The Jayhawkers! comes from director Melvin Frank, who also shares writing credit with A. I. Bezzerides, Frank Fenton, and Joe Petracca. The cast includes Jeff Chandler, Fess Parker, Nicole Maurey, Henry Silva, Leo Gordon, and Frank DeKova; Jerome Moross composed the music, and Loyal Griggs was in charge of cinematography. The film is set in Kansas territory just before the Civil War began. Quickly, the story introduces Luke Darcy (Chandler), a man aggressively building an empire by exploiting the situation in Bleeding Kansas. Cam Bleeker (Parker) joins Darcy's gang for reasons that are deeply personal. It’s one of those movies brimming with promising ideas—strong character portrayals and subtle suggestions about the unrest shaping this part of American history—but it doesn’t quite manage to fulfill its potential. There isn't much action, so viewers really have to get invested in the main characters, their reasons for doing what they do, and their thought processes. The dynamic between Darcy and Bleeker, along with the moral ambiguities, keep things interesting while also feeling like they’re holding everything together. Everyone’s fate is love and death, my friend. A plus is Darcy's methods for building his empire, which alongside his beliefs—and Bleeker’s increasingly conflicted values (apparently, that’s what happens in a bromance)—sets it apart as an attempt at something more profound. The film looks beautiful thanks to Technicolor/VistaVision, but the outdoor settings aren't utilized enough. Moross delivers a grand and powerful score, which is excellent, but feels misplaced; it would be better suited for a fast-paced action movie. Overall, it’s an uneven experience—essentially an undercover narrative disguised in standard Western trappings. It will appeal to those who appreciate well-crafted dialogue and underlying tensions/passions, but it's difficult to wholeheartedly suggest. Serious history enthusiasts should probably skip this one. 6/10

Source on TMDB