Dark Command
Dark Command | |
---|---|
![]() 1940 film poster | |
Directed by | Raoul Walsh |
Written by |
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Based on | The Dark Command 1938 novel byW.R. Burnett[1] |
Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
Edited by | William Morgan |
Music by | Victor Young |
Production company | Republic Pictures |
Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $750,000[2][3] |
Dark Commandis a 1940Crimewesternfilm starringClaire Trevor,John WayneandWalter Pidgeonloosely based onQuantrill's Raidersduring theAmerican Civil War.Directed byRaoul Walshfrom the novel byW. R. Burnett,Dark Commandis the only film in which western icons John Wayne andRoy Rogersappear together, and was the only film Wayne and Raoul Walsh made together since Walsh discovered Wayne working as a prop mover, renamed him, and gave him his first leading role in the epicwidescreenWesternThe Big Traila decade before.
The film also featuresGeorge "Gabby" Hayesas Wayne's character'ssidekick.
The film was nominated for twoAcademy AwardsforBest Original ScoreandBest Art DirectionbyJohn Victor Mackay.[4]
Plot
[edit]Mary McCloud marries the seemingly peacefulKansasschoolteacher William Cantrell, before finding out that he harbours 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 aConfederateofficer. Her naive, idealistic brother Fletcher joins what he believes is a Rebel guerrilla force. Meanwhile, Cantrell's stern but loving mother refuses to accept any of her son's ill-gotten loot.
A former suitor of Mary's, Union supporter Bob Seton, 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 actualinfamous Quantrill-led massacre) to warn the residents of an impending attack by Cantrell's gang.
Cast
[edit]- Claire Trevoras Mary McCloud
- John Wayneas Bob Seton
- Walter Pidgeonas William "Will" Cantrell
- Roy Rogersas Fletcher "Fletch" McCloud
- George "Gabby" Hayesas Andrew "Doc" Grunch
- Porter Hallas Angus McCloud
- Marjorie Mainas Mrs. Cantrell, aka Mrs. Adams
- Raymond Walburnas Judge Buckner
- Joe Sawyeras Bushropp (guerrilla)
- Helen MacKellaras Mrs. Hale
- J. Farrell MacDonaldas Dave (gunrunner)
- Trevor Bardetteas Mr. Hale
Production
[edit]W.R. Burnett's novel was published in 1938 and became a best seller.[5]It was a rare historical novel from Burnett, who was better known for modern day crime stories.[6]Film rights were purchased byRepublic Pictureswho announced the film in May 1939 as part of their slate for 1939–40.[7]
Director Raoul Walsh had discovered John Wayne in 1929 when Wayne was a 23-year-old prop man named Marion "Duke" Morrison. Walsh was reading a biography of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne at the time and gave the prop boy the last name "Wayne" after casting him as the lead inThe Big Trail(1930), a70 mm Grandeurwidescreenepic shot on location all across theWest.Dark Commandremains the only other film upon which both Walsh and Wayne collaborated during their lengthy careers.
The film was financed on a larger budget than Republic normally provided. It was a similar scale to a successful historical drama they had made the year before,Man of Conquest.Walter Pidgeonwas borrowed from MGM.[8]Filming started November 1939.[3]
Dark Commandwas the second film John Wayne made with Claire Trevor afterStagecoach,the other beingAllegheny Uprising(1939).
Roy Rogerswas given a key support role inDark Command,the only time John Wayne and Roy Rogers made a movie together.[9]
Historical inaccuracies
[edit]- The pistols used by some of the cast are Colt single action army, SAA guns, not made until 1873. The movie is set at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1860 when cap and ball pistols were used such as the Colt 1851 Navy. John Wayne carries a Colt Peacemaker not made until 1873.
- The famous frontier towns ofNewtonandDodgeare repeatedly mentioned; However, neither town was founded until years after the Civil War.
- Southern audiences were distanced from Cantrell's atrocities as Cantrill's force is portrayed as a false flag. Quantrill and his Raiders were in fact inducted into the Confederate Army before the Lawrence Massacre.
Release
[edit]Dark Commandpremiered inLawrence, Kansas.[10]
It received favourable reviews and box office, and encouraged Republic to continue to allocate more money for John Wayne films.[11]
See also
[edit]- List of films and television shows about the American Civil War
- List of American films of 1940
- John Wayne filmography
References
[edit]- ^Landesman, Fred (July 11, 2007).The John Wayne Filmography.McFarland.ISBN9780786432523.
- ^"Notes for Dark Command (1940)".tcm.com.RetrievedNovember 10,2007.
- ^ab"Of Local Origin".New York Times.October 26, 1939. p. 31.
- ^"NY Times: Dark Command".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2012. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2012.RetrievedDecember 13,2008.
- ^"THE BEST-SELLING BOOKS".New York Times.May 1, 1938. p. 109.
- ^Smith, Cecil. (September 19, 1954). "Burnett Publishes 20th Novel, The Tale of an Irish Bravo: Tireless Author, Bel-Air Resident, Shuns Publicity".Los Angeles Times.p. D4.
- ^"REPUBLIC TO MAKE 50 FEATURE FILMS: 'Seven Million Dollars,' 'The Dark Command' and 'Wagons Westward' Top List FOUR SERIALS SCHEDULED Other 1939–40 Pictures Will Be Based on Jack London and Mark Twain Tales".New York Times.April 6, 1939. p. 34.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (November 18, 1939). "DRAMA: 'Boom Town' Looms for Gable and Tracy".Los Angeles Times.p. A7.
- ^DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (November 27, 1939). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD".New York Times.p. 13.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (April 3, 1940). "Astaire-Zorina Duo Bright New Dance Idea: Film Ingenue Grows Up O'Brien Budgets Raised Mexican Actress Tested Veterans to Team Again Premiere Due in Kansas".Los Angeles Times.p. 13.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (June 4, 1940). "John Wayne Wins Star Role in 'Big Bonanza': New Series for O'Brien Switch in Spy Yarns R.K.O. Signs Blackmer Sanders to Play Sleuth Pangborn Air Spieler".Los Angeles Times.p. 13.
External links
[edit]- 1940 films
- Films directed by Raoul Walsh
- American Civil War films
- Films scored by Victor Young
- Films based on American novels
- Films based on works by W. R. Burnett
- Films set in Kansas
- Republic Pictures films
- 1940s English-language films
- 1940 Western (genre) films
- Films produced by Sol C. Siegel
- Films with screenplays by F. Hugh Herbert
- American Western (genre) films
- American black-and-white films
- 1940s American films
- Quantrill's Raiders