James Keach is Jesse James and Stacy Keach his brother Frank in this story about the exploits of the James-Younger gang and their ultimate demise.
The gang includes three Younger brothers, wise-cracking Cole (David Carradine), womanizing Jim (Keith Carradine) and the less experienced Bob (Robert Carradine).
And it also included the Miller brothers, Clell (Randy Quaid) and Ed (Dennis Quaid). At least until the latter gets kicked out of the gang for nearly getting Jesse killed during a bank robbery.
Hot on their trail is a Pinkerton detective named Reddick, constantly frustrated because no one’s willing to turn in the gang members and because everyone fears retribution should they do so.
Instead, the Pinkertons gun down a cousin of the Youngers, who was never involved with the gang, and kill a simple-minded younger brother of the James family in an attempt to smoke everyone out of their mother’s home..
Indeed, the gang strikes back, executing a pair of Pinkertons involved in the latter attack.
They split up then, until reforming for an ill-fated attempted to rob a bank in Northfield, Minn.
David Carradine as Cole Younger, rifle at the ready during a stage holdup in The Long Riders (1980)
Keith Carradine as Jim Younger, spotting two Pinkerton agents and potential trouble in The Long Riders (1980)
Review:
Promotion for the film focused on the fact that all the key male roles were played by brothers.
In addition to the Keaches as the James brothers, the Carradines as the Younger brothers and the Quaids as the Millers, Christopher and Nicholas Guest played the parts of Charlie and Bob Ford.
But the success of the film — certainly one of the best efforts to bring the James-Younger gang’s story to the big screen — lies in Hill’s direction.
The action scenes are violent and memorable, especially a knife fight between Cole and Sam Starr and the aftermath of the botched Northfield bank robbery.
And they’re interspersed with wonderful glimpses of the gang’s life when they aren’t being outlaws. And these men are believably portrayed as unrepentant southerners.
There’s a wonderful scene in which Clell Miller forces a musician to play pro-South music. And another featuring the funeral procession for Archie, the James brother killed by the Pinkertons. Every man in the procession is armed in a show of solidarity.
As Cole Younger, David Carradine seems to get the best lines and the best scenes. Several of those also feature Pamela Reed as Belle Starr, the woman he loves but the whore he can’t bring himself to marry.
James Keach as Jesse James, forced to leave most of his gang behind in The Long Riders (1980)
Stacy Keach as Frank James, finding a little time for romance between robberies in The Long Riders (1980)
Directed by:
Walter Hill
Cast:
David Carradine … Cole Younger
Keith Carradine … Jim Younger
Robert Carradine … Bob Younger
James Keach … Jesse James
Stacy Keach … Frank James
Dennis Quaid … Ed Miller
Randy Quaid … Clell Miller
Kevin Brophy … John Younger
Harry Carey Jr. … George Arthur
Christopher Guest … Charlie Ford
Nicholas Guest … Bob Ford
Shelby Leverington … Annie Ralston
Felice Orlandi …. Mr. Reddick
Pamela Reed … Belle Starr
James Remar … Sam Starr
Fran Ryan … Mrs. Samuel
Savannah Smith Boucher … Zee
Amy Stryker … Beth
James Whitmore Jr. … Mr. Rixley
John Bottoms — Mortician
Runtime: 100 min.
Robert Carradine as Bob Younger, playing cards and following his brothers in The Long Riders (1980)
Randy Quaid as Clell Miller, demanding a different tune from a musician in The Long Riders (1980)
Memorable lines:
Bob Younger: “How long do you think it’ll take that posse to get here.”
Cole Younger: “There won’t be one. They’ll go about 10 miles, get tired, go back and call the Pinkertons.”
Bob: “How come we’re standing guard?”
Cole: “Cause once in a while, I’m wrong.”
Cole Younger of Jesse: “First gettin’ shot. Then gettin’ married. Bad habits.”
Belle Starr: “I just wanna find out what it feels like to be respectable. For a while, anyway.”
Cole Younger: “You’ll never be respectable, Belle. You’re a whore. You’ll always be a whore. That’s why I like ya.”
Jesse James, to Pinkertons who played a role in the attack on his mother’s home, which left her injured and a brother dead: “My little brother was 15 years old. You think about that on your way to hell.”
Mr. Reddick, being shown the bodies of two dead Pinkertons: “The funeral will be in Chicago. And the governor will be there.”
Mortician, quite sarcastically: “Well, I’m sure it will cheer their souls just to hear you say that.”
Cole Younger, as he prepares to knife fight Sam Starr: “What does the winner get?”
Belle Starr: “Nothing you ain’t both already had.”
Cole: “Don’t make much sense does it?”
Belle: “Nope. But you’re both crazy. And you keep me occupied. I am having a real good time.”
Cole Younger as Jesse and Frank announce plans to keep riding and leave the wounded behind — including Cole’s brothers — after the botched Northfield Raid: “I like it better this way, Jesse. I get to see you run.”
Pamela Reed as Belle Starr, the whore Cole Younger can’t get off his mind in The Long Riders (1980)
Dennis Quaid as Ed Miller, kicked out of the gang for recklessness during a bank robbery in The Long Riders (1980)
Christopher Guest as Charlie Ford and Nicholas Guest as Bob Ford, asking to join the gang in The Long Riders (1980)
Fran Ryan as Mrs. Samuel, mother of Frank and Jesse, demanding to know why Pinkertons have come calling in The Long Riders (1980)
Felice Orlandi as Mr. Reddick, head of the Pinkertons trying to break up the gang with a mortician (John Bottoms) in The Long Riders (1980)
Stacy Keach (left) as Frank James tries to calm down Jesse (James Keach) after he’s wounded in a bank robbery in The Long Riders (1980)
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