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Dark Command
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Dark Command (1940)

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User Rating: 6.8/10 (698 votes)
Photos (see all 12 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
Raoul Walsh
Writers:
W.R. Burnett (novel)
Jan Fortune (adaptation)
more
Release Date:
15 April 1940 (USA) more
Genre:
Romance | Western more
Tagline:
A drama of undying love
Plot:
When transplanted Texan Bob Seton arrives in Lawrence, Kansas he finds much to like about the place... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. more
User Comments:
Fascinating Wild West Moral Fable more

Cast

 (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
94 min | UK:90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)
Certification:
West Germany:16 (f) | Germany:16 | USA:Approved (PCA #5985) (original rating) | UK:U
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 3% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The only film from Republic Pictures to receive Academy Award nominations (for Best Art Direction and Best Original Score). more
Quotes:
Andrew 'Doc' Grunch: You knock 'em loose and I'll pull 'em out. Maybe, I'm just saying maybe, you know; if you was more promiscuous with your punching, we might make a little more money.
Bob 'Shortcut' Seton: What do you mean - promiscuous?
Andrew 'Doc' Grunch: Well, ah, you got strange ideas about justice. You don't want to hit nobody unless they deserve it. Now, that's all right, but we're in business. And business is different!
more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Law of the Golden West (1949) more
Soundtrack:
Ring, Ring De Banjo more

FAQ

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful:-
Fascinating Wild West Moral Fable, 1 July 2000
Author: (bmatt@totalise.co.uk) from Kent, England

Although 'Dark Command' reads like a 'Who's Who' of Westerns (John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Gubby Hayes, Clare Trevor etc), the real 'star' is its writer - William Riley (WR) Burnett.

He created a vivid moral fable of the wild west - William Cantrell (Pidgeon)gives up the role of good School teacher to become a ruthless bushwacker and gunrunner. In the opposite corner is the illiterate Bob Seton (Wayne) who keeps the Faith and becomes town marshall. Both want to achieve things and get the same girl before the Civil War strikes(Trevor)

Seton stands up for right even if it means losing friends and the girl, whilst Cantrell will stop at nothing to make a difference and as his Mother (Main) remarks "the Devil is walking with you". The title of the movie must say it all for W R Burnett.

The picture is not only gripping but hilarious and good hearted in parts. Gubby Hayes is superb as Seton's Dentist/Barber/Butcher and is responsible for most of the humour and keeps your interest when the film starts to fade.

For Western fans, 'Dark Command' is a must - to see Wayne, Rogers, Hayes & Trevor together should not be missed. But general moviegoers should try and catch it if they can - to see the work of the man who (amongst others) penned 'Little Caesar', 'High Sierra', 'The Alsphalt Jungle' and of course 'The Great Escape' (all great titles!)and frankly any movie that has the line "Jumping Catfish - I can give up Barbering!" has got to be worth a looksee.



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