"Two Rode Together" is considered by many to be one of John Ford's lesser westerns (including Ford himself). It's basically a vehicle for the film's two stars James Stewart and Richard Widmark.
The basic plot has army lieutenant Jim Gary tricking town marshal Guthrie (that's right) McCabe (Stewart) into returning with him to his fort where he is cajoled into embarking on a search for white captives of the Commanches in order to return them to their families who are waiting nearby as part of a wagon train. Gary and McCabe then proceed into the camp of Commanche chief Quanah Parker (Henry Brandon). They return with two captives, Elena de la Madriaga (Linda Cristal), the wife of Commanche rebel Stone Calf (Woody Strode) and a teenage warrior Running Wolf (David Kent). Tragic events follow.
Ford borrows ideas from many of his previous westerns. The opening scene for example, shows Stewart sitting back in his chair with his feet up on the railing much like Henry Fonda in "My Darling Clementine" (1946). The whole premise of "Two Rode Together" is the search for white captives not unlike the plot of "The Searchers" (1956) even to the extent of casting Henry Brandon in much the same role he played in the earlier film. The Cleggs (Ford Rainey, Harry Carey Jr., Ken Curtis) are similar to the point of using the same surname as characters in "Wagonmaster" (1950). There is even a commanding officer's ball much like that in "Fort Apache" (1948).
The film is light on action....hardly a shot is fired. Except for individual clashes there are no major incidents between the cavalry and the Indians. There is but one fistfight, and that is played for laughs.
There are however, some memorable moments in this film as there are in every John Ford picture. One involves a lengthy scene on a riverbank between Stewart and Widmark where they trade humorous remarks. The meeting in the Indian camp of the captive mother of the Clegg boys (played by silent star Mae Marsh) is very moving. The plea of John Qualen for the return of his daughter is also very touching.
As in most Ford westerns, there is a large cast. The female lead is a miscast Shirley Jones complete with braided pig tails who is seeking her captured brother, the husband/wife team of John McIntire as the crusty Major Frazer and Jeanette Nolan as a slightly mad Mrs. McCandles, Andy Devine, along for comedy relief as Sgt. Posy and Willis Bouchey as Mr. Wringle who tries to buy his son, any son's return. Also in the cast are Ford Regulars Anna Lee and Jack Pennick and look for a very young Ted Knight as Lt. Upton.
Not his best western, but any John Ford western is worth a look if only to see what parts he assigned to his so-called stock company.
The basic plot has army lieutenant Jim Gary tricking town marshal Guthrie (that's right) McCabe (Stewart) into returning with him to his fort where he is cajoled into embarking on a search for white captives of the Commanches in order to return them to their families who are waiting nearby as part of a wagon train. Gary and McCabe then proceed into the camp of Commanche chief Quanah Parker (Henry Brandon). They return with two captives, Elena de la Madriaga (Linda Cristal), the wife of Commanche rebel Stone Calf (Woody Strode) and a teenage warrior Running Wolf (David Kent). Tragic events follow.
Ford borrows ideas from many of his previous westerns. The opening scene for example, shows Stewart sitting back in his chair with his feet up on the railing much like Henry Fonda in "My Darling Clementine" (1946). The whole premise of "Two Rode Together" is the search for white captives not unlike the plot of "The Searchers" (1956) even to the extent of casting Henry Brandon in much the same role he played in the earlier film. The Cleggs (Ford Rainey, Harry Carey Jr., Ken Curtis) are similar to the point of using the same surname as characters in "Wagonmaster" (1950). There is even a commanding officer's ball much like that in "Fort Apache" (1948).
The film is light on action....hardly a shot is fired. Except for individual clashes there are no major incidents between the cavalry and the Indians. There is but one fistfight, and that is played for laughs.
There are however, some memorable moments in this film as there are in every John Ford picture. One involves a lengthy scene on a riverbank between Stewart and Widmark where they trade humorous remarks. The meeting in the Indian camp of the captive mother of the Clegg boys (played by silent star Mae Marsh) is very moving. The plea of John Qualen for the return of his daughter is also very touching.
As in most Ford westerns, there is a large cast. The female lead is a miscast Shirley Jones complete with braided pig tails who is seeking her captured brother, the husband/wife team of John McIntire as the crusty Major Frazer and Jeanette Nolan as a slightly mad Mrs. McCandles, Andy Devine, along for comedy relief as Sgt. Posy and Willis Bouchey as Mr. Wringle who tries to buy his son, any son's return. Also in the cast are Ford Regulars Anna Lee and Jack Pennick and look for a very young Ted Knight as Lt. Upton.
Not his best western, but any John Ford western is worth a look if only to see what parts he assigned to his so-called stock company.