Too many fans seem to be blown away

Sorry, this movie sucks

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

A generally excellent and very unusual blend of leading characters for a Civil War western is combined with an unusual and tension-filled script, released by Fox and directed by Robert Wise: neither much known for their westerns. This B&W film was released shortly after Jeff Chandler costarred as Apache chief Cochise, in the well- regarded "Broken Arrow". Here, he plays the fort commander(Major Kenniston), in a region of troublesome 'Indians', evidently in SE New Mexico, not far from the Texas border. This is a risky place to have sent a contingent of dyed-in-the-wool ex-Confederate cavalry prisoners-of-war, who reluctantly agreed to serve as Union cavalry in the West, as opposed to continued rotting in a prisoner camp. The war clearly had entered its terminal phase, as Sherman was manhandling Georgia. Historically, a policy was initiated early in 1864, which allowed Confederate POWs to be repatriated if they would serve as Union soldiers: labelled as 'galvanized Yankees'. About 7000 POWs took advantage of this offer, mostly sent to areas far removed from the major battles of the time. This meant mostly to areas of the West which were undermanned, due to the exodus to the East, and where Native Americans(NA) were troublesome. However, unlike in the film, they were assigned as infantry, not as cavalry, and most were sent to outposts far from unconquered Confederate territory, thus further reducing the incentive to desert.Getting back to this film, in addition to Chandler, as Major Kenniston, we have frequent leading men Cornel Wilde and Joseph Cotten, who hardly are thought of as western or soldier actors,but add their charisma as Union and ex-Confederate officers, respectively. Cotten is OK in his pivotal role; but I would have preferred Randy Scott: clearly a true southerner by his speech. We are very lucky to have beautiful, forceful, Linda Darnell as the lead female(Elena), scripted as the widowed Latino wife of Chandler's brother , killed in battle in the East. She's decided to tag along with Chandler for a while, until joining a wagon train for her California home. The chief supporting actors include the always charismatic Arthur Hunnicutt, who provides an element of gritty authenticity to the ex-Confederates that Cotten(as Lt. Tucker) cannot, and Jay Flippen, as his Yankee counterpart, as sergeant.In Major Kenniston, I see strong parallels with Colonel Thursday, in the prior "Fort Apache". Both despise the regional unpredictable Native Americans. Both make a fatal mistake in insulting them, and in underestimating their ability to take revenge on him and his command., and both pay the ultimate price for their folly. Major Kenniston actually is looked upon as a hero in his demise, suffering a fate similar to that of Jose Mendoz, in "Seven Cities of Gold", and Sir Robert, in "Hudson's Bay", for example. Cotten(Tucker) takes on John Wayne's role in "Fort Apache", more or less, while Linda takes on Shirley Temple's role. Some other aspects of the screen play resemble Ford's recent "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". In contrast to most Hollywood westerns of this era, even the NA chiefs appear to be real NAs. The main war chief is named Satank, who was a real Kiowa war chief during this era. However, SE NM is rather far west and south of the Kiowa's homeland, being Apache country. Also, most of the NA have Apache-styled headbands. Confusing! Although Hollywood liked to include the occasional NA attack on army forts, in fact, such were very rare on well built forts. They were typically too lethal for the NAs, who couldn't afford to lose many warriors in battle, with their decimated populations. The battle scenes, both outside and inside the fort are rather well staged. Included is an extended shot of a soldier with his shirt burning, after struck in the back with a flaming arrow. I hope he had some good fire-proof insulation under his shirt!We learn that Kenniston(Chandler) spent some time in the Richmond Libby POW facility, from which he escaped, probably as part of the historic mass escape somewhat dramatized in the 1940 Civil War western "Virginia City". We also learn that Kenniston's brother(Elena's husband) was killed in a charge lead by Tucker. Kenniston holds a personal grudge against Tucker for this, as well as a general hatred of all rebels, be they Confederate or NA.During the course of the film, it becomes clear that all 3 of the main officers(including Wilde as Bradford) , have hopes of snaring Elena. It also becomes clear that Kenniston's persistent refusal to give her permission to leave has less to do with the NA threat than his desire to keep her near. However, she's not interested in him as a suitor. She's more accommodating with Tucker and Bradford(who is killed), but it's clear they are secondary to her ambition to return to her California homeland.(Reportedly, privately , Linda much preferred the company of Chandler)Near the film ending, after the attacking NAs have left and we learn that Sherman has completed his subjugation of Georgia, we have an informal friendly competition between the Yanks and former Confederates in singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" vs. "Dixie". There was a similar scene in the subsequent Civil War western "Column South", which has several other commonalities with this film, including being scripted as taking place in New Mexico. However, that story takes place just prior to the opening shots of the war, rather than near it's terminus.Linda Darnell reportedly hated being cast as a cowgirl, because she suffered from dust and horse allergies.

Civil War rivalries were popular story material for Westerns of this period. Here, the rivalry is used more effectively than usual. A contingent of Confederate pow's is sent west to help Yankees fight the Indians. Okay, but what guarantees that the Johnny Rebs won't desert to rejoin their Southern comrades. Well, nothing really, except the Southern commander Col. Tucker (Cotton) does have a sense of honor. He's going to need it since the Yankee fort commander (Chandler) is given to temper tantrums, to say the least. Throw in some angry Apaches and a lovely widow (Darnell) who'll do anything to get to California, and you've got some strong dramatic material.It's a well-mounted movie from big budget TCF, with a great battle sequence and a surprising outcome. There's also realistic attention to battle detail inside the fort that helps lift the sequence. Then too, the wide open New Mexico locations convey the kind of scenic sense that I think Western fans so love. Meanwhile, Cotten and Wilde, a Union officer, play off one another effectively, signifying the opportunity for post-war reconciliation between North and South. It's also a fine supporting cast with a number of familiar faces, such as Hunnicutt and Beery Jr. But how did pudgy glad-hander Harry von Zell escape TV's Burns and Allen show to turn up in a Western, of all places. Nonetheless, he's shrewdly cast in what can only be called a slippery role.Not all are aces. The complex narrative sometimes meanders, along with a few believability stretches. Nonetheless, add 'em all up and it's still a solid entry in the A-Western category.

"Two Flags West" is a real surprise, entertaining and powerful. It contains its share of Hollywood clichés: Yankees and Rebels teaming up to fight Indians; an unhinged officer commanding a lonely outpost; a beautiful women creating tension among comrades in arms. But it's original in the way it handles them.Jeff Chandler plays Maj. Henry Kenniston, a Union officer put in charge of a desert fort after being partially disabled by a war wound. Distrustful of Indians and bitter about his assignment, he dreams of returning to the war and taking revenge on the Confederates who hurt him and killed his brother. Worst of all, Kenniston is obsessed with his brother's widow (played by Linda Darnell). He's an honorable man in his own way, and he feels a genuine sense of responsibility toward her. He tells himself he's keeping her at the fort for her own protection. But in his heart, he lusts after her, and he hates himself for doing so.When reinforcements arrive at this troubled outpost, Kenniston is shocked to find that most are former Confederate POWs. They have pledged to serve the Union as Indian fighters as long as they don't have to make war on fellow Southerners. To the already unstable major, being put in command of such troops is a crushing insult. And it doesn't help his state of mind when the Southerners' leader (played by Joseph Cotten) and an idealistic Union officer (played by Cornel Wilde) begin to show interest in the beautiful widow themselves. Kenniston soon embarks on a course of action guaranteed to alienate both the Indians and the Southerners -- and endanger the peace."Two Flags West" is a well plotted western, with events that flow from the characters' motivations instead of from a predictable plot. It's full of action, and its violence is grimly realistic for the time it was made. Chandler is excellent as a complex, disastrous leader who inspires anger, pity and even some admiration in the viewer. Darnell, in one of her better roles, makes a convincing object of desire. Cotten and Wilde are fine, although they could have switched roles and still been just as effective. Any fan of westerns ought to enjoy this a lot, and non-fans should give it a look.

This gritty western is a post-Civil War affair set in New Mexico where soldiers of the Blue and the Gray are obliged to let bygones be bygones and tame the wild frontier for westward expansion. The usual antagonisms are present in abundance, with Union officers reluctant to trust the Confederate troops and question their allegiance to the United States. A top cast is headed by Joseph Cotten and Jeff Chandler, who constantly spar with each other about men, munitions and how to meet the Indian threat. Linda Darnell is the lone femme in the cast and her presence sparks romantic interest and jealousy in equal measure at the army post. The Yank-Rebel forces manage to put their bickering aside to defend against an Indian attack that remains one of the best ever filmed. The black and white lensing is good and enhances director Robert Wise's fine film.