Dark Command main backdrop
Dark Command main poster

Dark Command

Visit website

6.3/10 • 52

1940-04-151h 34m

DramaRomanceWestern

A drama of undying love.

When transplanted Texan Bob Seton arrives in Lawrence, Kansas he finds much to like about the place, especially Mary McCloud, daughter of the local banker. Politics is in the air however. It's just prior to the civil war and there is already a sharp division in the Territory as to whether it will remain slave-free. When he gets the opportunity to run for marshal, Seton finds himself running against the respected local schoolteacher, William Cantrell. Not is what it seems however. While acting as the upstanding citizen in public, Cantrell is dangerously ambitious and is prepared to do anything to make his mark, and his fortune, on the Territory. When he loses the race for marshal, he forms a group of raiders who run guns into the territory and rob and terrorize settlers throughout the territory. Eventually donning Confederate uniforms, it is left to Seton and the good citizens of Lawrence to face Cantrell and his raiders in one final clash.

Directors
Raoul Walsh
Editors
William Morgan

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Claire Trevor

    Claire Trevor

    Miss Mary McCloud

  2. John Wayne

    John Wayne

    Bob Seton

  3. Walter Pidgeon

    Walter Pidgeon

    William 'Will' Cantrell

  4. Roy Rogers

    Roy Rogers

    Fletcher 'Fletch' McCloud

  5. George 'Gabby' Hayes

    George 'Gabby' Hayes

    Andrew 'Doc' Grunch

  6. Porter Hall

    Porter Hall

    Angus McCloud

  7. Marjorie Main

    Marjorie Main

    Mrs. Cantrell / Mrs. Adams

  8. Raymond Walburn

    Raymond Walburn

    Judge Buckner

  9. Joe Sawyer

    Joe Sawyer

    Bushropp

Reviews1

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Apr 26, 2020

7/10

On to Kansas we go. Loosely based around a true story, Dark Command sees John Wayne play Bob Seton, an uneducated cowboy from Texas who wins around the people of Lawrence, Kansas to become their town Marshall just prior to the outbreak of the civil war. This angers the previously respectful town teacher, Will Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon), who after being beaten on the vote by Seton, forms guerrilla groups to raid, pillage and gun run around the Kansas countryside. Seton, now ensconced in the ways of the law, sets about crushing Cantrell and his unfeeling raiders, but there is also another matter at hand. Both men have deep affection for the same woman, Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor appearing with Wayne again after Stagecoach the previous year), so things are just that little bit more spicy between them as things start to come to a head. Directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted from the novel by W.R. Burnett ("Little Caesar" & "High Sierra"), the picture also contains fine support from Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes and features a pleasing score from Victor Young. Though historically dubious, Dark Command is no less enjoyable for being a creaky distortion of the "Quantrill's Raiders" (Re: Cantrell} period in history. Those after a history lesson would be well advised to source from elsewhere in that respect. Catching John Wayne just as he was about to become the towering presence he was, the film also serves as notice to a time when stunts and character interplay were precious commodities. Walsh, ever the sharp eye for action, delivers some wonderful sequences here, horses and carts are a thundering, even careering over cliffs at one point. Whilst the final raid on Lawrence is a blood pumping feast for the eyes. But it's with the feel of the film that it ultimately succeeds as a period piece of note. The mood is dark as the civil War looms, slave trading and gun running sit distastefully with dubious politics, and then the war, with Cantrell and his raiders taking their spoils of war leaving a particularly nasty taste in the mouth. All of which is moodily cloaked in a Raoul Walsh inspired sheen. A tip top production all round, and a fine cast on form makes Dark Command a must see for Republic Studios enthusiasts. See it if you can. 7/10

Media

  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster
  • Dark Command poster

Recommendations

  • The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes main backdrop

    The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

    6.8

  • 3:10 to Yuma main backdrop

    3:10 to Yuma

    7.2

  • The World in His Arms main backdrop

    The World in His Arms

    6.5

  • The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry main backdrop

    The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry

    6.3

  • Compulsion main backdrop

    Compulsion

    4.4

  • The Dawn Rider main backdrop

    The Dawn Rider

    4.6

  • Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter main backdrop

    Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter

    6.5

  • Pearl of the South Pacific main backdrop

    Pearl of the South Pacific

    6.2

  • Carry-On main backdrop

    Carry-On

    6.9

  • Two Evil Eyes main backdrop

    Two Evil Eyes

    6.1

  • A Quiet Place Part II main backdrop

    A Quiet Place Part II

    7.5

  • The Crazies main backdrop

    The Crazies

    6.1

  • Vampires main backdrop

    Vampires

    6.3

  • The Wandering Earth main backdrop

    The Wandering Earth

    6.6

  • Super Fuzz main backdrop

    Super Fuzz

    6.5

  • The Wild Robot main backdrop

    The Wild Robot

    8.3

  • The War Zone main backdrop

    The War Zone

    6.8

  • Fantozzi Still Suffers main backdrop

    Fantozzi Still Suffers

    6.5

  • Demon City main backdrop

    Demon City

    6.9

  • Marriage Story main backdrop

    Marriage Story

    7.7

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
civil warmarshalkansas, usa