My Favorite Westerns

Category: Jesse James / 1939

  • Jesse James: Blood Brothers and The Long Riders / Part 4


    midnight rider / greg allman

    “The Long Riders has been made on faith and idealism.”
     – Stacy Keach

    The Carradine brothers
    as The Youngers …

    The Keach brothers
    as The James’ brothers …

    The Quaid brothers …
    as The Miller brothers

    The Guest brothers
    as The Ford brothers

    So who gets Top Bill?

    Brothers Randy and Stacy Keach were Cast as Jesse and Frank James – and were also Executive Producers of the Movie.
    And Co-Writers of the Movie.
    And you’d expect Jesse and Frank James to be the main Characters in the movie. Right?
    So the Keach boys should get Top Bill. Right?

    Nope.

    The Carradines were Top Billed on the Movie Posters
    and on the Film Credits.

    Were the Carradines bigger Stars at that time? Guess so?
    Or was there some agreement?
    Don’t know?

    WIKIPEDIA: “In order to make the movie, David Carradine forfeited his customary profit participation; the Keach brothers gave up the extra profit percentages they were entitled to as executive producer in order that the Carradine brothers got the same amount of profits. When the film went over its original $7.5 million budget, the Keaches forfeited their executive producer fees. “The Long Riders has been made on faith and idealism,” said Keach.”

    In the end, the movie Cost: $10,000,000 (estimated)
    and     Made: $23,000,000, USA, June 1981.

    Incredibly, that very same year, (1980) another Western by United Artists: Heaven’s Gate, completely decimated the company.
    It’s one of the most infamous stories in Filmdom where Director Michael Cimino was responsible for massive overruns in budget and time …
    (But that’s another story)

    Blood Brothers Part 5 next…

  • Jesse James (1939): Blood Brothers / Part 3


    Shenandoah / The Brothers Four

    Wikipedia: “Oh Shenandoah” (also called simply “Shenandoah” or “Across the Wide Missouri“) is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating to the early 19th century. The song appears to have originated with Canadian and American voyageurs or fur traders traveling down the Missouri River in canoes, and has developed several different sets of lyrics. Some lyrics refer to the Oneida chief Shenandoah and a canoe-going trader who wants to marry his daughter.”

    Not sure why, but as a kid I always related the song to the American Civil War – especially the South. It’s older that that though. It’s a beautiful song, but to me it’s also sad. Like a lament for unrequited Love. Yet inspiring. I first heard this song on Harry Belafonte’s  Classic live double album Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (1959). Harry was at his peak at that time and he does a superb job on it. Here The Brothers Four have a great interpretation.

    Fitting.

    “Having a great time in West Virginia. Home soon.”

    A staged photo? Probably not. Lots of kids picked up a rifle. And knew how to use it.

    Blood Brothers Part 4 next…

5 responses to “Jesse James: Blood Brothers and The Long Riders / Part 4”

  1. Marilyn Armstrong Avatar
    Marilyn Armstrong

    Talk about a family affair!

    1. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      This is why they were nearly impossible to catch. They had kin and supporters everywhere.
      Ironically that one of Jesse’s supposed supporters killed him. Otherwise he may never have got caught. They never caught Frank.He eventually turned himself in – after about a year in jail he was acquitted.
      I doubt that God is going to be so merciful.

  2. GP Cox Avatar
    GP Cox

    I forgot about this one!

    1. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      HI GP,

      Well it might be forgettable. LoL! Not sure it’s a Classic, but I’m wringing it for every nickel I can get.

      1. GP Cox Avatar
        GP Cox

        No, not a classic, but I did enjoy seeing once.

Leave a Reply