Kansas Raiders (1950)

Great Film overall

Beautiful, moving film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Blistering performances.

Don't watch this for history, or accuracy, and you might enjoy this movie, featuring very young Audie Murphy, Tony Curtis, and Richard Long. Yes, the show mountains and sandstone canyons outside Lawrence, Kansas. But as a Saturday afternoon cowboy picture, Kansas Raiders is mighty fun. I brought home this and Black Panther to watch the same weekend; at least I watched all of Kansas Raiders!

Kansas Raiders is directed by Ray Enright and written by Robert Richards. It stars Audie Murphy, Brian Donlevy, Marguerite Chapman, Scott Brady and Tony Curtis. A Technicolor production, music is by Milton Rosen and cinematography by Irving Glassberg. Plot has it that the James and Younger Brothers along with Kit Dalton, join Quantrill's Raiders after witnessing at first hand Redleg atrocities. However, after believing they would be fighting soldiers for the war effort, the men find themselves participating in equally worse war crimes. Something that deeply affects the young Jesse James.OK, it's very fanciful in its telling of a bitter and sad period of American history. Facts of the period and the characters are jettisoned in favour of making an exciting 1950 Oater. Any hope of a depth strewn historical take on William Quantrill's Raiders will lead to disappointment, something that is all too evident with many of the venomous reviews of the film out in internet world. Yet judged on its own unfussy entertaining terms, film scores high for the casual Western fan as shoot-outs, knife fights and stand-offs keep the film perky.The ominous black flag of Quantrill.As a story the film provides enough of an edge to make its point, we are left in no doubt about the "atrocity exhibition" dealt out by Quantrill's Raiders. There's also a neat thread within about the corruption of youth. Yes, for sure it's a picture low on accuracy, but it doesn't soft soap the subject to hand. This is a 1950 production after all and the makers at least manage to leave us in no doubt about the nature of the crimes committed by certain factions in the Civil War. In fact a couple of scenes really leave indelible images, and from an action viewpoint the "sacking of Lawrence" is excellent in construction and impact garnered.Production wise it's also good value, Glassberg's Technicolor photography is gorgeous, not just for the Garner Valley and Kanab locations, but also for bringing out the quality of the set decoration (Russell A. Gausman/Ruby R. Levitt) and Bill Thomas' costuming. Cast are fine without pulling up any trees. Donlevy is the class act on show, but here as Quantrill he gets by on presence alone, the absence of outright character nastiness is sadly felt. The latter of which, however, is provided by the solid Brady as Bill Anderson. Murphy as young Jesse James has youthful exuberance and bravado down pat, while Curtis as Kit Dalton is enjoyable in amongst the five group dynamic. Marguerite Chapman (Coroner Creek) as Kate Clarke (Quantrill's girl) has the tough task of playing the sole female in the film, and although well older than the character in real life, she does a nice line in sexy and wise older woman for the scenes shared with Murphy's James. 7/10

Because this film was seriously a laughable film, even when it was made. Don't be fooled into thinking people of those times were naive enough to believe the hogwash. People knew History much better than, and there was a lot less History to know.So, we get that out of the way. This isn't a think piece. It is one of the original farces, with all the famous names together. Just be glad the producers didn't jump the time barrier and bring in Davy Crockett.The film is obviously what "Ride With the Devil" was inspired by, although "Ride With the Devil" is undeniably (I dare say) a superior film on every level, even for those of us who like shoot em ups.Young Southerners are lured into Quantrill's band and learn how vicious he and his fanatics are. One of the problems with Kansas Raiders is that the Youngers and Jameses were psychotic killers, too. Making them heroes is like making a hero out of O J Simpson or Charles Manson.But we could go on about that. There is adequate action and adventure. The hero isn't exactly likable, though Frank James is. It is usual for films to depict Jesse as the hot head who gets killed, and Frank as level headed. This is poetic license, and few people have problems with this.Certainly a lot of garbage if taken seriously, but I give it a 3 because it is good for light hearted fare, but I recommend an R rating for this, while I'd give "Ride For the Devil" a G rating, because of the misinformation and the horrible morality of making Jesse James a hero.Finally, watching this film will really make you appreciate the quality of "Ride With the Devil", if you already don't appreciate it.

What are you going to do when you are a national hero; the most decorated combat soldier of WWII? Among his 33 awards was the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for bravery that a soldier can receive. In addition, he was also decorated for bravery by the governments of France and Belgium, and was credited with killing over 240 German soldiers and wounding and capturing many more.Well, I guess you go kill out in the Ole West, and that is JustWhat Audie Murphy did. This is one of his early efforts and it really is not a bad one. He plays Jesse James who, along with his brother Frank, the Younger brothers and Kit Dalton join Quantrille's Raiders until they realize just what he was and become sick of the whole thing.Tony Curtis is here - I think it may have been the second film he did.A good shoot 'em up about a sordid chapter of our history.