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. Today, though, Reagan is the better-known name and recordings for home viewing seem usually to list Reagan first.
In his first autobiography, "Where's The Rest Of Me?", Reagan tells the story of Flynn's jealousy and attempts to upstage Reagan. Other people who worked with Flynn recounted similar stories, saying that Flynn, despite immense talent, frequently seemed lacking in confidence.
Raymond Massey, as John Brown, is, as always, simply superb, and most of the rest of the players are good to excellent.
One more flaw needs to be pointed out. Warner Brothers had a superlative stable of excellent actors, but, as in this film, the studio, possibly because of bad to mediocre writing, often wasted some of them in silly, stereotyped roles. For example, Guinn Williams and Alan Hale, eventually known as Alan Hale, Sr., have to make the best of two of their silliest roles, totally unnecessary sidekicks to Flynn and Reagan.
Both are capable of handling even such silly roles, but it is a shame to waste them, and a shame to insult the audience, with such characterizations.
"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. Today, though, Reagan is the better-known name and recordings for home viewing seem usually to list Reagan first.
In his first autobiography, "Where's The Rest Of Me?", Reagan tells the story of Flynn's jealousy and attempts to upstage Reagan. Other people who worked with Flynn recounted similar stories, saying that Flynn, despite immense talent, frequently seemed lacking in confidence.
Raymond Massey, as John Brown, is, as always, simply superb, and most of the rest of the players are good to excellent.
One more flaw needs to be pointed out. Warner Brothers had a superlative stable of excellent actors, but, as in this film, the studio, possibly because of bad to mediocre writing, often wasted some of them in silly, stereotyped roles. For example, Guinn Williams and Alan Hale, eventually known as Alan Hale, Sr., have to make the best of two of their silliest roles, totally unnecessary sidekicks to Flynn and Reagan.
Both are capable of handling even such silly roles, but it is a shame to waste them, and a shame to insult the audience, with such characterizations.