Retro Film Review: Two for Texas (1998)

In 1990s Hollywood generally avoided making films about first half 19th Century USA. Main reason was in certain chapters of history that were difficult to interpret in a way that could reconcile American chauvinism and 1990s "political correctness". Television, on the other hand, allowed more room for film-makers to handle such difficulties. One of titles to tackle those problems was Two for Texas, directed in 1998 by Rod Hardy.

The film, based on the novel by James Lee Burke, starts in 1836 Louisiana where two men – old Hugh Allison (played by Kris Kristofersson) and young Son Holland (played by Scott Bairstow) - serve their sentence in the swamp prison run by cruel and corrupt Emile Landry (played by Victor Rivers). When opportunity arrives, Allison and Holland escape and kill Landry's brother in the process. Lambry wants revenge and starts pursuing them, but two escaped convicts manage to find shelter among Indians who give them not only guns and horses, but also beautiful squaw Sana (played by Irene Bedard). Allison's and Holland want to reach Texas where rebel army under Sam Houston (played by Tom Skeritt) desperately needs men in order to fend off offensive by Mexican forces under General Santa Ana (played by Marco Rodriguez). Houston invites Allison in his ranks without asking any questions, while Holland simply wants to find a piece of land and start a new life. But his plans are interrupted with Santa Ana's forces that have already massacred Texan garrison in Alamo.

Two for Texas is most interesting in comparison with Texas, 1994 TV adaptation of James Mitchener's novel that described the same events as this film. While the previous title describes Indians as "savages" that should have been "tamed" and portrays conflict between Texans and Mexicans as tragic misunderstanding, this one takes opposite approach and portrays Indians as victims of equally genocidal Mexicans and white Americans. This approach isn't the only thing in which Two for Texas differs from 1994 mini-series. This TV movie is much shorter, but also better-paced and better directed. Reconstruction of Battle of Sao Jacinto is more convincing, with Texan locations being put to good use. On the other hand, there is still too much of melodrama in Larry Brothers' script for this film to rise above American TV mediocrity. Although watchable, Two for Texas could be recommended only to those viewers who don't have anything better to do.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on October 13th 2004)

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