I Shot Jesse James (1949)

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Writers:

Samuel Fuller (story)
Homer Croy (article)
(more)

Release Date:

26 February 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | Western

Tagline:

THE THRILLING AND COLORFUL LAST DAYS OF AMERICA'S MOST FABULOUS OUTLAW...POWERFULLY WRITTEN IN GUNSMOKE! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend but is plagued by guilt and self-disgust.

Plot Keywords:

Pardon | Amnesty | Prospector | Reward | Missouri

Cast

Preston Foster	...	John Kelley
Barbara Britton	...	Cynthy Waters
John Ireland	...	Bob Ford
Reed Hadley	...	Jesse James
J. Edward Bromberg	...	Harry Kane
Victor Kilian	...	Soapy
Tom Tyler	...	Frank James
Tommy Noonan	...	Charles Ford (as Tom Noonan)
Eddie Dunn	...	Joe, Silver King Bartender
Margia Dean	...	Saloon Singer
Byron Foulger	...	Silver King Room Clerk
Jeni Le Gon	...	Veronica, Cynthy's Maid
Barbara Woodell	...	Mrs. Zee James
Phillip Pine	...	Man in Saloon (as Phil Pine)
Robin Short	...	Troubadour
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gene Collins	...	Young Gunslinger (uncredited)
Albert Glasser	...	Musician (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Livery Stableman (uncredited)
Mickey Ireland	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
Ray Jones	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Jack Low	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Robert Malcolm	...	Marshal Craig (uncredited)
George Morrell	...	Play Spectator (uncredited)
Stanley Price	...	Bank Cashier (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	St. Joseph Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
Britt Wood	...	Play Spectator (uncredited)

Directed by
Samuel Fuller

Writing credits
Samuel Fuller		(story and screenplay)
Homer Croy		(article in American Weekly magazine)
Robert Gardner		uncredited

Produced by
Carl K. Hittleman	....	producer
Robert L. Lippert	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Albert Glasser

Cinematography by
Ernest Miller

Casting by
Yolanda Molinari		(as Yolando Molinari)

Art Direction by
Frank Hotaling

Set Decoration by
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)
James Redd

Costume Design by
Alfred Berke

Makeup Department
Peggy Gray	....	hair stylist
Bob Mark	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Grubbs	....	assistant director (as Johnny Grubbs)

Sound Department
T.A. Carman	....	sound
Harry Coswick	....	sound effects
Howard Wilson	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	special effects

Stunts
Chuck Roberson	....	stunt double: Reed Hadley (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Archie R. Dalzell	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Milton Gold	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Paul Landres	....	editorial supervisor

Other crew
Moree Herring	....	script clerk
Murray Lerner	....	assistant to producer
Robert L. Lippert	....	presenter
Stanley Price	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Lippert Pictures

Distributors

• Screen Guild Productions (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (as Lippert Pictures Inc.)
• Weiss Global Enterprises (1976) (USA) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD) (as Eclipse from the Criterion Collection)
• Panorama-Film (1952) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Kit Parker Films (2009) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lippert Pictures

Trivia:

The skilled gunman who attracts younger opponents who want to defeat him is very commonplace in the world of westerns. This movie is said to be the one that started this trend.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jesse James goes to straighten the picture on his wall, the opening shot shows the picture slanting down to the right. When the camera angle changes, the picture is slanting up to the right. When the film cuts back to the first angle, the picture is slanting down to the right again.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Bob Ford:I... I want to tell you something I ain't never told anyone. I'm sorry for what I done to Jess.
Cynthy Waters:Oh, Bob!
Bob Ford:I loved him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Best of Sex and Violence (1981)

Soundtrack:

Some Day

Here's my back.

This is Samuel Fuller's first effort;it is a western and it's got something bizarre,something unusual which we find in every work of this director,whatever he films :films noirs ("underworld USA" ),melodramas ("the naked kiss" ) ,thrillers verging on horror ("shock corridor" ) or westerns ("run of the arrow" and "forty guns").

They say that Fuller approved of Robert Ford's attitude.But his movie is not so simple.It seems that Jesse really WANTS to be killed ;we might take the lines "what are you waiting for?here's my back " literally.

Once Robert Ford has taken the plunge ,his fate is sealed;there's no coming back,no hope for the life he dreams of with his gorgeous girl.Anyway,Cynthy's love has turned to despise at worst ,pity at best.

The scene on the stage is some kind of mirror ,where Ford fully realizes what he has done -a scene which contains an unusual inventive use of the flashback-,as is the folk singer who performs his "ballad of Robert Ford": when he sings his last verse ,he may be frightened,but it's Cain's eye all over again.

I do not have to kill you,Jesse's brother says ,you're already dead.