When examining the filmography of a cinematic titan like John Ford, it is inevitable that some films will fall short of the high standards set by his classic works. This is unfortunately the case with his 1961 film, Two Rode Together, which can be seen as a predictably disappointing remake or variation of his 1956 grand classic Western, The Searchers.
The film is adapted from Will Cook’s 1958 novel The Comanche Captives and is set in a similar time and place as The Searchers.The protagonist, Guthrie McCabe, played by James Stewart, is a marshal in a small Texas town of Tascosa who enjoys the good life, supplementing his salary with 10 percent of every local business, including a saloon run by his girlfriend Belle Aragon (played by Annelle Hayes). One day, McCabe is visited by an old friend, US Cavalry Lieutenant Jim Gary, played by Richard Widmark, who asks him to take part in a delicate mission that requires his skills and expertise as a former Indian scout. Major Frazer (played by John McIntire) wants McCabe to go to a Comanche camp and ransom white captives who have been held there for years. McCabe is initially reluctant but changes his mind when offered a hefty financial incentive, including those from the captives' relatives who have gathered around the US Cavalry outpost. The mission goes relatively smoothly since Quanah Parker (played by Henry Brandon), the pragmatic chief of the Comanches, sees it as an opportunity to get rid of his bellicose rival, Stone Calf (played by Woody Strode), whose wife, Mexican captive Elena de la Madriaga (played by Linda Cristal), is part of the deal. As they return to civilization, McCabe and Gary must also deal with another ransomed captive, Running Wolf (played by David Kent), a white teenager who has spent most of his life with the Comanches and has adopted their ways and deep hatred for white people.
John Ford himself was famously displeased with Two Rode Together, often describing it as the worst film in the last twenty years of his career. It seems that his heart was not in the project, which was mainly a favour to Columbia Pictures and its boss, Harry Cohn.
Inevitably, comparisons with The Searchers seem to confirm Ford's assessment. Two Rode Together, despite a decent screenplay by Ford's trusted screenwriter, Frank Nugent, appears less focused and some of the content, such as the mild humour and romantic subplots, seem like clumsy attempts to add levity to what would otherwise be a rather dark story about savage frontier warfare, racial conflict, and its emotional aftermath.
However, while Ford’s heart may not have been fully invested in this project, he remains skilled enough to deliver moments that resonate with fans of classic Westerns. The script hints at a Revisionist Western approach by addressing some of the grimmer realities of frontier life—lynchings, racial prejudice, and rampant capitalism are all woven into McCabe’s characterisation. He embodies a blurred line between law enforcement and protection racketeering, illustrating the moral ambiguity prevalent in this era.
What ultimately elevates Two Rode Together is its cast, particularly James Stewart’s performance. Stewart departs from his typically wholesome “All-American boy” persona to portray McCabe as a morally ambiguous figure driven by greed and vice. His character exhibits flaws—he is often drunk and unkind—but ultimately seeks and finds redemption by the end.
Stewart's efforts are helped by Richard Widmark, who establishes good "buddy-buddy" chemistry with him. The two actors' performances make the film more enjoyable than it would be otherwise.
In conclusion, while far from the high standards set by Ford's other works, Two Rode Together shows that for truly grand directors, even their inferior work might be quite satisfying. Despite its flaws, the film offers some engaging performances and a glimpse into the darker aspects of the frontier era, making it a worthy, if not outstanding, addition to the Classic Western canon.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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