Jesse James Rides Again (1947)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Directors:

Fred C. Brannon
Thomas Carr

Writers:

Franklin Adreon (original screenplay) and
Basil Dickey (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 August 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | History | Western

Tagline:

JESSE JAMES...The dreaded name that haunts a thousand lawmen...NOW...strikes terror in the hearts of the lawless! (original poster)

Plot:

Outlaw Jesse James and his friend, on the run from Missouri, ride into a town where a gang is trying...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Missouri | Outlaw | Father | Bushwhacker

Cast

Clayton Moore	...	Jesse James, posing as John C. Howard
Linda Stirling	...	Ann Bolton
Roy Barcroft	...	Frank Lawton
John Compton	...	Steve Long
Tristram Coffin	...	James Clark
Tom London	...	Sam Bolton
Holly Bane	...	Clark's Clerk Tim
Edmund Cobb	...	Farmer Wilkie
Gene Roth	...	Sheriff Duffie [Chs. 8-9, 13] (as Gene Stutenroth)
Fred Graham	...	Henchman Hawks [Chs. 6-8]
LeRoy Mason	...	Mr. Finlay [Chs. 11-12]
Ed Cassidy	...	Grant, a Driller [Chs. 11-12] (as Edward Cassidy)
Dave Anderson	...	Sam [Ch. 1]
Eddie Parker	...	Captain Flint [Chs. 1, 9]
Tom Steele	...	Bates [ch 1] / Phony messenger [ch 6] / Wagon driver[ch 11]

Runtime:

180 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: 1. The Black Raiders 2. Signal for Action 3. The Stacked Deck 4. Concealed Evidence 5. TheCorpse of Jesse James 6. The Traitor 7. Talk or Die! 8. Boomerang 9. The Captured Raider 10.The Revealing Torch 11.The Spy 12.Black Gold 13.Deadline at Midnight

Quotes:

[looking at a wanted poster]
Jesse James: We've got to keep moving. The law has a long reach.

Who Was That Masked Man?

"Jesse James Rides Again" was the first of three serials that featured the James character that were produced by Republic between 1947 and 1950. Of course Jesse James in these serials bears no resemblance to the real Jesse James. In fact, Jesse is the hero rather than the villain in all three. But who among the Saturday Matinee crowd really cared?

This entry involves the familiar "B" western plot of the villains trying to take over the local ranches because there's oil under the land. Meanwhile Jesse James (Clayton Moore) and his pal Steve Lane (John Compton) flee Missouri and wind up in the middle of the conflict assisting the ranchers. They take a particular interest in crippled rancher Tom London and his daughter (Linda Stirling) who are being raided by the Black Raiders led by Roy Barcroft. Tristram Coffin, a "respectable" town citizen is the brains behind the outfit.

The serial contains the usual cliffhangers and relies heavily on stock footage from the 1943 John Wayne film "War of the Wildcats" for the race to the refinery sequence. And yes, we see that famous shot of the exploding oil derrick in this one too. The stuntwork is top notch as usual. Two of the stunt men, Tom Steele and Dale Van Sickel in addition to doubling most of the actors in the action scenes, appear in four different bit roles each over the course of the film.

Clayton Moore, soon to become TV's Lone Ranger, plays Jesse not unlike the masked man. Linda Stirling in her final serial, has little to do except act helpless and look beautiful. Compton is simply awful as the hero's pal. Barcroft and Coffin make a formidable pair of villains. Holly Bane (aka Mike Ragan) and Charlie King are also part of the gang. "B" western veterans Edmund Cobb, LeRoy Mason (on the right side of the law for a change), Gene Roth and Edward Cassidy round out the cast. Keith Richards, who would play Jesse in the 1950 serial "The James Brothers of Missouri" has a bit as a phony drunk trying to find out what Jesse's next move is going to be.

This serial is as good as any turned out by Republic at that time and though predictable, is enjoyable nonetheless.