If you're expecting a film about the Santa Fe Trail...which would be logical based on the title, you're going to be very disappointed. The Santa Fe Trail is almost irrelevant to the film, other than that the railroad couldn't really be built until John Brown was driven out of Bloody Kansas. That's what this film is really about -- John Brown.
My other criticism here is the comedy relief by Guinn Williams and Alan Hale. I'm not sure much comedy relief was needed here...or appropriate. SO I felt it was a negative to the telling of the story.
Aside from those 2 issues, this is a great film! It brings together "Jeb" Stuart, George Armstrong Custer, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis at a time when all were still together in the nation. The film certainly gets a poor grade in terms of history. The depiction of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, although filmed in California is somewhat passable, albeit way too arid..
Errol Flynn was at his peak here as eventual Confederate leader "Jeb" Stuart. What a handsome and suave actor he was, yet he had the ability to be rough and tumble. He's nigh on perfect here.
Olivia de Havilland, as his love interest, is very good here, although her role is decidedly secondary to the story.
The real standout here is third-billed Raymond Massey, here playing John Brown. It is a stunning performance! Perhaps his best. Odd when you think of it that he also played Lincoln in "Abe Lincoln In Illinois" in the same year! Ronald Reagan is decent here as an actor...but nothing like we have come to know George Armstrong Custer. But, that's Hollywood.
Van Heflin is more the bad guy here than John Brown. He plays another of the West Point graduates, but one who is a traitor of sorts for money, and later turns his back on John Brown because of money. Of course, he pays a high price for his chicanery. It's a good performance, although I have never been a particular fan of Heflin.
Moroni Olsen plays a younger Robert E. Lee than we're used to, so it doesn't seem quite like our picture of him. Erville Alderson plays Jefferson Davis, and with makeup it's a pretty good portrayal.
Another highlight of this film are a couple of military shoot-outs. They go all out; it's really quite spectacular.
Unfortunately, the print I saw on TCM wasn't in particularly good shape. Not bad enough to avoid watching it, but not sharp at all. I understand that the film is in the public domain, but you would think that Warner Brothers would have a good original print to work from in a restoration. After all, this was one of the biggest films for them in 1940.
Again, bait and switch, but it's a rather enthralling film. I give it a very strong "7".
My other criticism here is the comedy relief by Guinn Williams and Alan Hale. I'm not sure much comedy relief was needed here...or appropriate. SO I felt it was a negative to the telling of the story.
Aside from those 2 issues, this is a great film! It brings together "Jeb" Stuart, George Armstrong Custer, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis at a time when all were still together in the nation. The film certainly gets a poor grade in terms of history. The depiction of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, although filmed in California is somewhat passable, albeit way too arid..
Errol Flynn was at his peak here as eventual Confederate leader "Jeb" Stuart. What a handsome and suave actor he was, yet he had the ability to be rough and tumble. He's nigh on perfect here.
Olivia de Havilland, as his love interest, is very good here, although her role is decidedly secondary to the story.
The real standout here is third-billed Raymond Massey, here playing John Brown. It is a stunning performance! Perhaps his best. Odd when you think of it that he also played Lincoln in "Abe Lincoln In Illinois" in the same year! Ronald Reagan is decent here as an actor...but nothing like we have come to know George Armstrong Custer. But, that's Hollywood.
Van Heflin is more the bad guy here than John Brown. He plays another of the West Point graduates, but one who is a traitor of sorts for money, and later turns his back on John Brown because of money. Of course, he pays a high price for his chicanery. It's a good performance, although I have never been a particular fan of Heflin.
Moroni Olsen plays a younger Robert E. Lee than we're used to, so it doesn't seem quite like our picture of him. Erville Alderson plays Jefferson Davis, and with makeup it's a pretty good portrayal.
Another highlight of this film are a couple of military shoot-outs. They go all out; it's really quite spectacular.
Unfortunately, the print I saw on TCM wasn't in particularly good shape. Not bad enough to avoid watching it, but not sharp at all. I understand that the film is in the public domain, but you would think that Warner Brothers would have a good original print to work from in a restoration. After all, this was one of the biggest films for them in 1940.
Again, bait and switch, but it's a rather enthralling film. I give it a very strong "7".