Donald “Red” Barry plays Jesse James, who finds himself and his gang holed up in Little Creek, Miss., trying to raise enough money to get back to their base of operations.
To do that, Jesse — pretending to be cattleman J. Woodsen — figures to use his charm more than his guns. And there are plenty of pretty women in Little Creek who aren’t immune to those charms.
They include Caprice Clark, a banker’s daughter who turns over her dad’s keys to Jesse so he can rob the town bank.
There’s Golden Bell Saloon co-owner Waco Gans (Peggie Castle), who wants Jesse to get rid of her partner Cameo and winds up getting fleeced in the process.
There’s Cattle Kate Kennedy, a former lover who shows up in Little Creek. Jesse hopes to rob her of the money she gets for the cattle, then steal the herd as well.
Heck, Jesse even turns the head of young sheriff’s daughter Angel Botts.
One woman — a saloon singer named Delta (Lita Baron) — manages to outwit Jesse and make off with lots of his dough.
The one problem with all the romancing is that some of Jesse’s men turn on him. They include Bob Ford.
Donald ‘Red’ Barry as Jesse James, posing as cattleman J. Woodson to avoid detection in Little Creek, Mississippi in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Peggie Castle as Waco Gans, part-owner of the Golden Bell saloon, jealous because Jesse James has been seeing other gals too in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Review:
Ultra-low budget Western featuring wooden performances by some seldom-seen actresses, but this earns two stars because of the curiosity factor, a surprisingly complex plot and because it’s actually intentionally funny in spots.
The only film directed by Western series star Barry, it features a prolonged catfight between Waco Gans and Cattle Kate.
And the ending finds them facing off on Main Street at high noon, walking toward one another while the camera zooms in for closeups — Spaghetti style almost.
One of the biggest problems, though, is that Barry was 41 at the time, and not particularly believable as the man who would be juggling five of the prettiest, toughest ladies around.
Jack Buetel of “The Outlaw” is also on hand to remind us why he wound up in so few films after being cut loose by Howard Hughes.
Betty Brueck as Cattle Kate Kennedy, looking forward to a reunion with Jesse James in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Lita Barton as saloon singer Delta, delighted with the prize-fighting scam she’s about to pull on Jesse in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Directed by:
Donald “Red” Barry
Cast:
Donald “Red” Barry …. Jesse James
Peggie Castle … Waco Gans
Jack Buetel … Frank James
Lita Barton … Delta
Joyce Rhed… Caprice Clark
Betty Brueck … Cattle Kate Kennedy
Laura Lee … Angel Botts
Sam Keller … Cole Younger
Tom Garraway … Preacher
Michael Carr … Bob Ford
Alton Hillman … Champ O’Toole
Curtis Dossett … Clark (banker)
Jimmie Hammons … Sheriff Botts
Mac McAllister … O’Toole’s manager
Frank Cunningham … Pete
James Clayton … Cameo Kane
Runtime: 83 min.
Laura Lee as Angel Botts, the young sheriff’s daughter who has a crush on Jesse James in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Joyce Rhed as Caprice Clark with Jesse James (Donald ‘Red’ Barry) after helping him rob her daddy’s bank in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Memorable lines:
Cole Younger, when Frank James takes only part of the money in the bank safe: “What about the rest of it?”
Frank: “Leave it alone.”
Cole: “What’s wrong with it? It’s money ain’t it?”
Frank: “Take a little, leave a little. You don’t want these people mad at us, do you?”
Jesse James, passing off his fake name: “I’m J. Woodsen, a cattleman.”
Waco Gans: “I’m Waco Gans, a woman.”
Jesse, admiring her low-cut saloon gown: “I never would have guessed it. Have a drink, woman.”
Jesse James to Waco: “I often do business with bankers.”
Jimmie Hammons as Sheriff Botts, listening to Jesse James’ claims about Cattle Kate in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Michael Carr as Bob Ford, the gang member who wouldn’t mind causing some trouble for Jesse James in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Waco, explaining why she broke up a fight between Cameo and Jesse: “I just had the floor cleaned. I didn’t want to get blood all over it.”
Jesse: “That’s what I like — a good housekeeper.”
Jesse: “Women don’t mean a thing to me. But they’re tools that you can use — a jimmy to open a window, a key to open a bank. Does that answer your question?”
Frank James: “It ain’t the best answer I ever heard.”
Jesse: “It’s the only one you’re going to get.”
Waco: “J., you mean that woman’s aiming to shoot me?”
Jesse: “She sure ain’t aimin’ to miss.”
Jack Buetel as Frank James, trying to steer his brother clear of female trouble in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Sam Keller as Cole Younger, helping Jesse James turn the tables on a card cheat in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Lita Barton as Delta, cooking up a scheme with prize fighter Champ O’Toole (Alton Hillman) in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
Peggie Castle as Waco Gans, wondering who the new woman is while guilt crosses the face of Jesse James (Donald ‘Red’ Barry) in Jesse James’ Women (1954)
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