The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Robert Duvall is Jesse James; Cliff Robertson is Cole Younger in this film about their attempt to rob a bank in Northfield, Minn.

The gang members are hoping a bill granting them amnesty makes it through the Missouri legislature.

Meanwhile, Alan Pinkerton and his detectives are eager to bring the gang to justice before that happens.

They ambush Cole and three of his colleagues. Cole winds up badly wounded, but all four men escape.

In retaliation, Jesse wants to launch a raid to the north and rob the bank in Northfield, Minn.

Recovered from his wound, Cole sets out to stop him, still hoping for amnesty.

Even when the bill stalls and he joins forces with Jesse, he’s hoping for a bloodless robbery that will convince the legislature to move forward.

But once the bank robbery commences, little goes as planned.

Cliff Robertson as Cole Younger, expressing wonder at a boxing toy shown him by a fellow train passenger in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Robert Duvall as Jesse James, determined to let the North know the Civil War isn’t over 20 years later in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Review:

An odd version of this oft-told tale in which Cole Younger takes an active role in setting up the bank robbery.

Arriving in Northfield, Minn., pretending to be a cattle buyer, Younger conspires with banker Willis to increase confidence in his bank so more people deposit money there.

There’s a lengthy — and quite bizarre — scene at an old-time baseball game where the two meet to do just that. And debate whether guns or baseball should be the national pasttime.

The gang springs when the bank is flush with cash. And filmmakers do a good job of depicting the resulting confusion.

This version is also notable for its portrayal of Cole and Jesse.

Jesse spouts off like revival tent preacher and is firmly entrenched in the past, hoping the raid into Minnesota signals to the North that the Civil War isn’t over, years after it ended.

Cole is fascinated by new inventions, like the steam engine the rolls through Northfield. He even helps fix the calliope that plays a key role once the bank robbery commences.

Matt Clark as Bob Younger, surprised by Jesse’s sudden burst of violence in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Luke Askew as Jim Younger, scarred and unable to speak in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Directed by:
Phillip Kaufman

Cast:
Cliff Robertson … Cole Younger
Robert Duvall … Jesse James
Luke Askew … Jim Younger
R.G. Armstrong … Clem Miller
Dana Elcar … Allen
Donald Moffat … Manning
John Pearce … Frank James
Matt Clark … Bob Younger
Wayne Sutherlin … Charley Pitts
Robert H. Harris … Wilcox
Jack Manning … Heywood
Royal Dano … “Crazy” Gustavson
Nellie Burt … Doll woman
Herbert Nelson … Chief detective

Runtime: 91 min.

John Pearce as Frank James, taking Jesse’s side during a dispute in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

R.G. Armstrong as Clem Miller, agreeing to ride along with Cole again in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Memorable lines:

Pinkerton agent, on the offer of amnesty to the James-Younger Gang: “Legislators are here to make laws. We’re here to make examples.”

Cole Younger, showing off the bullet marks in his lucky leather vest: “Fourteen times (shot) in 15 years. Makes a fella wonder if he picked the right line of work.”

Alan Pinkerton, to his men: “From this point on, you men are farmers. Your job is the plow them (the gang members) under like manure.”

Cole Younger of the Pinkertons: “They call themselves peacemakers. How come they always do all the shooting?”

Jesse James: “That raid will be talked about forever and forever.”
Cole Younger: “By them or us.”

Jesse James, about leaving Bob Younger behind wounded: “Sometimes one’s gotta be left behind so the rest can move.”
Frank James: “Let the dead bury the dead. Jesse’s just saying what the Lord said, Cole.”
Cole Younger: “Bob ain’t dead. Jesse ain’t the Lord. And we ain’t goin’.”

Cole Younger, as he returns to Northfield, caged and with 11 new bullet wounds, looking at a passing cart of young girls: “Ain’t that a wonderment.”

Wayne Sutherlin as Charlie Pitts in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Herbert Nelson as the chief detective in pursuit of the James-Younger gang in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Robert H. Harris as Wilcox, the banker who works with Cole to fill his bank with deposits in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Jack Manning as Haywood, the bank clerk who views his boss as a crook in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Nellie Burt as the aging widow and doll collector who helps the gang hide out in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Royal Dano as Crazy Gustavson, thinking every newcomer to Northfield is his son returned from the Civil War in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Robert Duvall as Jesse James, giving orders during the bank robbery in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

Cliff Robertson as Cole Younger, trying to open the bank vault in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)