Somewhat entertaining...
But painfully inaccurate. Watch it for entertainment only and not a history lesson.
shareI enjoyed Duval's Jesse James.
The zany baseball hijinks went on wayyyy too long, though.
I just watched this over the weekend - haven't seen it since it was in the theaters, way back in the 70's. I don't know enough details about the raid itself to fully gauge its historical accuracy, but I will say that, in general, the characterizations here strike me as truer than those in "The Long Riders," especially Jesse and Cole. I would guess that neither movie is particularly accurate, though.
A few things this one makes me wonder the veracity of:
1. Was Jim Younger really wounded in the mouth at the time, and therefore very self-conscious about it?
2. Was amnesty ever offered at all?
3. Did Cole Younger actually wear a protective body suit?
I'd guess that #1 is certainly possible, #2 doubtful, #3 doubtful. And I have little doubt that the whole scam Cole Younger works up was ahistorical.
But an entertaining movie, nonetheless. In its own way, every bit as good as "The Long Riders." And, as I mentioned before, neither probably has the monopoly on accuracy.
"We're not lost, Private - we're in Normandy." -- Dick Winters (Damien Lewis)
I'm watching it right now on Video On Demand and I am finding it pretty lame overall. Two of my favorite films of all time are Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Right Stuff, and I find it hard to believe that this is from the same director. It feels really shoddy and I can't figure out why it was considered so great...
Anyway, about the "Amnesty" question, it's my understanding that amnmesty WAS actually almost granted... it literally lost by one vote in the Missouri (?) legislature. So much of the gang's early history was tied up old Confederate wounds that they were considered clearly considered heroes by my of the south that hated Reconstruction. I haven't checked wikipedia but I'll bet it goes into bigger detail...
Jim Younger was shot through the cheek during the Northfield robbery. I don't believe Cole Younger wore a protective body suit. Even brine-soaked leather wouldn't stop a 44/40 slug, as the film demonstrated. Plus it would be damn-well uncomfortable. Ned Kelly, the Australian outlaw around the same time, wore cast iron armour.
After the Northfield fiasco, all three of the Youngers went to the Minnisota State Pen. Bob died in prison and after he was paroled, Jim Younger shot himself after a failed love affair. Cole went on the lecture tour and joined a Wild West show for a spell and died in 1915(I believe) As for the James', well we all know what happened to them.
As good as these films are for entertainment, make no mistake about it; these were ruthless criminals, not Robin Hoods. Cole, Jim and Frank James shot down unarmed men and boys at Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. After the War, they were only in it for the money; the hell with the people. The anti-North Missourians saw them as "the boys" carring on the The Cause. The penny dreadfuls help sustain that. Then Hollywood came along. 1939's "Jesse James" was a good film, but romanticised the James Gang. And just about every film since then.
I realized that in "TGNMR" Jesse and Frank were portrayed as fairly ruthless(they murdered the landlord and the old lady) but one needs to keep the historical reality of these men in perspective whilst enjoying the show.
"We lost Clell Miller and Chadwell, Mr James!"
Duval never disappoints.
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