James Stewart is Guthrie McCabe, a man roused from a comfortable life as sheriff by the cavalry, which wants him to enter the camp of Quanah Parker and trade for any white captives he might have.
Doubtful of the mission’s success, McCabe nevertheless agrees to go because he thinks he can make a few bucks in the process,
Heck, one businessman has offered to pay him $1,000 to bring back any Comanche around age 17 to appease his new wife, whose son was kidnapped years earlier.
Among the others hoping to reconnect with long-lost relatives are the Rev. Clegg and his two rowdy songs, Marty Purcell (Shirley Jones), who blames herself for the fact that her brother was kidnapped while she hid way back when she was 13 years old; and Mary McCandless, who wants oh, so desperately to find her son Toby.
McCabe heads off toward the Comanche camp accompanied by longtime friend Lt. Jim Gary (Richard Widmark).
But they find just two white captives they’re willing to take back, and one (Linda Cristal as Elena) is the wife of Stone Calf, a renegade Comanche just itching for war with the whites.
James Stewart as Guthrie McCabe, making a point with his six-gun in Two Rode Together (1961)
Richard Widmark as Lt. Jim Gary, sent to town to fetch Guthrie McCabe in Two Rode Together (1961)
Review:
Minor Ford, but minor Ford is often more entertaining than the best that’s served up from lots of directors. Here we have James Stewart working more as a mercenary than a good Samaritan. He’ll put his life on the line to rescue white captives, but only if it’s going to line his pockets with a little more gold.
His friendship, conflict and banter with Richard Widmark as Lt. Jim Garey provides most of the film’s best moments. That said, the humor sometimes seems forced. And the lecturing about the way Elena is treated once she returns to “civilization” is certainly heavy-handed. An ending that’s sure to make you smile helps make up for some of those shortcomings.
This marked the first Western for Shirley Jones, who would team up again with James Stewart in the delightful “Cheyenne Social Club,” released in 1970, the same year she began her stint as mother of The Partridge Family.”
As for Ford, he felt he’d handled the search for Indian captives much better in “The Searchers” and said he made this film as a favor to Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohen.
Linda Cristal as Elena de la Madriaga, warning that Stone Calf will try to recapture her in Two Rode Together (1961)
Shirley Jones as Marty Purcell, scolding the Clegg brothers for being rude to Lt. Gary in Two Rode Together (1961)
Directed by:
John Ford
Cast:
James Stewart … Guthrie McCabe
Richard Widmark … Lt. Jim Gary
Shirley Jones … Marty Purcell
Linda Cristal … Elena de la Madriaga
Andy Devine … Sgt. Posey
John McIntire … Maj. Frazer
Paul Birth … Edward Purcell
Willis Bouchey … Harry J Wringle
Henry Brandon … Chief Quanah Parker
Harry Carry Jr. … Ortho Clegg
Ken Curtis … Greeley Clegg
Olive Carey …. Mrs. Abby Frazer
Chet Douglas … Deputy Ward Corby
Annelle Hayes … Belle Aragon
David Kent … Running Wolf
Woody Strode … Stone Calf
Jeanette Nolan … Mrs. Mary McCandless
Ford Rainey … Rev. Henry Clegg
Runtime: 109 min.
Henry Brandon as Chief Quanah Parker, in a dispute with Stone Calf in Two Rode Together (1961)
Woody Strode as Stone Calf, unhappy that Quanah Parker is negotiating with the whites in Two Rode Together (1961)
Memorable lines:
Lt. Jim Gary: “You saw how those people looked at you when we rode in?”
Guthrie McCabe: “I sure did. I sure did. Now that you explained to me why they looked at me like that, I can’t say I’m too impressed. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the same kind of look the Romans gave the Christians before they turned the lions loose.”
Major Frazer to McCabe: “I don’t know how the word got out that I sent for you, but somehow it did. They’ve been expecting a Mesiah. A Moses come to deliver their children from bondage. And I’ve got to send them you. Get him out of here. And leave the door open to leave a little fresh air in.”
Guthrie McCabe, upon learning he lost the election for marshal back home: “I didn’t get a chance to vote for myself – not even once.”
John McIntire as Maj. Frazier, trying to convince McCabe to accept the mission as Lt. Jim Gary (Richard Widmark) looks on in Two Rode Together (1961)
David Kent as Runny Wolf, the young white man turned Comanche brought back to the fort in Two Rode Together (1961)
Annelle Hayes as Belle Aragon, owner of a saloon with her claws into Guthrie McCabe in Two Rode Together (1961)
Andy Devine as Sgt. Posey, warning Elena not to enter a saloon in Two Rode Together (1961)
Jeanette Nolan as Mary McCandless with her husband, hoping McCabe can find her captured son in Two Rode Together (1961)
Willis Bouchey as Harry J. Wringle, offering McCabe $1,000 to bring back a young man he can pass off as his new wife’s captured son in Two Rode Together (1961)
Paul Birch (middle) as Edward Purcell, Marty’s dad, wondering about the rescued young man in Two Rode Together (1961)
Richard Widmark as Lt. Jim Gary with James Stewart as Guthrie McCabe in Two Rode Together (1961)
Shirley Jones as Marty Purcell, remembering the day her younger brother was captured by Comanche in Two Rode Together (1961)
Linda Cristal as Elena de la Madriaga on a stage bound for California in Two Rode Together (1961)
Richard Widmark as Lt. Jim Gary, standing up to Guthrie McCabe’s money-hungry ways in Two Rode Together (1961)
James Stewart as Guthrie McCabe, ready to guard a westbound stage in Two Rode Together (1961)
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