Jesse James (1939)
I’ve always maintained that Henry Fonda is beautiful to look at until the unfortunate moment he opens his mouth. However, in Jesse James, he looks downright homely. Who’s the one man in Hollywood who could do that to such a beautiful face? Tyrone Power, of course, who plays the title character!
There have been quite a few films about the famous bandit Jesse James, but this is the first one I’ve seen and have nothing to compare it to. This movie was so exciting, so action-packed, so well-executed, I don’t think I’ll want to watch another version. The film starts out in post- Civil War mid-west, where the railroads are expanding. Brian Donlevy and his gang travel to ignorant farmers and explain that the government is going to take their land for the railroad so they might as well sell it at an insultingly low price while they can. Of course, Brian’s lying, but everyone signs away their farms. Jane Darwell refuses, and Brian tries intimidation through violence, but her sons Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power win the fight.
After a freak accident results in Jane’s death, both grieving sons take their anger out on the railroad and become bandits. Ty has a much bigger part than Hank, which is wonderful because he’s a great adventure hero and Hank is not. Nancy Kelly plays Ty’s girlfriend who loves him through thick and thin, even when the sheriff, Randolph Scott, tries to woo her. Scottie doesn’t have a very large part in this movie, but he’s very nice and isn’t at all the “typical law and order man” you’ll find in many old movies. Nancy’s father is the wonderful Henry Hull, who dons age makeup and a gravelly voice, going on a different tangent in every scene about his latest grievance. In one scene, he shouts to his assistant, “Take an editorial! If we’re ever to have law and order in the West, the first thing we’ve got to do is take out all the lawyers and shoot them down like dogs!” In another, he gives the same order about dentists. He’s very funny, and his many curses and quick temper provide a welcome balance to the adventure and drama.
Check out this classic bandit film with one of the best swashbuckler heroes. There are incredible stunts and chase scenes, some of which I have no idea how they were filmed in 1939. In one scene, Tyrone Power’s stunt double is seen crawling across the top of a moving train while the passengers are milling about. What direction! My hat goes off to Henry King.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Henry Hull movies here!
More Tyrone Power movies here!
More Randolph Scott movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1940's The Return of Frank James here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1950's The Return of Jesse James here!
There have been quite a few films about the famous bandit Jesse James, but this is the first one I’ve seen and have nothing to compare it to. This movie was so exciting, so action-packed, so well-executed, I don’t think I’ll want to watch another version. The film starts out in post- Civil War mid-west, where the railroads are expanding. Brian Donlevy and his gang travel to ignorant farmers and explain that the government is going to take their land for the railroad so they might as well sell it at an insultingly low price while they can. Of course, Brian’s lying, but everyone signs away their farms. Jane Darwell refuses, and Brian tries intimidation through violence, but her sons Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power win the fight.
After a freak accident results in Jane’s death, both grieving sons take their anger out on the railroad and become bandits. Ty has a much bigger part than Hank, which is wonderful because he’s a great adventure hero and Hank is not. Nancy Kelly plays Ty’s girlfriend who loves him through thick and thin, even when the sheriff, Randolph Scott, tries to woo her. Scottie doesn’t have a very large part in this movie, but he’s very nice and isn’t at all the “typical law and order man” you’ll find in many old movies. Nancy’s father is the wonderful Henry Hull, who dons age makeup and a gravelly voice, going on a different tangent in every scene about his latest grievance. In one scene, he shouts to his assistant, “Take an editorial! If we’re ever to have law and order in the West, the first thing we’ve got to do is take out all the lawyers and shoot them down like dogs!” In another, he gives the same order about dentists. He’s very funny, and his many curses and quick temper provide a welcome balance to the adventure and drama.
Check out this classic bandit film with one of the best swashbuckler heroes. There are incredible stunts and chase scenes, some of which I have no idea how they were filmed in 1939. In one scene, Tyrone Power’s stunt double is seen crawling across the top of a moving train while the passengers are milling about. What direction! My hat goes off to Henry King.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Henry Hull movies here!
More Tyrone Power movies here!
More Randolph Scott movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1940's The Return of Frank James here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1950's The Return of Jesse James here!