Dark Command (1940): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1940, Dark Command is a drama, romance and western film directed by Raoul Walsh, running about 94 minutes. “A drama of undying love.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. Dark Command stars Claire Trevor as Miss Mary McCloud, John Wayne as Bob Seton, Walter Pidgeon as William 'Will' Cantrell and Roy Rogers as Fletcher 'Fletch' McCloud, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Dark Command has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Dark Command page.

If you liked it. Fans of Dark Command tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.