JAMES, Jesse

(1847–1882)

   Of all the outlaws in the old West, perhaps only Billy the Kid has appeared in as many Western films as Jesse James. The basic details of the Jesse James story that occur in most film versions include the following: Jesse and his brother, Frank, fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War and at one point rode with William Quantrill in Kansas. After the war they returned home to find the railroad companies forcing families out of their homes. At this point, versions of the story differ. Some portray Jesse and the James gang as vicious outlaws on expeditions of murder and rapine. Others portray the James gang as Robin Hood types who were simply taking the part of the common people against evil robber barons. The James gang often allied with Cole Younger and his brothers, whose specialty was robbing trains although they also robbed banks. Frank was usually considered the gentler of the two brothers. Jesse married Zee Mims (or Cobb) and moved to Florida at the end of his career and changed his surname to Howard. One day in 1882, Bob Younger, a former gang member, sneaked up behind Mr. Howard and shot him in the back. An old song came out of the episode: “That Dirty Little Coward who Shot Mr. Howard.” I Shot Jesse James (1949) shows Bob Ford (John Ireland) watching Jesse through a window (Reed Hadley) as he hangs a picture. Ford shoots him in the back.

   All these parts of the legend have been disputed or modified at one time or another, but anytime Jesse James is mentioned in a film, it is generally assumed the audience will possess this minimal knowledge. Some of the stars who have played Jesse James include Tyrone Power in Jesse James (1939), Colin Farrell in American Outlaws (2001), and Brad Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007).