The Long Riders (1980)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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

Colour:

Colour (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:

Edward Bunker who plays Chadwell in the Northfield bank robbery was actually, among many other things, a convicted bank robber.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Modern day power lines visible in the scenes shot in Georgia.

Quotes:

[Rixley is trying to get Ed Miller to inform on the James/Younger gang]
Ed Miller: Let me tell you one damn thing. I turn 'em in and I'm gonna get killed by one of their relatives sure as hell. Now I got six months to go here for bustin' up a place drunk, so I'll just take my chances, all right? Besides, Jesse just might change his mind, and he pays better wages than you do, Pinkerton Man.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Jack of Diamonds

A Very Different Western

In the Missouri, after the civil war, the James & Younger gang steals banks and trains, and are chased by the Pinkertons. This movie is a very different western, showing the outlaws as human beings, having families, raising children. Walter Hill uses the Carredine, Quaid and Keach brothers in real life to perform the former bandits and it is a great attraction in this film. The music, arranged and composed by Ry Cooder, fits perfectly to the story. However, the characters are not well developed, maybe because of the quantity of lead actors versus the running time, and the story loses the explanation of the motives for the behavior of the bandits, being cruel while robbing and very close to their families, being good sons, husbands and friends. Anyway, the performance of the cast is excellent and the movie does not disappoint. My vote is seven.

Title ('Brazil'): 'Cavalgada dos Proscritos' (Ride of the Proscribes')