Plot Summary for
Dark Command (1940) More at IMDbPro »

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. Written by garykmcd

Cowpoke Bob Seton becomes a rival for William Cantrell's girl and for the sheriff's job Cantrell covets. When Seton wins both, Cantrell forsakes his respected position as schoolteacher and leads a band of renegades through Kansas, looting and destroying, all in the name of the Confederacy. Written by Jim Beaver {jumblejim@prodigy.net}

A Civil War era story of a renegade guerrilla band led by William Contrell. (Couldn't be a thinly disguised take-off on the real William Quantrill, confederate guerrilla commander, 1837-1865. No, of course not.) Cow town boss in conflict with the new marshal. Written by Ed Stephan {stephan@cc.wwu.edu}

The story takes place before the civil war when Bob Seton takes a run for Federal Marshal of Kansas against William Cantrell. He ends up Defeating Cantrell which infurates him. Cantrell then steals away Setons girl and manipulates her into marriage.The rivalry between them comes to a climax when Seton exposes Cantrell and his Guerrillas. Written by Christopher D. Ryan {cryan@direct.ca}

Texas cowpoke Bob Seton (John Wayne) comes to a Kansas town with his friend, Doc Crunch (George 'Gabby' Hayes), and runs for town marshal against school teacher Will Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon.) Seton is elected but loses out to Cantrell for the hand of Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor.) When the Civil War breaks out, Cantrell organizes a raider band, supposedly on the side of the South, but which, in reality, is nothing but a guerilla army that loots and robs from both sides. Cantrell has dreams of carving out his own empire out of Kansas. Cantrell leads his guerillas on a raid against Lawrence, Kansas, where they are defeated and Cantrell is killed. His widow finds happiness with Seton, the man she truly loves. Written by Les Adams {longhorn1939@suddenlink.net}

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