Santa Fe Trail (1940)
-
58% of users liked it
(1,191 ratings)
Santa Fe Trail, Errol Flynn's third western, has precisely nothing to do with the titular trail. Instead, the film is a simplistic retelling of the John Brown legend, with Raymond Massey playing the famed abolitionist. The events leading up to the bloody confrontation between Brown and the US… More Santa Fe Trail, Errol Flynn's third western, has precisely nothing to do with the titular trail. Instead, the film is a simplistic retelling of the John Brown legend, with Raymond Massey playing the famed abolitionist. The events leading up to the bloody confrontation between Brown and the US Army at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, are treated in a painstakingly even-handed fashion: Brown's desire to free the slaves is "right" but his methods are "wrong." Whenever the leading characters are asked about their own feelings towards slavery, the response is along the noncommittal lines of "A lot of people are asking those questions," "I don't have the answer to that," and so forth. Before we get to the meat of the story, we are treated to a great deal of byplay between West Point graduates Jeb Stuart (Flynn) and George Armstrong Custer (Ronald Reagan), who carry on a friendly rivalry over the affections of one Kit Carson Halliday (Olivia DeHavilland). Just so we know that the picture is meant to be a follow-up to Warners' Dodge City and Virginia City, Flynn is saddled with Alan Hale and "Big Boy" Williams, his comic sidekicks from those earlier films. Despite its muddled point of view, Santa Fe Trail is often breathtaking entertainment, excitingly staged by director Michael Curtiz. The film's public domain status has made Santa Fe Trail one of the most easily accessible of Errol Flynn's Warner Bros. vehicles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Curtiz
- Written By
- Robert Buckner
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1940 Wide
Critic Reviews
-
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Racist and reactionary tripe whose closest relative is "Gone with the Wind".
-
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Rousing John Brown story is really worth it with Reagan and Flynn.
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Revels in its inaccuracies.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Errol Flynn
as Jeb Stuart
-
Olivia de Havilland
as Kit Carson Halliday
-
Raymond Massey
as John Brown
-
Ronald Reagan
as George Armstrong Custer
-
Alan Hale
as Tex Bell
-
Van Heflin
as Rader
-
William Lundigan
as Bob Holliday
-
Ward Bond
as Townley
-
Gene Reynolds
as Jason Brown
-
Henry O'Neill
as Cyrus Holliday
-
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
as Windy Brody
-
Alan Baxter
as Oliver Brown
-
John Litel
as Martin
-
Moroni Olsen
as Robert E. Lee
-
David Bruce
as Phil Sheridan
-
Hobart Cavanaugh
as Barber Doyle
-
Charles D. Brown
as Maj. Sumner
-
Joe Sawyer
as Kitzmiller
-
Frank Wilcox
as James Longstreet
-
Russell Simpson
as Shoubel Morgan
-
Charles B. Middleton
as Gentry
-
Erville Alderson
as Jefferson Davis
-
Spencer Charters
as Conductor
-
Suzanne Carnahan
as Charlotte
-
William Marshall
as George Pickett
-
George Haywood
as John Hood
- Luis Alberni
- Arthur Ayleswofth
- Roy Barcroft
- Trevor Bardette
- Al Bridge
-
Jess Lee Brooks
as Doorman
-
Georgia Caine
as Officer's Wife
- Lucia Carroll
- Eddy Chandler
-
Lane Chandler
as Adjutant
-
Cliff Clark
as Instructor
- Edmund Cobb
-
Mildred Coles
as Girl
- Harry Cording
- Joseph Crehan
- Rev. Neal Dodd
- James Farley
-
Mildred Gover
as Woman
- Mitzi Green
-
Creighton Hale
as Telegraph Operator
-
Theresa Harris
as Maid
-
Edward Hearn
as Guard
-
Louis Jean Heydt
as Farmer
-
Russell Hicks
as J. Boyce Russell
-
William Hopper
as Officer
- Selmar Jackson
-
Victor Kilian
as Dispatch Rider
-
Wilfred Lucas
as Weiner
-
Frank Mayo
as Bit
-
Lafe [Lafayette] McKee
as Minister
-
Mira McKinney
as Woman
-
Jack Mower
as Surveyor
-
Nestor Paiva
as Agitator
- Edward Peil Sr.
-
Susan Peters
as Charlotte Davis
- Bernice Pilot
-
Addison Richards
as Sheriff
- Clinton Rosemond
- Walter Soderling
-
Grace Stafford
as Farmer's Wife
-
Harry Strang
as Sergeant
- Libby Taylor
-
Emmett Vogan
as Lieutenant
-
Eddy Waller
as Man
- Maris Wrixon
-
Henry Hall
as Abolitionist
-
Richard Kipling
as Army Doctor
-
Napoleon Simpson
as Samson
