Review of Santa Fe Trail (1940) by D M — 11 Feb 2015

New West Point graduates (including George Custer played by dapper Ronald Regan) are assigned duty at Ft Leavenworth, KS. Its the 1850s, so this is dangerous territory. Its the fanatical rebel Christian abolitionist John Brown (who may as well be the Isis commander), not Indians, who cause trouble for the expansion of the railroad line to New Mexico.

A lot of name actors (Errol Flynn playing Jeb Stuart was another), enough comedic lines (mostly from a duo of drunks), and a romantic sub-story (with a "refined" lady from Boston who plays two men [as they do]) helped to ensure this was a major hit for the studio at the time.

My issue with this film was the very nationalistic "my country, right or wrong" subtext of the film. I am sure its 1940 release date had a lot to do with that as there was a large divide in the country at the time, with many not wanting to get involved in an unpopular war.

I have much ambivalence towards this film (more so than I've had about any other film in a long time), but they did show free-staters in a positive light. Also, despite its title, it had very little to do with the "Trail," since the story followed Brown to Boston and then to Virginia.