The Long Riders (1980)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Bill Bryden (written by) &
Steven Smith (written by) ...

Release Date:

16 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | History | Western

Tagline:

"All the world likes an outlaw. For some damn reason they remember 'em." - Jesse James

Plot:

The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the Jesse James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Jesse James | Smoke Bomb | Bank Robbery | Wedding | Post Civil War

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

David Carradine	...	Cole Younger
Keith Carradine	...	Jim Younger
Robert Carradine	...	Bob Younger
James Keach	...	Jesse James
Stacy Keach	...	Frank James
Dennis Quaid	...	Ed Miller
Randy Quaid	...	Clell Miller
Kevin Brophy	...	John Younger
Harry Carey Jr.	...	George Arthur
Christopher Guest	...	Charlie Ford
Nicholas Guest	...	Bob Ford
Shelby Leverington	...	Annie Ralston
Felice Orlandi	...	Mr. Reddick
Pamela Reed	...	Belle Starr
James Remar	...	Sam Starr

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Swedish | English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Spain:18 | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Huka Productions

Trivia:

Originally Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges were going to play the Ford brothers but they could not fit it in their schedules.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the train robbery, when Jesse kicks open the door to the passenger car, shot from inside, a stage light is clearly visible behind him (above his right shoulder).

Quotes:

[on Jesse's relationship with Zee Mimms]
Cole Younger: The next thing you know, he'll ask her to marry him and settle down.
Frank James: The first part, anyway.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Kill Bill: Volume 2' (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Jack of Diamonds

Damn Yankee!

This film was historically correct in how it showed the attitudes of the times. I saw this film finally after reading a book attempting to explain why American history, including the Wild West years, has been so violent. I was amazed how accurately the film showed those reasons in the Wild West. Mostly men, few women, lived in that part of the country then. The West was spacious and spectacular but also boring, leaving men with little to do but get drunk and play a mouth harp. Also, many of the tough guys hailed from the post-Confederate South. In the film, after taking the long, boring train ride north to a town in Minnesota (to the tune of a mouth harp,) they encountered well-dressed, prosperous Scandinavian-Americans in the streets. These people were barely intelligible as they mocked the long riders. When our anti-heroes arrived at the bank, they discovered what the townsfolk were saying. What they said to the lone teller revealed they were from the South. I was mesmerized by this part of the film and hope others were, too.