Two Rode Together

The first pairing of legendary Western director John Ford (six-time Oscar-winner® whose credits include Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Quiet Man) with star Jimmy Stewart, Two Rode Together is a taut, suspenseful story of two lawmen who invade Comanche Indian territory to rescue the white captives of the tribe. As in all of his seven previous Westerns, Jimmy Stewart rode his lucky horse and wore his lucky, sweat-stained Stetson (against the wishes of Ford, who complained, "Now I've got stars with hat approval!"). But unlike earlier Westerns where the outcome was sure to be happy one (for the settlers, at least), Two Rode Together is a dramatic and unsentimental depiction of hostages confronted by the savagery of "civilized" society. Stewart stars as a U.S. Marshal assigned to trade guns for hostages with the fearsome Comanche. Cynical and corrupt, the character was a striking departure from Stewart's usual roles as a stalwart do-gooder. Paired with Richard Widmark, Stewart locates the hostages but argues against bringing them home, knowing they will be unable to readapt to settler life. But Widmark prevails, and the party's triumphant return results in tragedy. One of the first popular Westerns to recognize the dignity and value of Indian life, Two Rode Together is a stirring action-drama from the undisputed master of the genre.