JohnHowardReid Made on a million dollar budget, would you believe, this is a fine "A"- grade movie from Republic Pictures, starring Walter Pidgeon (borrowed from M-G-M) as Cantrell, Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, George Hayes (sic), Porter Hall and Marjorie Main – in that order! Despite some banal dialogue, this account of Quantrill's raiders has a broad sweep and power. The screenplay's writers have made a commendable attempt to explore the socio-economic background of historical events. Raoul Walsh's direction displays his usual pace and flair and there is some fine 2nd unit work by Yakima Canutt, including a spectacular cliff plunge by a buckboard. Acting is excellent all around. Production values, including Jack Marta's superlative photography, are really top class.

rsternesq I have always liked westerns and this is a great one. Older westerns were closer in time to the events portrayed and even where the production values were not as stunning as those evident in newer film, these older westerns often brought an understanding of the people and the circumstances that is not the same thing as historical accuracy. It may have a character use the wrong kind of gun or an event portrayed may have ended differently but, as to the important things, older westerns get it right and that includes the nature of the people and the cadence of their lives. This is a wonderful movie and a portrayal of the mid-nineteenth century American that resonates even now. The older I get the more I enjoy and appreciate John Wayne's film persona. Whatever his real life behavior,the character he consistently portrayed was the kind of man who did build this country and is the kind of man I would have wanted to know and to introduce to my children. By speech and action, he was decent, gallant and manly --all in short supply in current film. This is a movie that deserves our time and our respect.

Neil Doyle When you consider that W.R. Burnett was the author of the novel on which this was based, and that the great Raoul Walsh was behind the camera as director, it's no wonder that DARK COMMAND is a far better than average western, especially one coming from a studio like Republic.JOHN WAYNE, CLAIRE TREVOR and WALTER PIDGEON are top-billed and each does an excellent job. In fact, the chemistry between Wayne and Trevor is on the level of their most famous pairing in STAGECOACH, perhaps even better.The story is vaguely suggested by the true-life tale of Quantrill's Raiders, with Pidgeon as Cantrell, a man who uses the strife between north and south to be a plunderer, robbing from both sides and setting himself up in luxurious surroundings. CLAIRE TREVOR is the woman who becomes his bride, reluctantly, and then discovers that it's really JOHN WAYNE that she loves. That's about the gist of the story, but it's given some good western elements, even extending to the inclusion of GEORGE 'GABBY' HAYES as a doctor a bit out of practice and ROY ROGERS in a straight dramatic role as Trevor's brother. Even MARJORIE MAIN has a strong dramatic role as Pidgeon's unhappy mother.Walsh keeps things going at a fast clip, the production values are excellent and it's probably a film Republic was proud of, with good reason.

wes-connors John Wayne (as Bob Seton) stars in a Civil War-era film wherein he runs for Marshall of a Kansas town, against wicked schoolteacher Walter Pidgeon (as Will Cantrell). Of course, they are rivals for the attention of a woman - beautiful Claire Trevor (as Mary McCloud). Roy Rogers adds additional charm as brother McCloud. The story is rather more ordinary than intriguing, but the western scores on several fronts… First, the direction by Raoul Walsh is outstanding. The production is well-mounted; it includes the expected exciting climax, but that's not all... Even better than the climatic ending is a spectacular sequence involving a stagecoach. Don't miss it! The indoor scenes are great, too. Watch the scenes in the Barber Shop, for example: witness the sets, direction, and photography. The placement of characters and objects, along with the great street outdoors, provide terrific visual depth.The story doesn't do the production justice, however. And, some of the performances are merely adequate; and, sometimes they seem unfocused. Mr. Pidgeon's is probably the most consistent of the main players. Mr. Wayne and some of the players might have improved with some additional worked on their characterizations; and, if the story was sharper, "Dark Command" might have been a truer classic. ******* Dark Command (1940) Raoul Walsh ~ John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Walter Pidgeon