There was a time when Hollywood produced westerns all the time. The lines were mostly drawn between good and bad. This western doesn’t have clear definitions. That’s because this story from Henry Hill, paints Jesse James and his brother Frank, as anti heroes. It shows the railroad turning them into train robbers. In this film the villain, is the railroad, forcing hardworking citizens off their land. A representative, Barshee, played by Brian Donlevy comes to the home of the James brothers. He tries to strong arm them, but they force him away. He comes back and destroys their home, accidentally killing their mother, played by Jane Darwell. After this, Jesse and Frank head down the path of lawlessness. Jesse has a girlfriend, Zee, played by Nancy Kelly, who suffers because of his outlaw ways. This doesn’t deter her from later marrying Jesse. In the process, he gets a father-in-law, Maj. Rufus Cobb. He is a newspaper editor, who sympathizes with the James Brothers. He’s played by Henry Hull, who gives the audience comic relief.
The James Brothers are told by their friend, Marshal Will Wright, played by Randolph Scott, that the railroad, will give them a deal, to serve five years, if they surrender. They agree but the railroad has other plans. Donald Meek, playing McCoy, a railroad executive, finds a judge who wants to hang them. The brothers have a man on the inside, and escape.
The James Brothers continue robbing trains, and running from the law. Jesse’s wife finally has enough, and leaves him, taking their son as well. Jesse and Frank continue their lawless ways, and plot the robbery of the Northfield, Minnesota bank. This ends badly, with several members of the gang killed or captured. Jesse and Frank are separated, when Jesse is seriously wounded. Jesse manages to escape and reconcile with his wife, living under the name Howard. His reunion is short lived, when a gang member, Bob Ford, played by master villain actor, John Carradine, shoots him in the back. At the funeral, Major Cobb, speaks well of his late son-in-law, and reveals a headstone praising him.
This film shows Tyrone Power, playing Jesse James like Robin Hood, and being lionized by everyone but the railroad. It was a unique approach, but its a good film. This was the start of a long career for Power, who played in everything from swashbucklers to straight dramas. It has a talented star in Henry Fonda, playing opposite him, more or less playing the voice of reason to his brother. These two Hollywood legends, keep the film afloat; Power, with his screen presence and Fonda with his low key acting. Henry Hill keeps this western flowing, letting it play out as a film that has good moments, with a tragic ending. He shows the first train robbery at night, with the figure of Jesse James, climbing the train cars, but obscured by darkness. He does a good job showing the botched bank robbery. He also is good showing the tense moments of Jesse’s escape. This film is a very loose biography, but enjoyable for what it is.