
Dark Command
A drama of undying love.
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.
- Director
- Raoul Walsh
- Signature
- Drama · Craft · Tension
Who's in it
Cast
The billed ensemble, with character names. Open any performer for their Nutevio filmography.
25 billed performers
The Nutevio profile
Movie DNA
How Dark Command actually feels to watch, measured on the twelve traits our editors track across every Nutevio title.
Story overview
What It's About
Spoiler-free. Read the analysis below for the full argument.
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.
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
Checking regional listings…
The numbers
Box Office & Release
- Budget
- —
- Opening weekend
- —
- Domestic gross
- —
- International gross
- —
- Worldwide gross
- —
- Release date
- Apr 15, 1940
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- MPAA rating
- —
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States of America
Figures from the verified production record. Fields we cannot source are left blank rather than estimated.
Watch



























