Two Rode Together (1961)

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  • TWO RODE TOGETHER


    DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY JOHN FORD
    ORIGINAL MUSIC GEORGE DUNING
    COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION


    Photo with the courtesy of lasbugas

    Information from IMDb


    Plot Summary
    The US Army is under pressure from the desperate relatives of white prisoners
    of the Comanches to secure their rescue.
    A cynical and corrupt marshal, Guthrie McCabe, is persuaded by an army lieutenant
    to assist in the negotiations with the Comanches.
    However, just two captives are released; and their reintegration
    into white society proves highly problematic.
    Written by David Levene


    Full Cast
    James Stewart ... Marshal Guthrie McCabe
    Richard Widmark ... First Lt. Jim Gary
    Shirley Jones ... Marty Purcell
    Linda Cristal ... Elena de la Madriaga
    Andy Devine ... Sgt. Darius P. Posey
    John McIntire ... Maj. Frazer
    Paul Birch ... Judge Edward Purcell
    Willis Bouchey ... Mr. Harry J. Wringle
    Henry Brandon ... Chief Quanah Parker
    Harry Carey Jr. ... Ortho Clegg
    Olive Carey ... Mrs. Abby Frazer
    Ken Curtis ... Greeley Clegg
    Chet Douglas ... Deputy Ward Corby
    Annelle Hayes ... Belle Aragon
    David Kent ... Running Wolf (Steve Purcell)
    Anna Lee ... Mrs. Malaprop
    Jeanette Nolan ... Mrs. Mary McCandless
    John Qualen ... Ole Knudsen
    Ford Rainey ... Rev. Henry Clegg
    Woody Strode ... Stone Calf
    O.Z. Whitehead ... Lt. Chase
    Frank Baker ... Capt. Malaprop (uncredited)
    Danny Borzage ... Trooper (uncredited)
    Regina Carrol ... Wakanana (Freda Knudsen) (uncredited)
    Ruth Clifford ... Woman (uncredited)
    Eunice Grey ... Mother of Indian Stolen Child (uncredited)
    Big John Hamilton ... Settler (uncredited)
    Sam Harris ... Post Doctor (uncredited)
    Chuck Hayward ... Trooper (uncredited)
    William Henry ... Gambler (uncredited)
    Robert Kenneally ... Officer (uncredited)
    Ted Knight ... Lt. Upton (uncredited)
    Cliff Lyons ... William McCandless (uncredited)
    Ted Mapes ... Settler (uncredited)
    Mae Marsh ... Hanna Clegg (uncredited)
    Howard Morris ... (uncredited)
    Jack Pennick ... Sergeant (uncredited)
    Chuck Roberson ... Comanche (uncredited)
    Ed Sweeney ... Officer (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Frank S. Nugent (screenplay) (as Frank Nugent)
    Will Cook (novel "Comanche Captives")


    Produced
    John Ford .... producer
    Stanley Shpetner ....


    Cinematography
    Charles Lawton Jr.


    Trivia
    This was the last film in which James Stewart wore his familiar cowboy hat. Up to this point, he had worn it in all his westerns since Winchester '73, except Broken Arrow. This was Stewart's first film with John Ford, and Ford didn't want him to wear it as he thought it was the worst looking cowboy hat he had ever seen. As Stewart said in the documentary, "A Wonderful Life", Ford relented, but got back at him in their next western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, when he didn't let Stewart wear a hat at all.


    Richard Widmark was initially reluctant to make the film, since he felt he was fifteen years too old for the young lieutenant he played.


    This film marked comedic actor Edward Brophy's last role as he died during the production on May 27, 1960 in Pacific Palisades, California.


    James Stewart later admitted he was disappointed that his character's dark side wasn't explored further in the movie.


    John Ford later admitted he had only made the film for the money, and felt it was "still crap" even after he had brought in his favorite script writer Frank Nugent to rewrite it.


    The movie's critical and commercial failure was largely blamed on the miscasting of the two leads, since James Stewart, at 52, and Richard Widmark, at 45, were both much older than their characters.


    Filmed in 1960, not released until 1961.


    The film was widely regarded as a generally light-hearted variation on an earlier John Ford western, The Searchers.


    Goofs
    Continuity: When Marty gets up from getting water at the creek, the knees of her trousers are wet. However, they are dry in the next shot as she and Jim are walking back to camp.


    Continuity: About 1:16 into the film, when the townspeople are discussing the fate of the boy rescued from the Commanches; Willis Bouchey, John Qualen and Paul Birch turn and walk out, passing Shirley Jones and those remaining in the room. Qualen and Richard Widmark then have a brief shot at the doorway and Qualen exits. The next shot shows the group, including Qualen, again walking past Jones and the others on their way to the door.


    Memorable Quotes


    Filming Locations
    Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA
    Brackettville, Texas, USA
    Fort Clark, Brackettville, Texas, USA

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Two Rode Together directed by John Ford,
    and starred James Stewart, Richard Widmark,
    Shirley Jones, and Linda Cristal.
    It was based on the novel Comanche Captives by Will Cook.


    Calling this a classic is probably cheating a little,
    as it was probably no more than just a good film.
    It was a critical and commercial failure,
    apparently blamed on the two lead actors being too old for their parts!!


    However I have included it for these reasons:-
    It was one of few westerns without Duke,
    It was also cosidered a light hearted re-make of The Searchers,
    It was filmed at Alamo Village and included many
    of the John Ford Stock Company and lots of Duke's 'Pals'
    which as you can see, was most of the cast!


    I enjoyed the film mainly for the interest value!



    User Review


    Rather good John Ford Western
    4 February 2002 | by zetes (Saint Paul, MN)

    Quote

    It's no classic, but it is quite a good film. Jimmy Stewart plays a gruff, old, drunken sheriff who can speak Comanche and Richard Widmark plays a cavalryman assigned to accompany him on a mission to buy white captives away from the Comanches. The first half of the film can be called Searchers-lite. They buy back two captives, a young white man stolen in his youth and a Mexican woman stolen five years earlier. Other non-Comanches they find are unsalvageable. Now, The Searchers ends ambiguously. We're not sure what is going to happen with Natalie Wood's character. Two Rode Together goes into that part of the story a bit more. Stewart falls in love with the Mexican girl, but she cannot take the way other white people treat her. The boy is so far gone that he is entirely violent to everyone around him. The second half of the film is actually quite great, and the film has an extremely powerful climax. Jimmy Stewart is beyond excellent in the film. Could you ever imagine a bad performance from this man? It's rare that he plays such a cheating b**tard, but he's no villain, either. The actress who plays the Mexican girl is very good, too. The rest of the cast is more than adequate. There's a funny scene where Ford regulars Andy Devine and Ken Curtis fight in a slapstick fashion. Ford's direction is rather flat. The story goes that he did this only as a favor, not by any real choice. Frank Nugent's script is quite good, especially in the second half. The score is excellent. The photography is weak, but good sets and costumes make the visual aspect of the film decent if not great. 8/10.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited once, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Watched the movie once mainly because it features in Ford documentary. It has a few good scenes between Stewart & Widmark which turn up in Peter Bogdanvich's documentary on Ford. Other than those scenes it is an absolutely awful movie. Ford well past his best and not giving a damn.

  • Not one of their best, but I felt Stewart & Widmark worked well together. I also doubt the ages of the stars had anything to do with it's failure. it just didn't jell overall-some nice bits tho by most all in the cast.

  • Just to bump John Ford's more well known movies to Page 1 of the reviews


    Thank you, Keith


    As another note, This movie is available from Amazon.com in vhs for around $36.00 new, and $10.00, used. Also at THIS location are Region 2 (Europe) DVD's for $10.00.


    Chester :newyear:

  • Indeed they are, has lasbugas ever revealed where he has access to all these wonderful pictures? Or, are they his own personal collection?


    Chester :newyear:


    I have been thinking exactly the same! If it is a personal collection I think he should do a book; I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

    "Pour yourself some backbone and shut up!"

  • This is John Ford - Lite.
    My own take is that after the deaths of Bond and Fred Graham, Ford's own intemperate lifestyle soured (or pickled) his enthusiasm. At this point he was looking to have film family reunions and was more interested in anything that wasn't in front of the camera.
    He had always reused bits, characters and phrases from his past films, but this one seems to be a compilation of them, starting with Stewart balancing on the boardwalk chair.
    Where's the conflict? The warrior elite leader Stone Calf, the most formidable savage on the planet, strolls into McCabe's camp firelight (after announcing his arrival by crunching on branches) raises his knife and loiters in plain view just waiting to be shot.
    As others pointed out, Stewart and Widmark were too old for their parts but that didn't stop Ford from casting Stewart and Wayne in Liberty Valance.
    Talent and ability decline as you age, believe me I know, so I try not to let that tarnish Ford's earlier efforts. Sometimes, though, it ain't that easy.


    We deal in lead, friend.

  • I have been told they are his own. He has been collecting quite a while and still is. KP


    Indeed they are, has lasbugas ever revealed where he has access to all these wonderful pictures? Or, are they his own personal collection?


    Chester :newyear:

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

  • Well, the movie as a whole may be awful, but the scene I saw in the Pappy documentary I got on the Classic DVD was great. It says Pappy just waded out into the river...the cameraman and others followed. He looked at the bank and said, "here", or something of the sort. I really enjoyed that. Stewart said they had NO IDEA they were going to do the scene there, LOL....and it called for two other camera angles. But, Pappy said it was enough. Maybe the picture can still be enjoyed even if it isn't Pappy at his best. I look forward to seeing it anyway. KP


    Have to second that thought Gorch. It is an awful movie despite a strong cast and the blame must lie with Ford.

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

  • Well, the movie as a whole may be awful, but the scene I saw in the Pappy documentary I got on the Classic DVD was great. It says Pappy just waded out into the river...the cameraman and others followed. He looked at the bank and said, "here", or something of the sort. I really enjoyed that. Stewart said they had NO IDEA they were going to do the scene there, LOL....and it called for two other camera angles. But, Pappy said it was enough. Maybe the picture can still be enjoyed even if it isn't Pappy at his best. I look forward to seeing it anyway. KP


    I wouldn't say it's awful but considering the calibre of all those involved, in front and behind the camera, it is one of the weakest entries for all of them.
    It almost seems as if everyone is delivering a pastiche of themselves. Considering the subject matter it's a bit flippant in places too. The music plays a big part in spoiling the film also with moments that would seem more at home in a Charlie Chaplin film than in, what should be, a serious western. All said it's still enjoyable and great seeing most of the John Ford regulars. Worth watching but you won't be thinking about it much after it's over.

    "Pour yourself some backbone and shut up!"

    Edited once, last by Dooley ().

  • HAH, Tenn. wasn't me who messed up this time. You watch us pretty carefully, LOL! Well, good for you. I appreciate being corrected when I make an error! KPKEITH Check out my new album...some of my boating experiences before I calmed down. Read about them....FUNNY! KPKEITH


    Just an FYI followup to Gortch's comment about how Ward Bone's and Fred Graham's death affected Ford...



    It was Fred Kennedy, not Fred Graham that was killed during "The Horse Soldiers." Fred Graham died the same year Duke did - 1979.

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

  • Funny how we tend to put T into Gorch. GOTCHA TENN.!, LOL! My first time. KPKEITH Oh, also, my most favorite of all is Ward BOND, not Bone!
    Keep at us and we will try to do better....but our minds grow foggier every day!


    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE