The tag lines suggest some sort of historical authenticity with this story. You don't get it, but what you do get is an entertaining western, with plenty of action and a slightly left of centre, quite unexpectedly, interesting version of Jesse James.
The storyline involves a "Young Guns" version of the James Gang, joining up with Quantrill's Raiders, where we witness, the young and by inference still semi-innocent Jesse, come under the influence of a conniving, but also charming William Quantrill and as some sort of counterpoint, Quantrill's fictional girl friend, Kate.
The boyishly young-looking Audie Murphy is really well cast as Jesse James, whilst Brian Donlevy, though far older than Quantrill in real life, does his usual, very competent, smooth -talking villain. Other casting interest sees both Tony Curtis and Richard Long in early pre-fame roles, as members of the James- Younger gang, but playing fairly marginal roles. Indeed Long plays Frank James, Jesse's faithfully loyal older brother, but the two characters have little one on one time with each other.
The interest for me is seeing James here portrayed as a flawed hero. We never really understand why he lets himself believe the very obvious spin of Quantrill. But ultimately at story's end he emerges as very much a vacillating character, who we feel should have acted more heroically, than we see him occasionally do in the film.
The print I saw was obviously restored and I have no hesitation in saying looked glorious in technicolour.
I'm still waiting for a definitive 21st century movie on Quantrill's Raiders, as I feel there is an obvious classic western tale to be filmed around the subject.
The storyline involves a "Young Guns" version of the James Gang, joining up with Quantrill's Raiders, where we witness, the young and by inference still semi-innocent Jesse, come under the influence of a conniving, but also charming William Quantrill and as some sort of counterpoint, Quantrill's fictional girl friend, Kate.
The boyishly young-looking Audie Murphy is really well cast as Jesse James, whilst Brian Donlevy, though far older than Quantrill in real life, does his usual, very competent, smooth -talking villain. Other casting interest sees both Tony Curtis and Richard Long in early pre-fame roles, as members of the James- Younger gang, but playing fairly marginal roles. Indeed Long plays Frank James, Jesse's faithfully loyal older brother, but the two characters have little one on one time with each other.
The interest for me is seeing James here portrayed as a flawed hero. We never really understand why he lets himself believe the very obvious spin of Quantrill. But ultimately at story's end he emerges as very much a vacillating character, who we feel should have acted more heroically, than we see him occasionally do in the film.
The print I saw was obviously restored and I have no hesitation in saying looked glorious in technicolour.
I'm still waiting for a definitive 21st century movie on Quantrill's Raiders, as I feel there is an obvious classic western tale to be filmed around the subject.