Santa Fe Trail

Plot synopsis:
The movie begins in 1854 prior to the U.S. Civil War with cadets at West Point practicing cavalry maneuvers.From the beginning there is obvious friction between some of the cadets.
After one of the cadets reads from a tract by abolitionist John Brown they discuss the issue of slavery in the United States and what should be done about it. Primarily the argument is between one Northern cadet, Rader, and 'Jeb' Stuart, from the South. Rader supports Brown's beliefs and Stuart opposes them, saying the South should be left alone to work out what to do about the slaves.
Various cadets take sides, a fight breaks out. Afterward several of the cadets are reprimanded and assigned to the cavalry as 'punishment' (though they seem happy about it). Rader is thrown out of school for stirring up trouble. The cadets are then shown graduating. These include 'Jeb' Stuart, George Armstrong Custer, George Pickett, and other famous participants in the war that is to follow. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (future president of the Confederacy) gives a speech and the cadet's sing a song.
During the ceremony Stuart and Custer catch sight of a pretty girl Kit Carson Holiday(Olivia deHavilland) whose father is a railway baron.The newly minted young officers then travel by train to their new post in Leavenworth, Kansas. There is discussion about the troubles that Kansas has been having with John Brown's raids (Kansas is not a state yet and it is not clear if it will join the Union as a slave state or a free state).
Stuart and Custer then flirt with Kit Holiday who is also along for the ride with her father, who intends to extend the railway West, through the troubled territory of Kansas.Attention then shifts to some slaves who are also in the passenger car. A man claiming to own them keeps them from being thrown out, but then he is confronted by some men with guns who attempt to force him off the train "before it crosses state lines". It turns out that the man with the slaves is an operative of John Brown. The men with guns are concerned that he is attempting to aid renegade slaves across the border from Missouri to Kansas (where they have no formal status). There is a gunfight and one of the Southern men is shot and killed. The man who was transporting the slaves jumps off the train. The slaves are left on board, confused.The young officers arrive at Fort Leavenworth, a frontier garrison. There is some scary talk about how dangerous the post is and how some of the previous officers are dead or missing.
Stuart and Custer are sent out on patrol but before they leave the stop for supplies and to flirt with Miss Carson. The two flip a coin to see who gets first crack at her and Stuart wins.Focus then shifts to the camp of John Brown, who is setting out orders for the conduct of his followers. Rader, the cadet who was kicked out of West Point, is seen arriving at the camp by wagon. The man who escaped from the train earlier also shows up and is reprimanded by Brown for leaving the slaves behind. John Brown then leads everyone in prayer.Stuart and Custer's patrol meets Brown. There is a delivery of Bibles in the wagons for him and the officers don't recognize him at first. A box falls off the wagon and breaks open, revealing that the 'Bibles' are actually rifles. John Brown's men take the rifes at gunpoint, then Stuart and Custer's group chases after them. John Brown gets away but the wagon with the rifles is wrecked.The forces of Fort Leavenworth then assemble to ride out after John Brown and stop him, but despite a wide-ranging campaign he alludes them.Eventually Rader comes to Jefferson Davis to discuss betraying John Brown to them. Brown ends up trapped at Harper's Ferry and the military is sent to capture him. The troops surround Brown and what is left of his forces and a big gun battle ensues. During the battle John Brown shoots Rader for betraying him. Shortly afterwards the military blasts its way in and takes the survivors prisoner.John Brown being is hung while Custer and Stuart and Miss Carson watch. Brown gives a prophetic speech on the scaffold before he dies.The final scene is of Stuart and Carson being married on a train.

Tags: violence, murder, romantic

Review:
No big deal.What makes this film a remarkable document is its unflinching, for the Hollywood of the 1940s, portrayal of the evil of slavery, the pain of blacks ensnared in its web and the thundering role of John Brown, played by Raymond Massey in a powerful, gripping performance.John Brown, the abolitionist who in life and in the film murdered slavery supporters and seized the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia was a zealot, not a madman (he refused an opportunity to plead insanity at the trial which ended in his death sentence).
It seems to me that Massey had a picture of John Brown that he was determined to bring to life, the inane or frivolous parts of the film being totally irrelevant to his mission.Hollywood before World War II generally treated blacks as minor props (waiters, Pullman car attendants, cooks and maids).
The film's producer and director and script writers took a major detour from the concerted Tinseltown effort to not produce any story that might cut into box office take in the South (and elsewhere-the North was no hotbed of campaigns for racial equality).Worth seeing because of its unique take on slavery, for the time, and Raymond Massey's towering performance.8/10..
I now feel that, though this movie makes a sham of history - - it is a great showcase for the wonderful talents of Michael Curtiz, Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan and Olivia de Havilland.I particularly love the final rescue scene.
The original location had become a railroad embankment...so it could not stand at the original spot.Whatever you think about the historical inaccuracies of this film, its entertainment values are excellent for their own sake.RAYMOND MASSEY is especially memorable as John Brown.
It was a popularly held view of the time, the abolitionists were well intentioned rabble rousers who brought on the Civil War and as Errol Flynn as J.E.B. Stuart says, the south will settle the slavery issue in its own time.Back in the day even in A westerns like Santa Fe Trail, liberal use of the facts involving noted historical figures was taken.
Massey repeated his John Brown character in the later Seven Men From Now. Other than Abraham Lincoln it is the role that actor is most identified with.As an action western though, Santa Fe Trail can't be beat.
It quickly becomes the duty of Stuart and his pal Custer (Ronald Reagan) to capture Brown dead or alive, and put and end to his attacks.There are many exciting sequences in the film, leading up to the final confrontation at Harper's Ferry.
"Santa Fe Trail" takes place in the 1850s as the America moved toward Civil War. It's mainly about the activities of self-proclaimed slave abolitionist John Brown and his efforts to provoke a war between the North and South.The film begins in 1854 at West Point where a number of historical figures who would play prominent roles in the Civil War, are about to graduate.
It had nothing to do with "The Santa Fe Trail", but dealt with abolitionist John Brown from Kansas to Harpers Ferry in the years before the Civil War, and the reaction of West Point officers to him.
A gross distortion of history to no purpose.JEB Stuart (West Point Class of 1853), George Custer (Class of 1861) and a bunch of other Civil War generals whose real ages vary by about 20 years are shown as classmates and best friends sent out to Kansas to protect the railroad (which didn't actually exist) from the depredations of those naughty abolitionists led by John Brown (who wasn't in Kansas yet and was still a pacifist when the story took place).
Completely messed up on so many accounts.The film depicts the U.S. Army's many attempts to stop abolitionist John Brown as he uses his violent tactics to stop pro-slavery forces across the U.S. and to free slaves.Okay, at first a historical docu-drama sounds like a good enough effort to make.
And, lovely Olivia DeHavilland, who at first expresses concerns for the conflicts over slavery to come, turns into proclaiming to Errol with blood lust, "Kill John Brown!" And, last but not least, we have slaves who ACTUALLY say they rather stay enslaved than live in the conflicted Kansas of the story!
Errol Flynn is lost and Olivia de Havilland wasted in one of their last films together, an oddball Westerner that straddles the Mason-Dixon line presenting events leading up to the American Civil War.Not a good film, "Santa Fe Trail" is nevertheless fascinating now because of the political and social undercurrents running through it.
This is not only one of the most racist films I have ever seen after "Birth of a Nation", but it is also a gross distortion of reality and actual events; hell, "Santa Fe Trail" just makes a lot it up - all to make it appear that Southern slaveowners were great guys, and the Civil War was started not by the slaveholders but by those abolitionists whom the movie tries to portray as fanatics.
This is based around the story of one Jeb Stuart, a Southern born gent who would go on to become one of the South's greatest cavalrymen during the American Civil War. We follow his romance with sweetheart Kit Carson Holliday, his friendship with George Armstrong Custer, and onto his battles with abolitionist John Brown.Tho it's mostly agreed these days that Santa Fe Trail has no great historical worth, it is however still a decent movie that boasts great drama, a sweet romance, and no little amount of action.
Knowingly directed by the astute Michael Curtiz and featuring the acting of Errol Flynn (dashing as Stuart), Olivia de Havilland (gutsy as Carson), Ronald Reagan (solid as Custer), and Raymond Massey (acting overdrive as Brown), the picture certainly holds up well on the technical front.However, the relatively low rating on this particular site is of much interest to me, for being as I'm British I have no sort of conflict of interest with the actual story.
Despite the 'Western'-sounding title, the comedy/drama actually involved a remarkable class of West Point cadets (who, in reality, were not classmates), and their ultimate pursuit of legendary abolitionist John Brown (portrayed, with fiery brilliance, by Raymond Massey, in the role that, next to Abraham Lincoln, he would be most famous for).
Despite bringing back Flynn's resident film 'family' (Olivia de Havilland, Alan Hale, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams), and adding Ronald Reagan, a rising star and friendly rival at Warner's, to the mix (the pair had terrific chemistry, and would reteam in 1942's DESPERATE JOURNEY), the atmosphere on the set was often tense, as Flynn despised director Michael Curtiz, the difficult taskmaster who had made the 31-year old Tasmanian actor a star, and he made it clear that he would NOT work with him, again.
For his part, Curtiz considered Flynn a lazy carouser (which, in truth, he frequently was), and devoted more of his energy to the John Brown Kansas and Harper's Ferry sequences than to the romantic subplot of Flynn/de Havilland/Reagan, and the West Point storyline (creating, in effect, two films out of SANTA FE TRAIL, a light-hearted adventure, and a heavy, emotionally-charged drama).
After graduating from West Point, handsome cadet Errol Flynn (as Jeb Stuart) finds romance with lovely Olivia de Havilland (as Kit Carson Holliday), and fights abolitionist Raymond Massey (as John Brown).
'Jeb' Stuart (Errol Flynn) and George Custer are best friends in the army, disputing the love of the same woman, Kit Carson (Olivia de Havilland) and fighting against the abolitionist John Brown (Raymond Massey), in a period pre-civil war.
The first half-hour is entertaining about Jeb Stuart and George Custard's friendship at West Point and their fight over Olivia de Havilland, but when the film focuses on John Brown and his problem about slaves, the film really runs off track.
The characters that Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, and Olivia de Havilland portray are likeable and Raymond Massey's portrayal of John Brown is superb and at times haunting, especially the close-ups of his face and those eyes of his.
"Santa Fe Trail has great themes--slavery, John Brown, and the coming Civil War--and it's not a bad film, surely, but it has some awkward moments, some filler, and is not half the movie it could have been.
It seems almost to want to follow along the success of the great Civil War themes of two other recent successes, "Jezebel" (1938) and "Gone with the Wind" (1939), but it gets distracted by little bits of nonsense and some awful writing."Santa Fe Trail" has the same director (Michael Curtiz) who would make "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Casablanca" two years later, the same leading actress (Olivia de Havilland) who had just finished an important role in "Gone with the Wind" and would win an Oscar for "The Heiress" later in the decade.
This is such a nauseating and idiotic fiction of the US Army's pursuit of abolitionist John Brown, that the handful of survivors who have sat through it must feel that they have been tested by a higher power for some great task.I kept hoping that Ronald Reagan was whispering under his breath, "I'm here to pay my dues, nothing more, Lord!" What was most disturbing is the shamelessness of slave-supporters being the good guys, and the abolitionists being painted as lunatics.I'd read through the other reviews for a synopsis; I just wanted to point out that Santa Fe Trail must be on Hell's version of Netflix..
Hollywood almost never got right anything historical."Santa Fe Trail" is a good example.However, if one just blocks out true U.S. history, and shuts down his mind, this movie can be enjoyed for the portrayals and action.Since there is a little truth in it, it can also be enjoyed, or at least admired, for the dedication of people on both sides of a philosophical and moral issue.Plus, as ever, one can just sit back and enjoy looking at the always beautiful and talented Olivia de Havilland.When first released, dashing Errol Flynn was billed as the star and a young and up-and-coming Ronald Reagan was listed fourth.
This first class "A" production put first-rate director Micheal Curtiz in charge of a cast topped by Errol Flynn, Ronald Regan, Olivia De Havilland, Raymond Massey (as John Brown), and Van Hefflin in a villainous role, along with Warner's terrific stable of supporting players, and hundreds of extras.
The new class of Cadets are about to be graduated and infused as new blood into the U.S. Army WE are introduced to some of the members of the Graduating Class, such as: J.E.B. Stuart (Errol Flynn), George Armstrong Custer ("Dutch", himself, Ronald Reagan), Phillip Sheridan (David Bruce), George Pickett (William Marshall), James Longstreet (Frank Wilcox) and John Hood (George Haywood); great Civil War Generals on both the Union and the Confederacy.STOP!
Kansas was torn by a mini-Civil War of its own; a sort of 'Dress Rehearsal' for the big one, if you please.THE picture hits its climax with a highly fictionalized and fanciful depiction of John Brown's Raid and capture of the U.S. Armory at Harper's Ferry, Virginia ; which is now in the present day, in the State of West Virginia.TO their credit, the producers included in the cast plenty of regulars in Warner Brothers' stock company, people like: Alan Hale, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Joe Sawyer, John Litel, Russell Simpson, Charles Middleton, Susan Peters, Spencer Charters, etc., etc.AN interesting aspect of the film to me is the heavy handed and unsympathetic characterization of everyone involved with the Abolitionist movement and this dramatic license has a modern day equivalent; for it seems that most of our present day left leaning writers and liberal producers have equally vilified those in the Pro-Life, anti-abortion movement.
Flynn and Reagan star as 2 army officers who both love de Havilland -- Heflin is billed way down the list, but in fact serves a major role as the film's true baddie -- he's involved in the conflict only for profit, whereas Massey's Brown is depicted as a megalomaniacal idealist with an unhealthy Christ complex.
Still, I think it succeeds as being a well-made story about John Brown and his battles against eight future Civil War generals (Stuart, Custer, Sheridan, Pickett, Longstreet, Hood and their superiors here, Robert E.
I was impressed.In order to give Santa Fe Trail a considerable amount of clout and hopefully rescue it from becoming yet another insufferable story about yet another repulsive clique of snot-nosed wimps from West Point Military Academy, a sinister-ish subplot was cunningly added into the mix.And it's here, of course, where the less-than-fact-based introduction of abolitionist John Brown (a made-to-order American Hitler) comes into play.Unfortunately, when it came to Brown's so-called "character", far too much time and effort was utterly wasted away trying like hell to firmly establish him as a certified loony-tune/madman/whatever.Believe me, actor Raymond Massey (who played Brown) did his absolute damnedest (spewing out self-righteous passages from the Bible like a thundering psycho) to confirm that Brown was, in fact, a villainous terrorist of the highest order, and nothing else.Filmed in 1940, Santa Fe Trail's story is, needless to say, a truly lopsided tale that can't seem to make up its bloody mind about anything, including what side it's taking, or what it wants to focus on.I strongly suspect that Santa Fe Trail was specifically made by Warner Bros.
in a lame attempt to show the movie-going public just how far America has come since 1854 when it came to the emancipation of Blacks.Santa Fe Trail stars these 3 darlings of Hollywood royalty - Errol Flynn (gag), Ronald Reagan (puke), and Olivia de Havilland (she's OK, but kinda butch, if you ask me).....
Cast as Errol Flynn's best friend and love-rival, he comes over as the lesser half of the duo, and his limitations show up plainly - a handsome tailor's dummy who can speak clearly, but never with force or conviction.Here he is wearing the uniform of a US Army cadet, one of a troublesome gang who are punished by being sent on their first posting to Kansas, the edge of civilisation in 1855, and the scene of guerrilla fighting between abolitionists and pro-slavery patrols, often viewed as the curtain-raiser for the civil war.The opening is almost comic - a line of cadets being called out by name, all the names belonging to famous future generals who could not possibly have been at West Point in the same year.
And it is also true that the religious maniac Brown was betrayed by his own Judas, for greed of gold.The title 'Santa Fe Trail' does not really signify anything much, except that the planners of the big new railroad are having to suspend work until John Brown's body is firmly in the grave, and the boss's beautiful daughter (Olivia De Havilland), is being competed-for by Stuart (Flynn) and Custer (Reagan) in a style almost reminiscent of Bing and Bob.Star of the show is Raymond Massey as Brown, hugely sinister both in physical presence and in ominous wild talk.
The leads do a good job, but Ronald Reagan is stodgy as George Custer (later played much better by Flynn!), while Raymond Massey has a great time  blaring out fire and brimstone messages as John Brown.
this isn't really a western,although it does take place during the same era which encompasses the genre.it's more of an action/adventure,with some drama and romance thrown.it takes place 6 or 7 years before the civil war,and details the events leading up to it,or at least this movie's version of it.it stars Errol Flynn,Ronald Reagan,Olivia de Havilland,and Van Heflin.here we meet George Custer,future general,but right now,newly graduated West Point military Academy Cadet.i thought his was quite a good movie.it flows very well,the acting is good,especially from Raymond Massey,who plays John Brown,a man who has fought against slavery,but has become an ego maniacal madman in the process.Massey's performance is brilliant.the movie does feel a bit long,but otherwise i liked it.for me,Santa Fe trail is a 6/10.
"Santa Fe Trail" only nominally lives up to it's title, serving as a backdrop to it's story of abolitionist John Brown (Raymond Massey) and his zealous mission to ban slavery in pre Civil War America.
Their mission is simply to bring John Brown to justice, dead or alive.It's interesting to reflect on the film from a historical perspective today, some sixty six years after it was made, while only seventy five years after the end of the Civil War. The portrayal of blacks in movies often found single characters in subservient or comedic roles, but here a slave family on the way to freedom is portrayed as human, terrified of confrontation aboard a train bound for still neutral Kansas Territory.
Their goals, bring in abolitionist John Brown, and marry Olivia De Havilland.While all of the performances are very good, especially Raymond Massey, the story is an absolute mess.
Santa Fe Trail (1940): Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Raymond Massey, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, William Lundigan, Van Heflin, Gene Reynolds, Henry O'Neill, Guinn Williams, Moroni Olsen, David Bruce, John Litel, Hobart Cavanaugh, Joe Sawyer, Charles D.
As entertainment, it provides an excellent mix of action, drama, humor, mesmerizing monologues by Raymond Massey(John Brown), romance with Olivia de Havilland, and patter within and between the buddy pairs of Errol Flynn(JEB Stuart) and Ronald Reagan(Custer), and Alan Hale and 'Big Boy' Williams.Van Heflin's purely fictional obnoxious character provides an additional element of conflict as a sinister devote of Brown, who proves to have more in common with Benedict Arnold, after not receiving his expected due share of glory and monetary reward for his contributions to the cause.
Flynn plays Stuart, a gentlemanly southerner sent with several of his fellow recent West Point graduates to Kansas where Massey (as fanatical abolitionist Brown) is wreaking havoc in his quest to stir up a civil war.
Errol Flynn's character (Jeb Stuart) is the worst offender of the bunch, and his dialog lines all but condone slavery and the coming Civil War. Playing his sidekick is Ronald Reagan as a very congenial and light-hearted George Armstrong Custer.