A Reel Retro Review: I SHOT JESSE JAMES (1949)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

The tale of Bob Ford and Jesse James has provided a lot of cinematic material over the years, with Andrew Dominik’s Oscar-nominated masterpiece THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD the definitive version. One of the more unique takes came in 1949 with Samuel Fuller’s I SHOT JESSE JAMES. 

 

Bob Ford (John Ireland), guns down famous outlaw Jesse James (Reed Hadley), and moves into show business. He looks to marry Cynthy (Barbara Britton), but has to compete with John Kelly (Preston Foster), a silver prospector. 

 

The cowardly way in which Ford gunned down James has usually been the climax of most tellings of the story. I SHOT JESSE JAMES differs in that the assassination happens early, and uses the incident as the film’s stepping-off point. After the killing, Ford moves into show business where he re-enacts the shooting with his brother Charlie (Tommy Noonan). Unfortunately for Bob, he finds that he isn’t regarded as a hero as he expected, and is instead mocked by theatre crowds and by popular songs. 

 

The film doesn’t dwell too long on Bob’s struggles post-Jesse, and moves into a love triangle with Cynthy and John Kelly. Kelly and Bob are friendly rivals at first, but that moves into bitterness when Bob realizes that he may be the odd-man out. The love triangle, which is fictional, feels unnecessary and the best parts of the film are early on with Bob not finding the applause he expected. 

 

Director Samuel Fuller seems to be working with a lot of limitations, as the film barely moves outdoors; for a Western there is certainly a lack of horses. Most of the film takes place in saloons and hotel rooms, and while this makes the movie seem small, the tradeoff is more character moments. A few fistfights in the saloons are executed very well. The cast is very good. John Ireland conveys Bob’s inner and outer struggles very well, and his scenes with the lovely Barbara Fulton are excellent. 

 

History buffs, or anyone with even a pedestrian knowledge of the Bob Ford story will be turned off by I SHOT JESSE JAMES for the all the liberties the film takes, as Ford never knew Kelly nor was there ever a love triangle. It’s not a dealbreaker when looking at it objectively, but it’s worth noting. The film is unique for not focusing on the James killing and instead following Bob’s quest for fame and credit, it’s just a shame that it didn’t stick to that thread. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it 

 

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Reel Facts: This was the directorial debut of Samuel Fuller, who would spend most of his filmography in the Old West and War genres. He would direct the ensemble war flick THE BIG RED ONE in 1980. John Ireland would become the first Vancouver-born actor to receive an Oscar nomination when he was recognized for his role in ALL THE KING’S MEN, also in 1949.