The James-Younger Gang has been a subject of fascination over the years. Film has captured the boys from 1908 until today and will most likely in the future. But one would be remiss if not adding- "Not Well".
Following one movie opening, a James family member was asked by a reporter to comment on a review. The comment was as true then as it is today, "Well, they both rode a horse and they both were named Jesse."
The films range from dramatic, tragic, comedy, horror and one pornographic (which we won't discuss). It is regrettable that Hollywood chooses to take dramatic licence as a higher priority than historical accuracy. The true and accurate story is much more exciting that anything imagination could create.
We know of the following 35 and there may be others. This list does not include true documentaries.
1908 The James Boys of Missouri, Essanay Film Co. (Silent Movie)
1911 Jesse James
1921 Jesse James Under the Black Flag starring Jesse Edward James
1922 Jesse James as the Outlaw, starring Jesse Edward James
1927 Jesse James, starring Fred Thompson
1939 Days of Jesse James, starring Roy Rogers
1939 Jesse James, starring Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power
1941 Jesse James at Bay, starring Roy Rogers
1941 Bad Men of Missouri
1942 The Remarkable Andrew
1946 Badman's Territory, starring Lawrence Tierney and Tom Tyler
1947 Jesse James Rides Again, starring Clayton Moore
1948 Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, starring Clayton Moore
1949 I shot Jesse James, starring Reed Haley and John Ireland
1949 Fighting Man of the Plains, starring Dale Robertson
1950 The James Brothers of Missouri, starring Keith Richards and Robert Bice
1950 Kansas Raiders, starring Audie Murphy
1951 The Great Missouri Raid, Mc Donald Carey and Wendall Corey
1951 The Best of The Badmen, starring Lawrence Tierney and Tom Tyler
1953 The Women They Almost Lynched, starring Ben Cooper
1953 The Great Jesse James Raid, starring Willard Parker
1954 Jesse James vs. The Daltons, starring Brett King
1954 Jesse James' Women, starring Don "Red" Barry
1957 The True Story of Jesse James, starring Robert Wagner
1957 Hell's Crossroads, starring Henry Brandon and Douglas Kennedy
1959 Alias Jesse James, starring Wendell Corey
1960 Young Jesse James, starring Ray Stricklyn and Robert Dix
1965 The Outlaw is Coming, starring Wayne Mack
1966 Jesse James vs Frankenstein's Daughter, starring John Lupton
1969 A Time for Dying, Audie Murphy
1972 The Great Northfield Raid, starring Robert Duvall
1980 The Long Riders starring the Keach and Carridine Brothers
1980? The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, starring Kris Kristofferson and
Johnny Cash
1991 Young Riders, starring Christopher Pettiet
1995 Frank and Jesse, starring Rob Low and Bill Paxton and Randy Travis
Thank you for visiting the James - Younger Gang home page.
For information regarding membership and activities in our orginization, please contact Marcia Smith at nottabadvue@earthlink.net.
For historical and geneological information, please contact Donna Rose and Wilma Hillman.