Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and thought-provoking
Review: Many comment upon the historical inaccuracies of this film. I am not going to argue that this movie is historically accurate because many things in it are not, BUT I do believe its portrayal of the TIMES is accurate. Don't let the title or first appearance of this film fool you. This is not just any other western. This movie, in reality, deals with the issues leading up to the American Civil War of which the role of John Brown figures heavily in the movie. The movie also makes significant use of the historical fact that many of the great military leaders--Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, Stuart, Sheridan, etc.--all found themselves together at West Point in the years prior to the Civil War. The film is very thought provoking as it follows these people and how the events of the time begins to shape their minds and pull different individuals different directions as they grapple with issues which are beyond their control. The Indian woman soothsayer, mentioned by another reviewer, was a great scene which helped to show just how unprepared EVERYONE was for what was about to happen. And, last but not least--a wonderful cast--Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland (Melanie in Gone With The Wind--I just love her!) and Ronald Reagan. It is always enjoyable to see these "greats" in the movies. And, Raymond Massey (who later plays James Dean's father in "East of Eden") is electrifyingly spooky and appropriately plays the infamous John Brown. This movie is well worth the money, time, and some consideration of the mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Strange Classic
Review: Many people are no doubt thrown off by the odd politics of this film. This never actually bothered me. Today we have become so mired in political correctness outlook that we can't view a film like this objectively anymore. Sure some of the views are a bit dated. But this is a hollywood 1930s film, made around the same time as Gone With the Wind. The views in that film are also strange, but its considered a classic none the less. The main premise of this film is to show the looming storm clouds of Civil War. The historical facts here are certainly off the mark in many places. The film enjoys giving us a popular image of West Point in the Ante-Bellum days before the war. Many famous cadet names are bandied about that we know would be come famous just a few years later. The point here is not how accurate the data is, but to show that all these men did attend the same institution and that many would become famous adversaries on the battlefied. The film does a nice job of showing this even if it does get a lot of details wrong in the process. The bit with John Brown is amusing. Again, its a difference of perspective here. Hollywood was in love with the old South back then. Today we are in love with polotical correctness which is offended by the fanatical views expressed by the character of John Brown, who is beautifully played by Raymond Massey. Its amusing to see Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan playing off each other here. I think the best thing to do is forget their so-called historical roles in the film, and just view them as two newly commissioned officers of the period sent to police Kansas. This way you can forget the JEB Staurt /Custer comparisons! The funny thing about seeing Reagan in a film like this is to compare him with what he would later become. We have just eulogized his recent passing in this country. The fact remains if Reagan had been a better actor he might never have become our president! This film was one of the best roles he ever had in movies! He and Flynn go round and round, and its amusing to see Reagan try and hold his own. He actually does better than one would expect next to the powerhouse Flynn with all his sex appeal back then Still, the best actor in the film is Raymond Massey by far. His portrayal of the fanatic Brown may offend some, but Brown was not unlike this. In fact its easy to compare this religious zeal to that of Bin Laden and other fanatics of his ilk. For the 1850s, Brown was seen as a fanatic by many. Abolitionism was a minority view even in the North. No one was too keen to shed blood over freeing slaves, sorry PC people, but this was so! The final battle scene at Harpers Ferry is exciting, but wildly inaccurate. Colonel Lee actually stormed the place with a company of US Marines, not dis-mounted cavalry! And Brown had only a dozen or so mis-guided follwers by that time. The whole event was quite small compared to what the movie shows us here. Again, try to view this film from the context of both when it was made and the times it is attempting to show. By doing so you can sit back and enjoy a classic adventure romp with a little history thrown in for color.
Rating:
Summary: Strange Classic
Review: Many people are no doubt thrown off by the odd politics of this film. This never actually bothered me. Today we have become so mired in political correctness outlook that we can't view a film like this objectively anymore. Sure some of the views are a bit dated. But this is a hollywood 1930s film, made around the same time as Gone With the Wind. The views in that film are also strange, but its considered a classic none the less. The main premise of this film is to show the looming storm clouds of Civil War. The historical facts here are certainly off the mark in many places. The film enjoys giving us a popular image of West Point in the Ante-Bellum days before the war. Many famous cadet names are bandied about that we know would be come famous just a few years later. The point here is not how accurate the data is, but to show that all these men did attend the same institution and that many would become famous adversaries on the battlefied. The film does a nice job of showing this even if it does get a lot of details wrong in the process. The bit with John Brown is amusing. Again, its a difference of perspective here. Hollywood was in love with the old South back then. Today we are in love with polotical correctness which is offended by the fanatical views expressed by the character of John Brown, who is beautifully played by Raymond Massey. Its amusing to see Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan playing off each other here. I think the best thing to do is forget their so-called historical roles in the film, and just view them as two newly commissioned officers of the period sent to police Kansas. This way you can forget the JEB Staurt /Custer comparisons! The funny thing about seeing Reagan in a film like this is to compare him with what he would later become. We have just eulogized his recent passing in this country. The fact remains if Reagan had been a better actor he might never have become our president! This film was one of the best roles he ever had in movies! He and Flynn go round and round, and its amusing to see Reagan try and hold his own. He actually does better than one would expect next to the powerhouse Flynn with all his sex appeal back then Still, the best actor in the film is Raymond Massey by far. His portrayal of the fanatic Brown may offend some, but Brown was not unlike this. In fact its easy to compare this religious zeal to that of Bin Laden and other fanatics of his ilk. For the 1850s, Brown was seen as a fanatic by many. Abolitionism was a minority view even in the North. No one was too keen to shed blood over freeing slaves, sorry PC people, but this was so! The final battle scene at Harpers Ferry is exciting, but wildly inaccurate. Colonel Lee actually stormed the place with a company of US Marines, not dis-mounted cavalry! And Brown had only a dozen or so mis-guided follwers by that time. The whole event was quite small compared to what the movie shows us here. Again, try to view this film from the context of both when it was made and the times it is attempting to show. By doing so you can sit back and enjoy a classic adventure romp with a little history thrown in for color.
Rating:
Summary: THIS DVD IS NEWLY REMASTERED
Review: MARENGO FILMS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT BOTH TITLES ON THIS DVD HAVE BEEN NEWLY RE-MASTERED. NEW SOFTWARE, MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND HANDY THAN THAT AVAILABLE AT THE ONSET OF DVD HAS BEEN USED BY MARENGO. THE FILMS HAVE BEEN COLOR CORRECTED, AND AN ADDITIONAL SOUND DESIGN HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. WE FEEL UPGRADING THESE WONDERFUL PRINTS WAS WELL WORTH THE COST AND THAT COLLECTORS WILL BE PROUD TO HAVE THEM IN THEIR INVENTORY.
Rating:
Summary: This is about "Abilene Town"
Review: Randolph Scott stars as a rugged, laconic lawman, caught between the competing interests of cattlemen, homesteaders and the nervous townspeople who gave him a job, but hope that he doesn't stir up trouble on his own. Scott plays the marshall with an interesting mix of pragmatism, morality and machismo, each of which pulls him in separate directions; a charismatic actor who is often underrated by film historians, Scott is at his best here, projecting the sheer physicality one imagines a border lawman would have to have possessed back in them days. Fun stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Raymond Massey as John Brown
Review: Raymond Massey steals the show from Errol Flynn with his excellent portrayal of John Brown as a principled abolitionist and religious fanatic in this 1940 classic. Massey's masterful acting shows both sides of Brown - heroic emancipator and vicious cutthroat - alternating from one personality to the other with perfection. Historic figures including Jefferson Davis, JEB Stuart (Flynn) and Robert E. Lee appear as friends who will later become enemies with George A. Custer (Ronald Reagan) and Philip Sheridan.
Rating:
Summary: CHARGE
Review: Santa Fe Trail is an exciting western set in the years leading up to the Civil War. Mostly the story revolves around John Brown and the problems he caused with his abilitionist movement. The soldiers pursuing him are JEB Stuart and George Armstrong Custer, played by Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan. The final showdown takes place in Harper's Ferry where Brown makes his final stand. This is a good movie that has very little to do with history except that John Brown does die. Anyways, the movie is very good whether it is accurate or not. There is good action and enjoyable characters. Errol Flynn is his usual self with Olivia de Havilland excellent as the love interest in the story. Raymond Massey is disturbingly good as John Brown. Also starring is Van Heflin in a good guy/bad guy role. Entertaining western with good cast! Just don't use it as a history lesson.
Rating:
Summary: Good action, no historical accuracy
Review: Santa Fe Trail is an exciting western set in the years leading up to the Civil War. Mostly the story revolves around John Brown and the problems he caused with his abilitionist movement. The soldiers pursuing him are JEB Stuart and George Armstrong Custer, played by Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan. The final showdown takes place in Harper's Ferry where Brown makes his final stand. This is a good movie that has very little to do with history except that John Brown does die. Anyways, the movie is very good whether it is accurate or not. There is good action and enjoyable characters. Errol Flynn is his usual self with Olivia de Havilland excellent as the love interest in the story. Raymond Massey is disturbingly good as John Brown. Also starring is Van Heflin in a good guy/bad guy role. Entertaining western with good cast! Just don't use it as a history lesson.
Rating: 
Summary: Historically inaccuarate, but very lively action film.
Review: Some film critics who even bother to review this movie are troubled by its political and social point of view. Never mind politics and social issues, etc. Raymond Massey plays the role of John Brown with wild-eyed ferocity. The climactic battle at Harpers Ferry is visually entertaining and exciting. Save yourself the trouble of testing this movie for its historical integrity. It won't stand up under scrutiny. As a good old Hollywood action-adventure movie, it's serves its purpose. This movie suffers in comparison to Errol Flynn's best western "Dodge City," but it has enough action and entertainment to suffice. The usual group of Flynn co-stars are on hand: Olivia DeHavilland, Alan Hale, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, etc. Ronald Reagan playing a young George Armstrong Custer provides unintentional comedy relief. The scene with the old Indian soothsayer who peers into her camp fire and sees the approaching War Between the States is appropriately spooky. The shoot-out at John Brown's Kansas headquarters, before the action shifts to Harpers Ferry, includes a peach of barn-burning. Errol Flynn, as usual, is almost as indestructible as John Wayne. Make the popcorn, pop open a cold soda, and enjoy the mayhem.
Rating:
Summary: Olivia de Havilland at her best
Review: The reason I saw this film was because it was starring Olivia de Havilland. The film itself was good, but Olivia de Havilland was obviously the best. I obviously loved GWTW, but I had to admit Olivia's charicter Kit was beautiful, strong, and smart. I think if you're an Olivia de Havilland fan, WATCH THIS FILM
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