The Return of Jesse James (1950)

John Ireland is Johnny Callum, a would-be outlaw who just happens to resemble the late Jesse James. So Hank Younger (Henry Hull) has an idea — revive the James’ legend with Callum as gang leader.

But outdoing Jesse becomes an obsession for young Johnny, much to the dismay of Frank James (Reed Hadley), who’s doing his best to lead a lawful life and isn’t pleased to see the James’ name linked to more robberies and murders.

Hank Younger agrees to stop the ruse. Johnny isn’t so easily convinced though, and sets out to make a name for himself as Johnny Callum by repeating Jesse’s exploits, only trying to do them bigger and better. That merely continues to fuel the rumor that Jesse was never really killed.

Johnny also falls prey to the charms of Susan Ellen Younger (Ann Dvorak), Hank’s daughter. He lavishes her with gifts; she prods him toward bigger paydays and riskier jobs. And if that doesn’t pan out, she won’t hesitate to betray him.

Review:

Not as bad as it sounds. There’s some witty dialogue. Hull tackles his part with relish. And Dvorak has an interesting role, though she was 38 at the time and looks older than that.

There’s also a touch of humor in the proceedings as the Missouri governor frets about his job security. He’s just paid out a small fortune in reward money to the Ford brothers for killing Jesse. Now it appears he isn’t dead at all. Oh, the calamity.

Bob and Charlie Ford do a lot of fretting, too. They’ve opened a bar, cashing in on the acclaim of killing Jesse. They even have the gun that did the deed framed and hanging on a wall. Now no one believes their story.

The year before, Ireland and Hadley had starred in another Lippert Production, “I Shot Jesse James” — Ireland in the role of Bob Ford and Hadley as Jesse. The film also features one of the first credited roles for Hugh O’Brian, TV’s future Wyatt Earp.

Directed by:
Arthur Hilton

Cast:
John Ireland … Johnny Callum
Ann Dvorak … Susan Ellen Younger
Henry Hull … Hank Younger
Hugh O’Brian … Lem Younger
Reed Hadley … Frank James
Clifton Young … Bob Ford
Tommy Noonan … Charlie Ford
Margia Dean … Marge
Sid Melton … Piano player
Victor Kilian … Sheriff Rigby
Byron Foulger … Ruke Dakin
Paul Maxey … Elmer Galway
Peter Marshall … George
Norman Leavitt … Dr. Hallstrom
Barbara Woodell … Ann James (Frank’s wife)

Runtime: 75 min.

Memorable lines:

Hank Younger to Johnny: “Hey, you got a pretty high opinion of yourself, ain’t ya? Well, you’re here in one piece because I admired your nerve, not your brashness. So don’t get too hard to handle. ‘Taint too late to turn you in for that bank job, bungled as it was.”

Hank Younger, asked for bank robbing advice by Johnny: “I ain’t givin’ away professional secrets to foreigners.”
Johnny Callum: “Then count me as one of the family.”

Johnny Callum: “If Jesse James can get famous, so can Johnny Callum.”

Hank Younger: “Johnny, I’m warning you: Keep away from that gal of mine.”
Johnny Callum: “You mean what are my intentions?”
Hank Younger: “Your intentions?” He laughs. “Your motives toward her is likely that same as a cotton-tailed rabbit’s toward a moccasin snake. It ain’t her I’m worried about. It’s you. You and our business.”

Susan Younger: “How do you know he isn’t the real Jesse?”
Bob Ford: “I always heard a man stayed dead with a bullet in his head.”

Hank Younger to Johnny: “Son, a smart fox don’t hunt when the woods if full of hound dogs.”
Susan Younger: “That’s just the time the smart fox hits the hen house.”