Jesse Woodson James (1847 – 1882) American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla, leader of the James–Younger Gang, member of infamous Quantrill raiders.
I woulda put my money on The Kid.
Tyrone Power as Jesse James / Jesse James as himself (age 17) / Billy the Kid (age?)
Between 1921 and 2007 we count 28 movies about Jesse James
or where Jesse James was a prominent character.
Between 1911 and 2011 we count 23 movies about Billy the Kid
or where Billy the Kid was a prominent character.
If this was a football game, The Kid needs a touchdown.
But it’s not a football game.
It’s the stories of two killers. Two men driven to violence and killing …
who have become Western folk heroes.
Until they were assassinated by their friends.
Jesse James / 1939
Tyrone Power
When Jesse James is played by a Matinee Idol you know he ain’t gonna be a Badguy.
The movie was criticized for Historical inaccuracies.
Not that I care. It is not a documentary.
Jesse James (1939) was the 4th movie about Jesse James.
The Epic Story of the most Colourful Outlaw who ever lived
Motion Pictures’ Supreme Epic !
The world branded him . . . an OUTLAW . . . a KILLER . . . a WOLF . . . but to the simple folk who knew him he was a victim of injustice – and to the girl who loved him he was brave and a gentle lover ! !
The Tremendous Dramatic Thrills Of the Midwest’s Lawless Era will burst from our screen…
Young Tyrone Power (age 25) as Jesse James
1939 – Tyrone was voted the #1 male box-office draw in Hollywood by exhibitors.
Henry Fonda (age 34) as Frank James
Henry’s second Western toward becoming one of the Greatest Western Stars of all time.
Randolph Scott (aged 41) as Will Wright
Westerns personified.
Nancy Kelly as Zerelda “Zee” James
A successful child actress, radio star, then a leading lady in 27 movies in the 1930s and ’40s, Her younger brother was actor Jack Kelly (Maverick).
John Carradine (age 33) was backshooter Bob Ford
In 1939 Carradine also Starred in John Ford’s great Western Classic Stagecoach with John Wayne.
Reviews:
The whole film can be watched in 720 resolution and glorious Technicolor on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LZTSwk8P6I
Excellent post, JC. I learned a lot from this post. This looks like a fine classic. I hope its on Turner Classic Movie channel sometime soon. I’ll watch it.
Thank You Cindy. Yes it is on TCM at times. That’s where I scored some research. What would we do without TCM eh? Nobody else shows these older movies anymore.
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