Kris Kristofferson and Scott Bairstow play a pair of escaped convicts from a Louisiana chain gang in Two For Texas. When an unexpected chance at escape comes they take it and in the process walk into history in 1836. These two with a Tawanka Indian woman who was a prisoner of some Choctaws played by Irene Bedard where Kristofferson and Bairstow take refuge after their escape go to Texas because of Sam Houston's promise of 640 acres to those who will fight for Texas freedom. As it turns out Kristofferson knows one of Texas's most prominent freedom fighters, Jim Bowie who is played by Peter Coyote.This is hardly a historical docudrama, it's a historical novel. But Kristofferson, Bairstow and the rest of the cast do graphically portray genuine frontier characters. Tom Skerritt gives a nice portrayal of Sam Houston one of my favorite historical characters.Western fans should like this one.

I really like this movie a lot. Is it Historically accurate? Of course not, but the Battle of San Jacinto scenes were very well done . Whoat is different is the relationship between Scott Bairtow (Son Holland) and Irene Bedard. ( Sana). Spoilers ahead. These are two very damaged people, who have good reason to despise the other's race. His family was murdered by Indians, and she was kidnapped by Americans, traded to Mexicans, and to hostile Indians, and basically used as a slave. These two are basically made for each other, and there is a scene involving a rope on the leg that shows both what the other is all about. First,,, Son's friend, Hugh Allison ( Kris Kristofferson), tries to rape Sana, Son cuts the rope on her leg, giving her the first taste of freedom in many years. Then she saves Allison from drowning, by cutting the rope on his leg, as the horse was pulling him through the water, Sana is without question my favorite character. She is tough she stopped Hugh, from raping her by hitting him over the head with a piece of firewood, to stabbing to death someone who killed an Indian woman, without hesitation. Yet, when son you see how happy she really is and the goodness within her, when she is with Son. It is a very underrated movie, and a must for Western and (or) Bedard fans. 9/10 stars.

The pacing of this thing is pretty languid, but by-and-large, it's an entertaining history lesson. The action -- particularly the final battle scene -- is a pleasant surprise.CONS: A few shenanigans with the historical facts, but nothing too glaring. Some suspicious time compression at the Alamo. (And Bowie's knife wasn't looted? Hmm...) Oh, and I think Tom Skerrit, although talented, was a questionable choice for the mythic (and 6'6") Sam Houston.PROS: The rest of the cast -- the two principals were thoroughly believable. ACTUAL Texas shooting locales. Practical ("real") SFX: when a cannonball takes out a tree, it's a real tree taken apart by real explosives. And best of all, Irene Bedard in her physical prime.

The Turner cable-TV movie, 'Two for Texas' will undoubtedly be compared with 'James Michener's Texas', another made-for-TV production that covers much the same ground. But while 'Texas' suffers for attempting too much, becoming bogged down in melodramatic elements, 'Two for Texas' is a lean, rugged adventure that uses famous characters (Sam Houston, Jim Bowie) in support of the story, instead of as its focus, making this a FAR more enjoyable film!The story begins in a chain gang in Louisiana. When one of the sadistic 'bosses' is accidentally murdered, two of the convicts (Kris Kristofferson and Scott Bairstow) escape, and head for Texas, hoping to start a new life, serving under General Sam Houston. The older of the pair, Hugh Allison (Kristofferson), in prison for killing a card shark, takes events as they come, with the easy grace of a 'survivor'; Son Holland (Bairstow), the younger man, left Tennessee for adventure, only to get ten years after being falsely accused of stealing a woman's purse.En route to Houston, the pair become involved with an Indian party stealing horses for the Mexican army, and end up 'owning' a young Indian girl (Irene Bedard), who has a brief affair with Holland, before being sent back to her tribe.The brother of the murdered boss relentlessly trails the pair, until they are 'rescued' by Houston's men. In the camp, they meet General Houston, portrayed with quiet authority by Tom Skerritt, and Jim Bowie (a miscast but likable Peter Coyote). Bowie and Allison are old hell-raising friends, and, in one of the film's more light-hearted scenes, recount a few of the more famous tales of the inventor of the famous knife! Bowie is leaving for the Alamo, but asks the pair to remain with Houston, as the Texas army trains for battle.With the fall of the Alamo eminent, Allison and Holland decide to join their friend Bowie, but arrive too late; the mission is a scene of carnage, with hundreds of bodies scattered among the ruins. Watching Texans' bodies being unceremoniously burned, they encounter Susannah Dickinson (Karey Green), wife of one of the defenders, who tells of the final assault, and the death of Davy Crockett. She carries a letter for Sam Houston from General Santa Anna, and after taking the men to the body of Jim Bowie (a sadly moving scene, as Allison retrieves Bowie's knife), the trio return to Houston's forces...and the two men begin a journey towards their destiny!The story is not without historical flaws, particularly concerning Mrs. Dickinson, but the film never loses momentum, and benefits from Kristofferson's craggy charm, as the plain-spoken Allison. This is the kind of role he does best, and he plays it to the hilt!'Two for Texas' is a welcome addition to the select group of films about the Alamo, and Texas' struggle for independence!