Spikeopath Sam Fuller's first film direction is a version of what happened to Robert Ford (John Ireland), the man who famously killed his friend - Jesse James (Reed Hadley).Taking up the basic elements of the real life story, Fuller keeps the narrative tight whilst ensuring the complexities of the main characters come to the fore. All the quirks and peccadilloes of the human condition are explored (the detail of Ford's torments and troubles superbly told), which is something of a rarity for a late 1940s "B" standard Western. The use of close-ups are to purposely highlight the psychological discord on show, marking this out as a good pointer to the later work of its maverick director. Ernest Hiller photographs the exteriors out of Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth and support to Ireland comes from Preston Foster, Barbara Britton and J. Edward Bromberg. 7/10

funkyfry Sam Fuller wrote and directed this unusual version of the Jesse James story from the perspective of his murderer, the "cowardly" Robert Ford (John Ireland). Although Ireland is billed beneath 30s oater star Preston Foster ("Outcasts of Poker Flat") and his love interest Cynthy played by Barbara Britton, he's definitely the star of this show and it's the story of Ford and not James or any other character. In fact James is shown as something of a trusting simpleton -- unless you want to dig into the possibility that's implied in some of the film's images that James and Ford are lovers. In fact if you've watched to the very end there's sort of a stark recognition there depending on how you see it. But there's a definite note of tenderness when James touches Ford's injured shoulder, and then there's that scene where James has Ford scrub his back in the tub....There's a lot of interesting character work from Ireland, who doesn't do that well with the earlier scenes like where he's supposed to be dreaming of his freedom, but who kicks into high gear as soon as his lady-love seems to reject him. Ireland is very convincing at conveying passion and also at playing a guy who's trying hard to hide his passion. That's never more clear than in the great scene when a wandering musician plays the song about "the dirty little coward Robert Ford" for him in the bar. I also really liked the scene with he and Foster when he held back from getting involved in the bar fight until the other man drew a gun.Foster himself isn't given nearly as much to do in the film but he was always a solid screen presence, he's convincingly grizzled and world-weary. A lot of times in these types of movies the Foster character would have ended up getting the girl, but things are a bit more unclear in this story. We don't get the sense that there's really much chemistry between them. Britton's work is pretty good I thought. She convinced me that her character didn't really know what she wanted.Good B movie, glad to finally get a chance to see it.

Leslie Howard Adams The Jesse James gang was a group of Missouri farmers turned outlaws. Heading the gang was Jesse (Reed Hadley)and his brother Frank (Tom Tyler). Other members included Charlie Ford (Tommy Noonan)and his younger brother, Bob (John Ireland.)While the law hunts him, Jesse lives quietly in a rented house on the corner of Lafayette and Twenty-first street in St. Joseph, Missouri, under the alias of Tom Howard. His wife Zee (Barbara Woodell) begs him to end his association with the Ford brothers. Before they can leave on a "last" bank holdup, Bob learns that is childhood sweetheart, Cynthy Waters (Barbara Britton), now an actress, is in St. Joe and he brushes aside all caution to see her.Cynthy is beginning to realize that she is a liability to her manager, Harry Kane (J. Edward Bromberg), because she will not leave Missouri. Meanwhile, John Kelley (Preston Foster), has come into her life. She pleads with Bob to turn honest.Cynthy tries to get a pardon for Bob, but the best offer she can get is for a 20-year stretch in prison. Then, the Governor offers amnesty and a $10,000 reward to any member of the James gang betraying Jesse. When his chance comes (April 3, 1882)Bob shoots Jesse in the back. He gets the amnesty but the reward is cut to $500. He also loses the love and respect of Cynthy, but he blames John Kelley. Bob, needing money, joins Kane's show in an act showing how he killed Jesse James, but the act is a miserable flop.Bob goes to crowded Creede, Colorado, scene of a silver boom.There, he has to share a room with another prospector, who turns out to be Kelley. The next morning, Kelley and a diamond ring that Bob had bought for Cynthy are both gone. While hunting for Kelley, Bob meets an aged prospector, Soapy (Victor Kilian), who takes him in as a partner. They strike it rich and Bob sends for Cynthy, who arrives accompanied by her maid (Jeni LeGon) and Kane, and Bob meets the arriving party.Kelley also shows up, dragging a hotel clerk who admits to stealing the ring. Kelley is surprised to find Cynthy with Bob and thinks they are married. He is relieved to learn the truth and soon accepts the job of Creede's town Marshal. Cynthy admits to Kelley that she does not love Bob, but she feels responsible for his having killed Jesse.Frank James comes to her hotel suite demanding that Cynthy tell him where Bob is. Kelley disarms him and locks him in jail. Days later, Bob and Soapy and others are celebrating in the hotel bar, awaiting news of the verdict on Frank James. The news of his acquittal and Frank himself arrive simultaneously, and Frank, who holds the upper hand informs Bob of Kelley's and Cynthy's relationship, knowing its effect on Bob would be worse than death.Bob leaves to have a shoot-out showdown with Kelley. This film was the third time Tom Tyler had played Frank James. Reed Hadley played Jesse James in this film and had the role Frank James in 1950's "The Return of Jesse James," making him and Wendell Corey the only two actors who had portrayed both brothers on the screen.

Matthew-40 *Mild Spoilers Within* This film is an interesting character study of Robert Ford (Ireland), the man who shot Jesse James. After shooting his best friend in the back for love, he must live with what he has done. Ireland is great as the remorseful, love-sick Ford. This is a neat first film by Sam Fuller, a newspaper man at heart. And you can definitely tell he likes the newspaper. He shows at least three sequences of headlines of newspapers to fill space in the narrative (the classic "spinning paper"). We can also see early on in his career that Fuller loves to mess with the audience. It's a very entertaining trick. For instance, after Ford has been shot at by the boy trying to become famous, a rider comes along shooting his gun. We think someone else is shooting at Ford. However, the rider is only excited because silver has been found in Colorado. I love how he plays with the audience! Fuller enjoys making you think for a split second that something bad is about to happen and then reveal that he's just joking around. He does this countless times throughout the film. Check this out if you want to see an unconventional western from the 40s. No classic-style here, just the beginning of a great independent director! 8/10