Dark Command

Dark Command

94 mins | Drama, Romance, Western | April 15, 1940

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.

Dark Command

94 mins | Drama, Romance, Western | April 15, 1940

Dark Command
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.
IMDb rating 6.7
Producers Republic Pictures
Original title Dark Command
Directors Raoul Walsh
Writers Jan Fortune, F. Hugh Herbert, Lionel Houser, W.R. Burnett, Grover Jones

Cast

Claire Trevor

as Miss Mary McCloud

John Wayne

as Bob Seton

Walter Pidgeon

as William 'Will' Cantrell

Roy Rogers

as Fletcher 'Fletch' McCloud

George 'Gabby' Hayes

as Andrew 'Doc' Grunch

Porter Hall

as Angus McCloud

Marjorie Main

as Mrs. Cantrell / Mrs. Adams

Raymond Walburn

as Judge Buckner

Joe Sawyer

as Bushropp

Helen MacKellar

as Mrs. Hale

Trevor Bardette

as Mr. Hale

Ernie Adams

as Townsman

Richard Alexander

as Phil - Guerrilla Guarding Seton

Earl Askam

as Guerrilla

Hank Bell

as Townsman

Ray Bennett

as Guerrilla

Stanley Blystone

as Tough

Ed Brady

as Juror

Al Bridge

as Slave Trader

Roy Bucko

as Brawler

Nora Bush

as Townswoman

Budd Buster

as Townsman

Yakima Canutt

as Townsman on Balcony

Bob Card

as Townsman

Horace B. Carpenter

as Townsman

Burr Caruth

as Minister

Noble Chissell

as Guerrilla

Edmund Cobb

as Juror #3

Tex Cooper

as Townsman

Harry Cording

as Angry Townsman in Bank

Bobby Crandall

as Child

Marvin Davis

as Child

Art Dillard

as Guerrilla

John Dilson

as Town Leader

Edward Earle

as Town Leader

Betty Farrington

as Townswoman

Robert Ferrero

as Child

Joseph Forte

as Townsman

Mildred Gover

as Ellie - Mary's Maid

Herman Hack

as Townsman

Frank Hagney

as Tough Yankee #2

Al Haskell

as Townsman

Edward Hearn

as Jury Foreman

Howard Hickman

as Southerner Orating for Votes

Lloyd Ingraham

as Townsman

Jack Kirk

as Guerrilla

Ethan Laidlaw

as Guerrilla

Mike Lally

as Townsman

Tom London

as Messenger

Walter Long

as Townsman

Jack Low

as Juror #2

Cactus Mack

as Townsman

Nelson McDowell

as Farmer

Joe McGuinn

as Guerrilla

John Merton

as Cantrell Man

Jack Montgomery

as Guerrilla

Dolly Nardon

as Child

Lawrence Osman

as Child

Russell Palmer

as Child

Harvard Peck

as Child

Dick Rich

as Dental Patient #1

Lee Riggin

as Child

Jack Rockwell

as Assassin of Angus McCloud

Clinton Rosemond

as Tom - McClouds' Servant

Tom Smith

as Posse Rider

Harry Strang

as Man About to Withdraw Money from Bank

Glenn Strange

as Tough Yankee #1

Bob Sáenz

as Guerrilla

Hal Taliaferro

as Angry Townsman in Bank

Al Taylor

as Guerrilla

Ferris Taylor

as Banker

Ernest Tobey

as Child

Ethel Wales

as Townswoman

Cecil Weston

as Townswoman

Henry Wills

as Guerrilla

Harry Woods

as Man in Fight with Seton

Bob Woodward

as Yankee

Michael Miller

as Child