Jesse James and the Movies

Johnny D. Boggs

McFarland, Jan 10, 2014 - Performing Arts - 279 pages

This illustrated filmography analyzes the plots and players of the more than forty motion pictures about the legendary Missouri outlaw Jesse James (1847-1882), from the silent era to the 21st century. Among the films and actors covered are Jesse James (1939) with Tyrone Power, Kansas Raiders (1950) with Audie Murphy, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972) with Robert Duvall, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) with Brad Pitt. Each evaluation compares Hollywood's version of history to the hard facts.

A brief biography of the outlaw provides an overview of his life and career. Also examined are European films, made-for-television movies and continuing TV series that have featured episodes involving Jesse James.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• 1 Jesse James 18471882: 7
• 2 Jesse James in Pop Culture 18751903: 19
• 3 The Silent Era 19081927: 23
• 4 AList Jesse 19391940: 45
• 5 Jesse in the Bs 19391949: 63
• 6 The Proliferation of Jesse James 19501960: 112
• 7 Oddball Jesse 19651969: 181
• 8 Revisionist Jesse 19722010: 195
• 9 Euro Westerns 19642009: 227
• 10 MadeforTelevision Movies 19701999: 230
• 11 Television Series Appearances 19532001: 238
• Chapter Notes: 245
• Bibliography: 259
• Index: 265

About the author

Johnny D. Boggs, former newspaper writer, is an award-winning author of Western fact and fiction. He has contributed to such magazines as True West and Boys’ Life. A past president of the Western Writers of America, he is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Jesse James and the Movies
• Author: Johnny D. Boggs
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: McFarland, 2014
• ISBN: 0786484969, 9780786484966
• Length: 279 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / State & Local / West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY); Literary Criticism / General; Performing Arts / Film / General