Near the end of the Civil War, Confederate prisoners are offered a way out — they can volunteer to go West to protect the frontier from marauding Indians.
Col. Tucker (Joseph Cotten) and his former comrades who served under Jeb Stuart agree to go West, but with every intent to rejoin the war against the Union if the opportunity arises.
The fort they’re sent to is commanded by Maj. Harry Kenniston (Jeff Chandler). He’s bitter over wounds he received early in the war and over his assignment as commander of a remote fort while all the real soldiering is being done back East.
And he learns that Tucker’s men led an assault at Chancellorsville, where his brother was killed, setting the stage for an acrimonious relationship between them.
Twice, Cotten and his men are ready to desert. Both times, they return to fight for the blue — once to gain Kenniston’s trust so they can take over the fort when the time comes for a Rebel uprising in the West, once when Kenniston’s decision to kill the son of an Indian chief puts the fort and its occupants in jeopardy.
Joseph Cotton as Col. Clay Tucker, weighing whether to wear the Union blue in Two Flags West (1950)
Jeff Chandler as the strong-willed Major Kenniston in Two Flags West (1950)
Review:
Well done, literate film. The attack on the fort is especially well done. And Wise avoids a melodramatic ending.
When news that Savannah has surrendered to Sherman reaches the fort, signaling that the end of the Civil War is near, the chasm between the men who fought on the two sides resurfaces.
Linda Darnell provides the film’s love interest, but even that is handled well. She’s the grieving wife of Tucker’s brother.
Tucker obviously wants her for his own; so does one of his subordinate officers. And Col. Tucker would be interested as well, if their futures didn’t appear to be heading in opposite directions.
Linda Darnell as Elena Kenniston, realizing the major’s obsession with her presence at the fort in Two Flags West (1950)
Cornel Wilde as Capt. Mark Bradford, the officer who convinced the Southerners to fight Indians out West in Two Flags West (1950)
Directed by:
Robert Wise
Cast
Jeff Chandler … Maj. Kenniston
Joseph Cotten … Col. Clay Tucker
Linda Darnell … Elena Kenniston
Cornel Wilde … Capt. Mark Bradford
Dale Robertson … Lem
Jay C. Flippen … Sgt. Terrance Duey
Noah Beery Jr. … Cy Davis
Arthur Hunnicutt … Sgt. Pickens
Harry von Zell … Ephraim Strong
Johnny Sands … Lt. Adams
Runtime: 92 min.
Confederate prisoners, including Sgt. Pickens (Arthur Hunnicut) and Cy Davis (Noah Beery Jr.), listen to the Union proposal in Two Flags West (1950)
Harry von Zell as Ephraim Strong, a Confederate agent, in Two Flags West (1950)
Memorable lines:
Sgt. Pickens, when Kenniston sounds recall to halt their pursuit of some Indians: “You forgot, we’re in the Yankee army now. Recall is their favorite tune.”
Maj. Kenniston: “If I’m ever in a real pinch around here, I’d like to be sure that all of the enemy is in front of my guns, not some of it in my ranks. So if they’re going to desert, let them desert now.”
Col. Clay Tucker: “The way you strike me is a little girl, left her peaceful home, went out in the big cruel world, got her fingers burned, now wants to run and hide. That’s what it about comes to, doesn’t it?”
Elena Kenniston: “Lt. Tucker, do you always have to laugh at me?”
Elena Kenniston: “Why do you lie to yourself? Don’t you really know yourself? With all your worship of your brother and talk of obligation, don’t you know why you want me here?”
Maj. Kenniston: “You don’t dare think a thing like that.”
Elena: “If you were open and honest, it would be less horrible. You make me feel unclean.”
Sgt. Duey, a northerner, during the assault on the fort, as one of the Southern boys joins him on the parapet: “Well, if it ain’t Johnny come lately.”
Sgt. Pickens, the Southerner: “We’re in plenty of time to get killed, ain’t we.”
Jay C. Flippen as Sgt. Terrance Duey, showing Maj. Kenniston a message from the Indians in Two Flags West (1950)
Arthur Hunnicutt as Sgt. Pickens and Dale Robertson as Lem, two of Tucker’s southerners in Two Flags West (1950)
Linda Darnell as Elena Kenniston, caught sneaking away from the fort in Two Flags West (1950)
Jeff Chandler as Maj. Kenniston, preparing to kill the son of an Indian chief in Two Flags West (1950)
Joseph Cotton as Lt. Clay Tucker, now a part of Union forces fighting Indians in Two Flags West (1950)
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Good, above standard 50’s western with solid story development that gave viewer a chance to understand motivations and sympathize with the characters. Imprisoned Confederate soldiers are given an option by a Union Captain-rot in prison or go west to defend forts and settlers from Indian attack- when the vote is a draw they loyally follow their beloved Lieutenant out west. Upon arrival they are met with disdain from Union soldiers and disrespect and a lack of trust from the wounded Major running the fort. The Major fawns over his dead brothers Spanish widow and hates Rebs and Indians alike. The widow is anxious to return to family in California, while the Union Captain knew her before she was married and is still interested. A confederate plot is brewing to divide the country in half with the help of Texas sympathizers. and reignite the faltering southern war effort. While on patrol the Rebs intend to defect and rally in Texas, however a mis-guided decision by the angry, bitter Major to kill an Apache chief’s Son leads to an attack on the fort with most soldiers out on patrol. The Rebs, on the verge of their coupe, follow their Lieutenant to the bitter end, and even though facing likely death, yhey decide to do the right thing and return to the fort to defend women and children from slaughter by the rightfully pissed-off Indians. During the Indians attack on the fort the Captain is killed, confessing his love to the Spanish widow with his dying breath and on the verge of total slaughter the Indian chief offers an ultimatum-give us the Major who murdered his Son or face annihilation. The Major nobly sacrifices himself but not before handing over the fort to the now trusted Ren Lieutenant and also admitting his love for his brothers widow as she sleeps, exhausted from tending the wounded. The war ends as the fort is saved, and now it seems the Reb Lieutenant may hit it off with the Spanish widow who has decided to stay at the fort. Performance’s were strong and was nice to see Indians cast as Indians in a 50’s western, however didnt even realize widow was Spanish until she put on a spain-type veil and still wasn’t sure until she stated her name prior to marriage. Worst thing was after Major sacrificed himself and walked outside fort to face Indian justice the scream heard sounded like a teen girl, not that of a man confident enough to face his own death.
Classic picture with solid American values. And unlikk alot of westerns from this era the name made perfect sense!