No. Not trolling. I am a fan of Ford movies, but this on lurches from scene to scene as if each was an individual skit - but with no real closing or point to each. They are all then stitched together to make a pointless movie.
It's a shame because it is chock full of good actors who were wasted.
I was really disappointed in the portrayal and costumes for the Indians, especially from a director like Ford. They were more authentic in his earlier films .....at least he occasionally used actual Native Americans. Squaws didn't wear war paint, and Comanches didn't wear Mohawk haircuts ....what was he thinking? Looked like an old Bugs Bunny cartoon!
shareI agree. Nothing in it felt real, and it lacked director John Ford's flair in most scenes. At its best it was one tableaux after another, dialogue poor. Lots of capable actors wasted. Production values good, but for a TV show of its era, not a feature length film. Two Rode Together is a hard movie to watch. "With Stewart and Widmark how can you lose?", some might ask. You can. Believe me. You can.
sharePersonally speaking, I enjoyed it... Not every film has to be one for the ages (even if it's directed by Ford!) but my time was passed, enjoyably. I'd rather have an episodic structure than a movie that is all plot, but nothing else.
"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"
This is very much a compare and contrast movie. ( especially James Stewart ( Gus) versus Richard Widmark ( Jim).) It is interesting that throughout the movie Jim is the good guy but it turns out to be Gus who does the right thing and takes Elena ( Linda Cristal) away, and he does not do the same with Shirley Jones. Jim said "Old Gus finally found something he wanted more then money." ( Elena). Both Cristal and Jones had horrible experiences. Cristal being kidnapped by Indians and rejected by most people after being freed, and Jones seeing her brother get hung. Elena was the best one in the movie. Her faith and strength got her through a bad ordeal and did not end up like Jones or her brother who forget everything except his music box. Widmark should have quit the army and taken Jones to California ( like Stewart gave up everything to go with Cristal) to not only help her heal, but after seeing how the soldiers he was treated Elena. That is why in Stewart is the one who lucked out, and Widmark will have an emotionally damaged wife.
It. Is. Awful! John Ford didn't want to make it, but did as a favor to the studio head. But, man! It is terrible. The Native Americans are, again!, treated as only mindless savages by John Ford. He somehow became "enlightened" when he made his last western, 1964's "Cheyenne Autumn." But, before that, the way he viewed Native Americans was mind-bendingly racist. And, his depiction of Native Americans throughout his career are THE main reason they are seen the way they are by whites to this day.
shareYeah it was pretty bad. i was really surprised to see so many positive reviews at IMDB. It didn't help that just about the whole John Ford stock Co. --like John Pennick mugging for the camera in shots-- was in it, most of them awful. They would all be right back at it in "Liberty Valence" the following year Willis Bochey, Andy Devine, John Qualen, Ken Curtis et al).
I don't know if it was his fault but the young man returned was really out of control and kind of disturbing. The "Leave it to Beaver" semi-regular David Kent got his fist major part in this and maybe thats why his career stalled.