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JESSE JAMES LIVES AGAINCOLORFUL ROGUES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION have always been favorites of motion picture audiences. Now 20th Century-Fox brings Jesse James, the most famous outlaw who ever lived, to the screen in Darryl F. Zanuck’s thrilling production of that name, with Tyrone Power in the title role. Director Henry King headed the location company which travelled all the way from Hollywood to the Missouri Ozarks to shoot “Jesse James” in Technicolor in the original setting where the bandit lived, loved and carried on his amazing career. Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott are starred with Power in the picture, which catches all the sweep and color of the era that produced Jesse James. It shows how the Iron Horse, chugging farther and farther West, brought conflict as well as prosperity into the lives of the simple, hardy pioneers, whose lands the unscrupulous railroad magnates sometimes ruthlessly anatched as rights-of-way. The story is graphically told in the pictures on this page.SCREENBarshee (Brian Donlevy) representative of the St. Louis Midland, tries to bully a hard-working farm woman into sacrificing her land, and is made to answer to her two stalwart sons, Jesse James (Tyrone Power) and Frank J^mes (Henry Fonda).Barshee is responsible for the death of Jesse’s mother. Jesse kills him and flees to the hills for a life of lawlessness, which he vows to continue until he has vengeance against the railroad. Zee, the gentle girl who loves Jesse, pleads with him to surrender and receive the mild sentence promised him.His secret love for Zee causes U. S. Marshal Will Wright (Randolph Scott) to turn a lenient eye upon Jesse’s depredations. One night, desperate for a glimpse of the girl he loves, the outlaw risks arrest to slip into town to see her. Wright surprises the sweethearts, but generously lets Jesse get away.Wright receives a telegram from President McCoy (Donald Meek) of the St. Louis Midland promising Jesse James “nominal prosecution not to exceed five years” if he will surrender. Zee persuades the outlaw to give himself up, following their wedding ceremony in a quaint little wildwood church.' fS V■ ^But McCoy dupes W right by having the government place the District of Sedalia under martial law and demanding the death penalty for Jesse James. Aided by his brother Frank, Jesse shoots his way out of jail and the pair make a spectacular getaway through a squadron of militia.Almost dead from living like a hunted animal, Zee takes her infant son and returns home to Sedalia. The loss of her confirms Jesse as a cold, ruthless desperado, mercilessly riding his men through a series of daring bank robberies and train holdups across five states.These exploits are climaxed in the daring holdup of the First National Bank at Northfield, Mirm* sota. Bob Ford, one of Jesse’s own men, betrays him to the law and the band is trapped in the barricaded streets. Badly wounded, Jesse manages, with the aid of his brother Frank, to make a spectacular getaway.As the posse closes in, Jesse takes a desperate chance and jumps the horse which carries Frank and himself into the river. Believing Jesse drowned, Frank escapes. Semi-conscious, Jesse drags himself to the bank and finds his way back to the little home in St. Joe, where Zee awaits him.Nursed back to health by Zee, Jesse is planning to take his little family to California and start life anew. But his plans are interrupted by the appearance of the treacherous Bob Ford, who shoots Jesse in the back. Jesse chokes out his last words to his beloved Zee.Bob Ford’s traitorous deed ended the most colorful and amazing career in the annals of banditry. But the outlaw whose depredations colored his whole era will never be forgotten. And through the magic of the screen, his desperate days are lived again.
Newspaper Details
Sedalia Democrat
Sedalia, Missouri, US
Fri, Feb 17, 1939
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 26 Sep 2024
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