The Return of Jesse James (1950)
Frank James resents and tries to stop a ruthless drifter who has adopted the name of his dead brother in order to duplicate his crimes.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Thanks for the memories!
From my favorite movies..
Boring
It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.
Exceptional acting highlights this sometimes dark, grim, western. John Ireland is at his best and carries the transformation from cowboy to criminal in an impressive manner. The characters are notably well developed for such a short running time. You may also take note of a fine, penetrating performance by Henry Hull and the death scene of a young Hugh O'Brien. If you remember the mood of "The Little Big Horn" and want it created in a different setting then this movie is a must for any collector.
Interesting idea of a Jesse James lookalike trying to resurrect his identity to pull jobs. Reed Hadley is sufficiently stoic as Frank James, hunting down the bogus Jesse to preserve the real Jesse's reputation. Ireland gives his generally professional performance, hinting broadly at his character's complexity. But in the second half, this fine premise degenerates quickly into a run-of-the mill oater. 5/10.
When you get the chance, view this compact little western with an ear tuned to the music score. It was written by Ferde Grofe, one of America's best known 20th century composers. Written in the same year as his score for ROCKETSHIP XM, this score is not nearly so well-known, but it has merit on its own. Each character has a musical theme, and Sue Younger's melody (Ann Dvorak) couldn't be nicer and more appropriate.
Ireland is the Jesse James look-alike that tries to out-do the famed gangster. Hadley is Frank James, determined to preserve his dead brothers reputation. This is a tight little western that moves at a nice pace, featuring fine action from a notable supporting cast. Although not as dark and moody as "I Shot Jesse James"(1949), with Ireland back in the lead, this makes a nice companion piece from Lippert Pictures.