Richard Widmark, as army lieutenant Gary form a reluctant buddy pair, commissioned by Ft. Grant commander Frazer(John McIntire) to try to barter for the return of several captives in a Comanche village headed by chief Quanah Parker(the name of a historic famous Comanche chief, the son of a European captive). Strangely, the relatives of these captives form a wagon train pressure group camped outside of Ft. Grant. Money-hungry McCabe has arranged several lucrative bargains with these relatives for specific captives returned. However, he discovers that few captives want to be liberated or are appetizing prospects. Thus, he returns with only one son who is now a ferocious warrior who hates all whites. He has to be kept caged or tied up to avoid injuring others. His presumed father refuses to acknowledge him as his son. However, his presumed mother eventually unties him. He promptly kills her with a knife, and is consequently hung by a vigilante group. This is rather similar to the captive Jennie, in "Charge at Feather River", who shot her brother member of the rescue party, then promptly died from a fall. The only positive thing that results from this mission is the stealthy release of captive Latino Elena(Linda Crystal), who has been a wife of war chief Stone Calf for 5 years, and the killing of Stone Calf by McCabe. Like Anne, in "Charge at Feather River", she's not sure if she wants to continue her arduous NA role or be repatriated . Like Anne, she's afraid she will be treated as an outcast by most Europeans. And, like Anne, her dilemma is made more tolerable by the offer by the leading man to marry her.As typical Ford, the developing romantic attachments of Stewart with Elena and Widmark with Shirley Jones' character are left probable, but unfinished at the end. Stone Calf, the Comanche war chief of a militant brotherhood, is actually named after a Cheyenne chief of a military brotherhood. Comanches didn't have such brotherhoods.Stewart's character was sheriff of Tascosa. this is a historical town in the Texas panhandle: prime Comanche territory. During this period, it was an important cattle drive center, but after the railroad bypassed it, it gradually dwindled to a ghost town....Stewart's character in the initial part of this film looks and acts exactly like his Wyatt Earp character in the controversial Dodge City segment of the subsequent Ford-directed "Cheyenne Autumn""The Searchers" was mostly shot in the spectacular Monument Valley, AZ. However, the actual Comanche domain looked nothing like this. The present film was shot in southern Texas, still within traditional Comanche territory, with a much more authentic Comanche look to the wilderness scenes.I agree with one reviewer that Stewart seemed miscast and often seemed awkward in his role. Dean Martin would have been a much better choice.Strangely, the evil backwoods Cleggs father and sons are resurrected from "Wagon Master" of a decade previously. They pick a fight with Widmark over Shirley. With Andy Devine's later entry into the fracas,it becomes even more of a half-serious-half slapstick affair, reminiscent of the brawl featuring Victor McLaglen in Ford's "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"Yes, the fatal nocturnal attack by Stone Calf on MaCabe + Elena looked very clumsy, and why did he apparently come alone??Some reviewers interpret this film as illustrating an anti-NA prejudice by Ford. Well, Ford, being Irish, felt the anti-Irish, anti-Catholic prejudice of many Americans, thus identified with many other minority groups, including Mormons, Quakers, and, yes, NAs. Problem was, he knew most in his audiences expected NAs, or at least the warlike elements, to be the 'bad guys' in most films. Nonetheless, he tried to give the NAs a fair shake in many of his films, including "Fort Apache", "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", Wagon Master", especially in "Cheyenne Autumn", and even in the present film. The prejudice felt by Elena emanating from many Europeans was not shared by Stewart's nor Widmark's characters. In fact, McCabe offered to marry her and got on the stagecoach for CA with her, to the amazement of all, especially his longtime saloon girlfriend, Belle.