Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

David_Brown This film is one of the more underrated and seldom seen western classics around. A big reason is that is was done by Paramount, who with the exception of the films of Gary Cooper and later John Wayne, rarely did westerns. Beyond that, Paramount has no regard for their post 1949 films (The earlier films are owned by Universal). Basically, except "The Godfather", "Star Trek", and a few others, you will not even find 70s and 80s films like "Top Gun" on TV, or even remastered for DVD. I think "The Jayhawkers!" is outstanding, but it is a film that requires thought to understand why. Jeff Chandler's Luke Darcy is a character based on William Clarke Quantrill (1837-1865)who was the leader of a bunch of Confederates raiders during the Civil War (In his bunch were Frank & Jesse James). But this character goes far beyond what Quantrill was. He was a very charismatic individual who can seduce people into doing whatever he wanted: Sort of like Napoleon was. Jeanne Dubois (Nicole Maurey), mentioned that during the film (Something that Cam Bleeker (Fess Parker) and most Americans would not understand). Which is why having a Frenchwoman in the film was important (Not just as a love interest). It also explains why Bleeker's wife threw herself at Darcy, before she died, Lordan (Henry Silva) was almost like a puppy dog at his feet, and Bleeker was reluctant to turn him over to the Army (Despite knowing to a large extent, he was responsible for his wife's death). Spoilers ahead: The way that Bleeker was supposed to handle Darcy was turn him over to be hanged, but instead (After beating him up in a fight) had him fight in a duel in a bar (Which of course, Bleeker won), and carried his body out. When soldiers wanted to drag him, Bleeker said carry him. Bleeker then surrendered to the Army, and the Col. said: "I don't know why, you did things the way you did, and I don't know why I am letting you go, but somehow, I think we are both right." (At the beginning of the film, Bleeker broke out of prison, and after being caught, at his ranch that was purchased by Jeanne and fer family (She has a boy and a girl), was offered his freedom for Darcy's capture). So at the very end, Bleeker and Jeanne who by then fell in love will be free to go back to the ranch and live happily ever after. Basically these were very complex characters, nothing cardboard about them. The best were Darcy who really liked Bleeker and Jeanne (Perhaps because he respected them (Bleeker for being a Raider who broke out of prison, and Jeanne for her strength and honor)), despite being someone who wanted to be a dictator), and Jeanne. Jeanne is my favorite. She is a strong character, with a positive moral compass, who survived as a woman with no husband, and two kids, and is the only reason why Bleeker did not turn out bad. This is a film that should be seen more often (Maybe on the Western Channel or Turner Classic Movies), and perhaps it will be more appreciated for the classic it is.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) You can already feel the trouble with this film when you see the cast, and realize that the good guy is Fess Parker, the lesser known actor, and the bad guy is Jeff Chandler. In attempting to give a more complex character to Chandler, the film fails and what we get is nonsense. It is a shame because the film starts well, you think you are going to see an unusual and violent exciting western, which it could have been if Chandler's character would be better defined. After all he is basically Quantrill, and we have seen better portrayals of Quantrill in many B westerns. I would not blame Chandler's performance, which is good, but the script and the direction.

MisterMickey A fun to watch western containing Fess Parker's best performance, the show is stolen by Jeff Chandler's performance as the baddie you hate to see taken down. However, as outstanding as Chandler is, the real star of the film is Jerome Moross' pulse-pounding score, which predates his legendary music for THE BIG COUNTRY. It's every bit as good, if not better. Henry Silva is (of course) scuzzy as a hired gun.Catch it. Any western fan won't regret it.

Mickey-2 "The Jayhawkers" was released in 1959 and starred Jeff Chandler as an ambitious person eager to control pre-War Kansas, and Fess Parker has to try and stop him in his scheme. Reason: Parker, as Cam Beeker, had broken out of a federal prison to try and come back to his wife, and his ranch in Kansas. He finds that his wife has died, and the ranch has been sold to a family, headed by French actress Nicole Maurey. He also learns that Luke Darcy, played by Chandler, was the reason behind his wife's death and the ranch being lost. Beeker becomes a member of the gang in order to win his pardon from the territorial governor of Kansas. Upon joining the gang of raiders calling themselves the Jayhawkers, he starts to accept the ambition of Darcy, because the man seems intent on bringing peace to the territory, but under his rule. The viewer of this watchable western will be asking which way Parker's character will finally go; either turn Darcy over to the governor, or become part of the plan to control the territory. A good 7/10