DARK COMMAND
US, 1940, 92 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Walter Pidgeon, Rog Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Porter Hall, Marjorie Main.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.
Dark Command is a strong John Wayne vehicle from 1940. He had made Stagecoach and was beginning to move towards being a major star. The villain in the film is Walter Pidgeon, on loan from MGM. He portrays Will Cantrell, the leader of the raiders who exploited the situation after the Civil War. Claire Trevor, who had appeared also in Stagecoach, is the heroine and there is an interesting supporting cast including Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Marjorie Main.
Direction is by Raoul Walsh, who usually worked at this time at Warner Brothers, directing action films, gangster films and westerns. There is a screenplay based on a novel by W. R. Burnett, author of The Asphalt Jungle and other crime thrillers. The musical direction is by Victor Young. This was a major production for Republic Studios.
1. An interesting and entertaining Civil War western? The war, the aftermath of the war? The need for law and justice in the West?
2. Black and white photography, production values? A major western? The re-creation of the West? Action sequences?
3. The title and its focus on Will Cantrell? The desire for power? The exercise of power? Ruthlessness? The type of power as being against the American way? John Wayne as the typical American hero?
4. Bob Seaton and his cowboy background, his presence in Lawrence, Kansan? The elections and Bob's success? The reaction of Cantrell? Bob and his sidekick? Genial hero? His attraction towards Mary? The tension in the town? Fletch and the murder, trial? Seaton's stand? The distance between Seaton and the McLeods? Cantrell exploiting the opportunity? The verdict of 'not guilty'? Seaton and his coping with the hostility? The outbreak of the Civil War? Seaton and his stand? Mary's loss of faith in him? Cantrell and his ruthlessness? Seaton taking a stand? The confrontation between the two? Cantrell's death? Seaton and the reconciliation with Mary?
5. Walter Pidgeon's presence as Cantrell? Playing against type? His role in the town? Teaching? The elections and his ambition? His manoeuvres for success? His being beaten by Seaton? His bitter response? His love for Mary? Jealousy of Seaton? His opportunism at the time of Fletch's trial? His insinuating suggestions about Seaton? The verdict of 'not guilty'? His relationship with his mother? Her response to his behaviour? His getting power, the use of the Civil War to organise the band of guerrillas? Their raids? Fletch joining him? Mary marrying him? Mary's growing suspicions? Cantrell and his growing abuse of Power? The attack on Lawrence? The death of the women and children? Burning the city? The confrontation with Seaton? His death? His final visit to his mother? The picture of power and dark command?
6. Mary and the McLeods? in Lawrence? Their status? Mary and her love for Cantrell? Expectations of marriage? her attraction towards Bob? Fletch and the trial? Her turning against Bob? Influenced by Cantrell? Her marrying him? Their lifestyle, her not wanting to face the truth, growing suspicions? Her stance against him? The reconciliation with Bob?
7. Fletch and the Lawrence aristocracy, arrogance, the trial for murder? His release? His joining Cantrell? Helping him? The torn loyalties? His death?
8. Cantrell's mother, her attitudes towards her son, her understanding him, her condemnation of him?
9. The picture of a prosperous Kansas town, citizens, way of life? The outbreak of the war? Their becoming victims of the raiders?
10. The gallery of characters in Lawrence? Officials? Society? The portrait of the raiders and their loyalty to Cantrell? Their cruelty? The western characters in the town - George 'Gabby' Hayes as John Wayne's sidekick?
11. Themes of America in the 19th century? Pioneer days? The establishing of the cities in the Mid-West? The Civil War and its effects? Law and order? Justice?
