The good news is that this film is a cut above the average Western. The bad news is that it's "notoriously inaccurate", painting the James' as good, misunderstood boys...which they were not by a long shot (pun intended). The further bad news is that the film is also notorious for cruelty to horses.
Knowing the overwhelming inaccuracy of the movie, why would one watch it. 4 words -- Tyrone Power / Henry Fonda. And that pairing is one of the things that makes this film a cut above the average Western. Superb acting. The film also shows the destruction of relationships when good men (?) go bad. Another admirable feature of the movie is the relative respect the Black "sidekick" (for wont of a better term) gets here. Atypical of Hollywood in that era.
Aside from the inaccuracies in the plot, there is a point in the film where, suddenly, Jesse goes from being a basically good boy (even though he's an outlaw) to becoming surly and a bad man. It just seems to happen overnight...no moving toward that point gradually. A serious flaw in the movie. On the other hand, the nearly last scene with his son is quite touching...well done.
Tyrone Power is, as always, terrific in this part. It's not his fault the movie is a lie. Likewise, Henry Fonda is excellent, although he really only has one particularly strong scene, where he tells Jesse he has become bad. Nancy Kelly is very good as the love interest, and shows well the angst of someone whose life is being ruined by an outlaw. Randolph Scott is good as the sheriff, although his role sort of disappears later in the film. Henry Hull is a hoot as the newspaper editor, although just maybe it's a bit overplayed. Slim Summerville is funny as the jailer...and I enjoyed his memorable performance in a Shirley Temple film. Brian Donlevy is his typical menacing self early in the movie, but is shot to death by Jesse, so you don't see him much past the opening scenes. John Carradine, as the man who shoots Jesse, is...well, John Carradine. Donald Meek is welcome character actor in any film...and does nicely here. Jane Darwell is another magnificent character actor, though her pivotal role (Jesse's mother) only lives through the opening scenes. Special attention should be paid to Ernest Whitman, who plays Pinkie, the Black sidekick. There's respect shown in the script, although his billing was very low.
I recommend this film because it is good film-making...despite gross historical inaccuracies. Interesting to compare it to the recent Brad Pitt film about Jesse James.
Knowing the overwhelming inaccuracy of the movie, why would one watch it. 4 words -- Tyrone Power / Henry Fonda. And that pairing is one of the things that makes this film a cut above the average Western. Superb acting. The film also shows the destruction of relationships when good men (?) go bad. Another admirable feature of the movie is the relative respect the Black "sidekick" (for wont of a better term) gets here. Atypical of Hollywood in that era.
Aside from the inaccuracies in the plot, there is a point in the film where, suddenly, Jesse goes from being a basically good boy (even though he's an outlaw) to becoming surly and a bad man. It just seems to happen overnight...no moving toward that point gradually. A serious flaw in the movie. On the other hand, the nearly last scene with his son is quite touching...well done.
Tyrone Power is, as always, terrific in this part. It's not his fault the movie is a lie. Likewise, Henry Fonda is excellent, although he really only has one particularly strong scene, where he tells Jesse he has become bad. Nancy Kelly is very good as the love interest, and shows well the angst of someone whose life is being ruined by an outlaw. Randolph Scott is good as the sheriff, although his role sort of disappears later in the film. Henry Hull is a hoot as the newspaper editor, although just maybe it's a bit overplayed. Slim Summerville is funny as the jailer...and I enjoyed his memorable performance in a Shirley Temple film. Brian Donlevy is his typical menacing self early in the movie, but is shot to death by Jesse, so you don't see him much past the opening scenes. John Carradine, as the man who shoots Jesse, is...well, John Carradine. Donald Meek is welcome character actor in any film...and does nicely here. Jane Darwell is another magnificent character actor, though her pivotal role (Jesse's mother) only lives through the opening scenes. Special attention should be paid to Ernest Whitman, who plays Pinkie, the Black sidekick. There's respect shown in the script, although his billing was very low.
I recommend this film because it is good film-making...despite gross historical inaccuracies. Interesting to compare it to the recent Brad Pitt film about Jesse James.