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Jesse James (1939)
Topic Started: Apr 19 2008, 08:26 PM (269 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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This week's cowboy pitcher at Rancho Gravy was Jesse James, directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power (as Jesse), Henry Fonda (as Frank), Nancy Kelly (as Mrs. Jesse James), Randolph Scott (as the Lawman with the Heart of Gold), John Carradine as that Dirty Little Coward who Shot Mr. Howard, and Chuck Middleton as a very grumpy town doctor.

The rise and fall of Jesse James, from simple rancher to hot-tempered bank robber. Seems that some evil railroad barons killed his mama, and he starting out blazing a path of revenge but somewhere along the line his base impulses took over. Power is quite good in the role, and Henry Fonda (who assumed the lead in the sequel, The Return of Frank James) is equally excellent. I really liked Scott in this, too, as a lawman whose idea of justice trumps his idea of law. The film is in magnificent Technicolor (although Fox's print looks washed out in a couple of scenes) and the location filming in the Ozarks is impressive.

And now the bad news... I though Nancy Kelly as Zee, Jesse's sweetie, is simply terrible in this film, and is saddled with awful, weepy dialog. Bad lines badly read are no way to impress this reviewer, fans. She nearly sinks the picture, which at an hour and 45 min. doesn't have room to sink.

The disc has commentary, a few newsreels (including Power being crowed by Ed Sullivan as the Male Box Office Champion of 1939) and several trailers, including a trailer for the remake, The True Story of Jesse James; the trailer has stock footage from THIS Jesse James picture!

If you can hold your nose whenever Miss Kelly is onscreen, this is a highly enjoyable picture.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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Black Tiger
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Try the Return of Frank James with Henry Fonda. I like that one even better than Jesse James. And it was directed by none other than Fritz Lang.
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Sgt King
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I like Jesse James alot and feel good ol' Henry Fonda steals the picture from Tyrone (which is fine with me.)
The Return of Frank James is good except for Jackie Cooper as a . . . cowboy?
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Laughing Gravy
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The closing credits for Jesse James say that Lon Chaney, Jr., is in it but I didn't spot him.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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mort bakaprevski
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Sgt King
Apr 20 2008, 02:40 AM
The Return of Frank James is good except for Jackie Cooper as a . . . cowboy?

Jackie's fine with me... BUT Henry Hull's scenery chewing makes me want to throttle the old goat!!
"Nov Shmoz Ka Pop."
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Chief Thunder Cloud
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Hi LG: Lon Chaney, Jr. wears a full beard in this film. The big bank robbery scene near the end of the picture he's wearing a slicker. When all Hell breaks loose and they're trying to get away, he's riding the horse that tumbles in front of the camera when they're trying to rode out of town.

I've had this film since it was first released on vhs by Fox Home Video. It took me a number of viewings before I was able to spot him. I hope this helps.

Kindest Regards:

Ron McKnight.
"Chief Thunder Cloud"
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