Alias Jesse James (1959)

Good movie but grossly overrated

best movie i've ever seen.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Just watched this Bob Hope comedy on Netflix streaming. He plays Milford Farnsworth, a failed insurance salesman who has one last chance before he's fired. So he ends up in a western town that resides one Jesse James (Wendell Corey). Guess who Milford ends up selling his insurance to? There's also a lovely lass named Cora Lee Collins (Rhonda Fleming) in tow. I'll stop there and just say that I liked many of the wisecracks that Hope did but what I really found funny was some of the visual gags like Hope's hat changing shape when drinking whiskey, him accidentally using a rattlesnake to beat a ferocious creature, or seeing a brawl in slow motion after Bob spiked a punch with mushrooms (that last bit was a big surprise to me since I thought drug humor didn't appear in mainstream movies until the late '60s). There were also some amusing cameos of mostly western TV stars at the end though one of those was actually of a well-known co-star of Bob's that I won't dare reveal here if you don't know what I'm talking about. Oh, and one more thing, the reason I watched this now was because I have been reviewing many movies and TV episodes of the stars of the original "Dallas" in chronological order since mid-June when the new version premiered on TNT. So when I found out Jim Davis appeared here as Jesse's brother Frank, I had to check this out. He has a funny scene with Hope when they're playing cards. So on that note, I recommend Alias Jesse James.

If our recollections are correct, there was an awful lot of build-up and expectation of this film. It was advertised and plugged quite a bit as being "THE" New Bob Hope starring vehicle; attributing something special to it. Mr. Hope even made a seemingly serious remark about hoping that this ALIAS JESSE JAMES (Paramount, 1959) was Oscar material.It wasn't really that special, but it was very good and probably a cut above most of the other movies of that period. It seems that there was a big change in screen comedy in those days. Dean & Jerry had parted company in 1956 after a decade together. Abbott & Costello had been inactive, what with Bud Abbott first retiring; then Lou Costello setting out on his own, only to meet an early death in March of 1959.Even though Bing and Bob usually made gag cameos in each others' films, there hadn't been any joint effort from them, no "Road" pictures since ROAD TO BALI (1952). In the interim, Mr. Hope's screen projects were all pretty much in keeping with the laugh standards previously established. Bob even ventured out of the usual with a couple of dramatic parts. In THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (Paramount, 1955) he portrayed vaudevillian Eddy Foy, and turned in fine performance in the process. Two years later, Bob took the role of New York City's "colorful" Prohibition Era, bigger than life character, Mayor Jimmy Walker (Paramount, 1957). Of course there were other film projects, his Television Show and don't forget he always spent his Christmas Holidays away from home; entertaining our Men and Women in the Armed Forces who were stationed overseas.So, back we go to today's 'Mystery Challenger', ALIAS JESSE JAMES.OUR STORY…………..In the proverbial nutshell, a tenderfoot Insurance Salesman, Milford Farnsworth (Mr. Hope) sells a $100,000.00 insurance policy on the Outlaw Jesse James to a man unknown to be Jesse, himself (Wendell Corey). Jesse then plans to collect on the policy by having another person killed and identified as Jesse. (Of course, you'd never guess just who that guy could be!) That's it; a very thin premise with which to make a movie. Yes, we agree; but that's really all that is needed. If put in to proper, skilled hands of some veteran comedy gag men-writers and a capable Director of comedy, it can be expanded. This certainly was the case here.It is the jokes, the sight gags and the "In" humor of the ensuing situations' making up the scenes that propel the story forward that makes it all happen. We have the basic premise so often used of the "Dude" or the "Tenderfoot", if you will, who winds up facing down all the henchmen before confronting the "Big Shot" boss. It has been the central theme of oh so many films.Our favourite gag involved Bob's running to a young, bespectacled boy playing a piano in the saloon. When Bob asked him his name, he replied, "Harry Truman!" The film promised to have a big surprise in the finale, giving it a little more punch, as well as a carload of laughs. What it turned out to be was Cameos by a whole bunch of Western Stars from the Movies and Television. Remember, this was the 1950's and the Western Series was the 'A' number 1 staple of the Networks' Primetime Schedule.As a result of this, we have quick surprise appearances by James Arness (Marshall Matt Dillon on GUNSMOKE), Ward Bond (Major Adams on WAGON TRAIN), Gail Davis (TV's ANNIE OAKLEY), James Garner (the brother, Brett on MAVERICK), Hugh O'Brian (WYATT Earp), Fess Parker (DAVEY CROCKETT), Roy Rogers (Self) and Jay Silver heals (Tonto from THE LONE RANGER).It was a truly peculiar occurrence that the one Guest Star who we kids didn't recognize was doubtless the best known on the Big Screen; as it was Gary Cooper! He even had a line of dialogue to say. It was "Yup!" Whether or not this was Oscar material for Mr. Bob Hope is strictly up to ones' own judgment and conjecture. It was certainly much better a vehicle for him than some of the other following projects, such as: CALL ME BWANA (1963), A GLOBAL AFFAIR (1964) and I'LL TAKE SWEEDEN (1965). As for teaming up with Bing, it appeared that he and Mr. Crosby had gone to the well once too often with THE ROAD TO HONG KONG (United Artists, 1962).

This is a great movie. The music was sung by Guy Mitchell with all original songs. Great music and a funny movie. If you like comedy westerns this is a great one.I can't get over the music though. Guy Mitchell had one of the best voices ever. And these original songs are classic. Wish I could get a hold of the sound-track.There will never be another Bob Hope. Seems like comedy today is nothing but dirt. Bob's was clean and funny and adult. This is probably the best comedy western ever completed by Hope. Too bad they couldn't keep the original cameos i.e. Gene Autry was in the original at the ending gunfight.

Bob Hope plays his usual dimwitted cluck who in this film happens to be an insurance salesman. Only Hope, one step from being given the boot and desperate to sell a policy, would sell one to Jesse James. Jesse being the smart guy he is decides this has potentiality. He can fake his own death and lay low for a while with a nice nest egg. Bank robbery, train robbery, his usual line of work does have some risk attached to it. Now guess who the schnook he figures he'll bump off to be the dead Jesse James? Why its Hope come west to protect Jesse until the home office figures a way to cancel the policy.I saw this in the movies way back when I was 12 years old and it first came out. As such I appreciated fully the significance of the cameo appearances of all those TV western stars. TV westerns were at their height at that time so anyone who saw this knew for instance that Ward Bond was Major Seth Adams of Wagon Train. Today, I wager, that viewers will recognize Bond as Bert the Cop from It's A Wonderful Life unless Wagon Train is being run on Hallmark at the time. Similarly Gail Davis as Annie Oakley or Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp (a show I wish some cable channel would pick up). Nice gag, but dated now.Nevertheless its a very funny picture with the lovely Rhonda Fleming as Jesse's girl and beneficiary until she falls for Hope. So many smart women keep falling for Hope the schnook in his films. Wendell Corey is a crafty Jesse James with Jim (Dallas) Davis as brother Frank. And of course the obligatory appearance by Bing Crosby.