It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Marshal James Stewart and cavalry lieutenant Richard Widmark go searching for white captives of Comanches. OK western is not among Ford's or Stewart's bests. It's watchable and enjoyable enough for western fans, however. Stewart offers the best performance in the film. His character is cynical and mercenary. Widmark is fine. Woody Strode plays a militant young Comanche warrior named Stone Calf. There are several similarities with Ford's masterpiece The Searchers. There's the plot, of course, about two men going after white people held by Comanches. The Comanche leader in the Searchers is played by Henry Brandon, who also plays a Comanche leader here. John Qualen, Olive Carey, and Harry Carey, Jr. appear in both films, although with significantly bigger parts in The Searchers. Ken Curtis plays a very similar comic relief character in this film as he did in The Searchers and even has a comedic fight over a woman as he did in that film. Obviously this movie is nowhere near the level of The Searchers. This is an OK western but nothing extraordinary. The Searchers is one of the greatest films ever made. Sadly, all of this just serves to remind you that you're watching a movie that really could have been directed by anybody. Ford only did this for the payday and hated it by all accounts. He reportedly took his frustrations out on the cast and crew, particularly Jimmy Stewart. Ford would make only one more great film in his career after this, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

"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.

Whiskey-soaked Texas lawman James Stewart (as Guthrie McCabe) and young Calvary lieutenant Richard Widmark (as Jim Gary) are hired to retrieve White people kidnapped by Native American "Indians". Finding these abducted people is difficult, but even harder is expecting them to revert to their birth culture. Comanche "Indians" assimilate their acquisitions, especially vulnerable young children. Little girls and boys typically grow up to be squaws, rapists and killers. One woman is advised her long-lost relative would probably rape her, or worse...Of the Ford regulars, screen veteran Mae Marsh (as Hanna Clegg) gets one of her better late-career roles...Among the Comanche, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Widmark manage to locate some missing White folk. However, returning them to civilized society is predictably difficult. The film's most interesting storyline involves pretty blonde Shirley Jones (as Marty Purcell) and potential brother David Kent (as "Running Wolf"). She also serves as a romantic interest for Widmark. Less satisfying is watching Stewart hook up with beautiful young Linda Cristal (as Elena de la Madriaga). You begin to wonder how seriously director John Ford took this topic...***** Two Rode Together (7/26/62) John Ford ~ James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Shirley Jones, Linda Cristal

Is this best of Stewart, Widmark or Ford? No it is not. But this is still an excellent film, and there are two big reasons. First, is the character of Elena de la Madriaga (Linda Cristal). She is a person who has a tremendous amount of honor, decency and faith. As First Lt. Jim Gary (Widmark) pointed out when there were people asking "Why she did not kill herself?" and he said "Her faith." Quite often you see Mexicans (Portrayed as peasants and other people basically inferior), and in this case, Elena is not (Despite being Stone Calf's (Woody Strode) woman, she never forgot who she was and where she came from). In addition, you have an interesting performance by Shirley Jones (Marty Purcell). I really think of the scene (Spoilers)where her brother (Who was kidnapped by the Comanchee) kills a woman, and remembered the music box and said "Mine" before he was hung, and the horror on her face, when he was hung. The other reason to watch is Stewart. Although this is NOT his best film (He makes anything that is NOT "No Time For Comedy" or a musical worth watching). People who reviewed this film are obviously not big Stewart films, because they would have known his character( Marshal Guthrie McCabe (Also known as "Old Gus)) is not the only time he played a less than honorable character. "The Far Country" (Jeff Webster) & "The Naked Spur" (Glyn McLyntock) are two that come to mind where he is not an outright bad guy, but not too nice either. If anyone sees the "Naked Spur" they will remember a bounty scene involving Janet Leigh, they will not soon forget. What you see is a man who in the beginning, plays on the desperation of others (Trying to get loved ones back from the Indians at any price), and who changes to such a degree that Jim says to his former employer Belle Aragon (Annelle Hayes), that "Old Gus finally found something he wants more than money." (Elena). The only reasons I did not give this film a 10/10 are Andy Devine's character (Sgt. Darius P. Posey) who was absolutely cringe worthy when he knocked people in the river with his stomach, and the outcome of the relationship between Jim and Marty. Although they will be married, Jim will not sacrifice the Army for Marty (Keep in mind, she blamed herself for her brother's kidnapping in the first place, then saw him hanged, so she needed a major change of scenery), like Gus did for Elena. So I give it 9/10.