Western legends John Wayne and Roy Rogers only made one movie together with a 1940 Civil War classic calledDark Command. Wayne is one of the mostfamous Western stars of the 20th centuryand is largely responsible for shaping the genre in American film industry and beyond. Wayne starred in severalgroundbreaking Western moviesincluding John Ford’s breakthrough hitsStagecoach(1939) andThe Searchers(1956).
While Wayne’s legacy speaks for itself, Roy Rogers was also a pivotal figure in the Western genre as well. Often dubbed the “King of the Cowboys”, Rogers became an icon of Western mysticism and entertainment as an actor, singer, television host, and rodeo performer. Although Wayne and Rogers represent different aspects of the Western genre, they were bound to both appear in the same Western film at some point. This ended up beingDark Command, which is more of a classic war romance dramabut still has Western elements,
John Wayne & Roy Rogers' Dark Command Was A Successful Western Teamup
Raoul Walsh’s direction makes Dark Command a great picture
Dark Commandoffers Western lovers a rare treat in seeing Wayne and Rogers share a screen for the only time in film history. The film takes place in Kansas during the Civil War in a battle between pro-Union and pro-Confederate camps. The film also stars Claire Trevor andStagecoachacclaim and Walter Pidgeon, best known for his Dr. Morbius role inForbidden Planet.Dark Commandearned a 100% on Rotten Tomatoesand is available to stream on Plex and Tubi.
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Dark Commandwas released on the heels ofStagecoach, which led Wayne to become an “A” picture star soon after. The film is directed byRaoul Walsh, who created dozens of classic movies such asWhite HeatandThe Roaring Twenties. The combination of Wayne and Walsh is one of the main highlights ofDark Command, which is made even better by the inclusion of Rogers. Rogers played himself in dozens of Westerns, includingThe Roy Rogers Show, throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
John Wayne & Roy Rogers Were Very Different Kinds Of Western Movie Stars
Rogers is quite polished compared to the rugged masculinity of Wayne
What’s most interesting aboutDark Commandis the juxtaposition between Wayne and Rogers' essentially opposite cowboy personas.Rogers was very much a singing cowboy, which Wayne was obviously not, carrying a dry and hardened demeanor throughout all of his films. Rogers is also quite polished compared to the rugged masculinity of Wayne’s protagonists. Still, as demonstrated inDark Command, both Western legends are willing to get their hands dirty for the sake of making a convincing Western wartime picture and offering a glimpse into the tumultuous landscape during the start of the Civil War.
Dark Command
Cast
Dark Command, released in 1940, stars John Wayne as Bob Seton, a Texan who arrives in Kansas and finds himself embroiled in local politics and tensions on the eve of the Civil War. He challenges schoolteacher William Cantrell for the position of marshal, uncovering a web of ambition and deception.
