Dark Command
| Dark Command | |
|---|---|
 1940 movie poster |
|
| Directed by | Raoul Walsh |
| Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
| Written by | screenplay by Jan Fortune F. Hugh Herbert Lionel Houser Grover Jones from the novel by W.R. Burnett |
| Starring | Claire Trevor John Wayne Walter Pidgeon Roy Rogers George "Gabby" Hayes Porter Hall Marjorie Main |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 15, 1940 |
| Running time | 94 min |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,000,000 (estimated) |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Dark Command is a 1940 western film loosely based on Quantrill's Raiders in the American Civil War. Directed by Raoul Walsh from the novel by W.R. Burnett, the film features Claire Trevor, John Wayne and Walter Pidgeon. Dark Command is the only film in which western icons John Wayne and Roy Rogers appear together, and was the first film Wayne and Raoul Walsh made together since Wayne's first leading role in the widescreen western The Big Trail a decade before.
Plot summary
Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor) marries a seemingly peaceful Kansas schoolteacher William Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon), before finding out that he harbors a dark secret. He is actually an outlaw leader who attacks both sides in the Civil War for his own profit. After capturing a wagon loaded with Confederate uniforms, he decides to pass himself off as a Confederate officer. Her naive, idealistic brother Fletcher (Roy Rogers) joins what he believes is a Rebel guerrilla force. Meanwhile, Cantrell's stern, but loved mother (Marjorie Main) refuses to accept any of her son's ill-gotten loot.
A former suitor of Mary's, Union supporter Bob Seton (John Wayne), is captured by Cantrell and scheduled for execution. After being rescued by a disillusioned Fletcher McCloud, Seton and Mary Cantrell race to the town of Lawrence (site of an actual infamous Quantrill-led massacre) to warn the residents of an impending attack by Cantrell's gang.
Cast
- Claire Trevor - Miss Mary McCloud
- John Wayne - Bob Seton
- Walter Pidgeon - William 'Will' Cantrell
- Roy Rogers - Fletcher 'Fletch' McCloud
- George 'Gabby' Hayes - Andrew 'Doc' Grunch
- Porter Hall - Angus McCloud
- Marjorie Main - Mrs. Cantrell, aka Mrs. Adams
- Raymond Walburn - Judge Buckner
- Joe Sawyer - Bushropp (guerrilla)
- Helen MacKellar - Mrs. Hale
- J. Farrell MacDonald - Dave (gunrunner)
- Trevor Bardette - Mr. Hale (shot by Fletch)
See also
External links
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