Five years earlier, director John Ford filmed his Western masterpiece "The Searchers". After repeated requests to helm "Two Rode Together" he did it as a favor to Columbia Pictures' Harry Cohn. With the words "OK, I'll do the damn thing", he might have given some indication as to the quality of the finished product.
I do have to say though, that most of the scenes involving the principals, Jimmy Stewart and Richard Widmark are simply great. Their first conversation on the trail together is classic, and done as nonchalantly as two best friends just shooting the breeze.
But then there's Marshal McCabe's (Stewart) introductory 'How!' to Chief Quanah Parker (Henry Brandon), and the film's credibility is immediately taken down a notch. And holy cow!, but what Comanche gym did Stone Calf go to for his work outs, I never realized Woody Strode had such a magnificent physique. But can you imagine an Indian with that kind of body?
The other thing that doesn't really work in the story are the scenes intended for comic relief, usually involving Andy Devine as Lt. Gary's (Widmark) second, Sgt. Posey. Geez, was he wearing padding for this role?; I've never seen him more rotund. Director Ford's use of humor in other movies was more appropriately placed (Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon); here amid the generally more grim reality of the events taking place, I didn't feel that it helped advance the story.
But if you're paying attention, the movie's underlying message comes through loud and clear, and ably presented by the character of Elena (Linda Cristal). Her speech at the dance to the curious onlookers affirmed her dignity, even after enduring her own ordeal as a captive of the Comanches and the woman of Stone Calf. Unlikely as it was that she should pair with McCabe at the end of the film, it does provide the film with it's proverbial ride into the sunset.
I do have to say though, that most of the scenes involving the principals, Jimmy Stewart and Richard Widmark are simply great. Their first conversation on the trail together is classic, and done as nonchalantly as two best friends just shooting the breeze.
But then there's Marshal McCabe's (Stewart) introductory 'How!' to Chief Quanah Parker (Henry Brandon), and the film's credibility is immediately taken down a notch. And holy cow!, but what Comanche gym did Stone Calf go to for his work outs, I never realized Woody Strode had such a magnificent physique. But can you imagine an Indian with that kind of body?
The other thing that doesn't really work in the story are the scenes intended for comic relief, usually involving Andy Devine as Lt. Gary's (Widmark) second, Sgt. Posey. Geez, was he wearing padding for this role?; I've never seen him more rotund. Director Ford's use of humor in other movies was more appropriately placed (Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon); here amid the generally more grim reality of the events taking place, I didn't feel that it helped advance the story.
But if you're paying attention, the movie's underlying message comes through loud and clear, and ably presented by the character of Elena (Linda Cristal). Her speech at the dance to the curious onlookers affirmed her dignity, even after enduring her own ordeal as a captive of the Comanches and the woman of Stone Calf. Unlikely as it was that she should pair with McCabe at the end of the film, it does provide the film with it's proverbial ride into the sunset.