"Santa Fe Trail," a 1940 Western directed by Michael Curtiz, intertwines historical figures with fictional elements to depict abolitionist John Brown's pre-Civil War crusade. Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and George A. Custer converge at West Point, though inaccurately, as Stuart graduated in 1854 and Custer in 1861. The film's success, ranking among the top-grossing movies of its year, reflects the popularity of its stars, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Notably, Ronald Reagan's portrayal of Custer precedes his political career. Despite its historical liberties, the film captivates with its depiction of Brown's confrontations in Kansas. "Santa Fe Trail" entered the public domain in 1968, contributing to its widespread availability on various formats, though no official DVD or Blu-ray release exists. The film's legacy endures through online platforms like YouTube and the Internet Archive.

Santa Fe Trail fell into the public domain in 1968 due to United Artists Television's failure to renew the copyright. Consequently, the film became widely accessible on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD, albeit with varying picture and sound quality. A colorized version emerged in the 1980s on VHS, followed by an authorized VHS release by Turner Entertainment through MGM Home Entertainment in the 1990s, though it didn't utilize the original negative. Despite Turner's library now being part of Warner Bros. Television, no official DVD or Blu-ray release has materialized. However, the film remains freely available for viewing and downloading on platforms like YouTube and the Internet Archive