Dark Command

Set in 1860's Kansas, the story concerns Will Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon), a seemingly harmless school teacher who is secretly the head of an outlaw gang that commits robberies and murders across the state. In Lawrence, Kansas, newcomer Bob Seton (John Wayne) takes on the job of marshal, putting him at odds with Cantrell. They also spar over banker's daughter Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor).

This is a fictionalized version of Quantrill's Raiders. It was unusual seeing Pidgeon in this kind of role. He wasn't bad at all. I liked Gabby Hayes as Wayne's dentist sidekick, and Marjorie Main as Pidgeon's disapproving mother. Claire Trevor received top billing, a testament to the various stars' standing at the time. Western hero Roy Rogers plays Trevor's naive young brother who joins up with Pidgeon, not knowing the true nature of his exploits. Again, it was strange seeing Rogers in such a lesser supporting role. The movie's entertaining, regardless of whatever liberties are taken with the history involved. The film earned Oscar nominations for Best B&W Art Direction, and Best Score (Victor Young).