Alias Jesse James (1959)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Robert St. Aubrey (story) and
Bert Lawrence (story) ...

Release Date:

20 March 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Plot:

The outlaw T.J. 'Jesse' James (Wendell Corey) tries to kill insurance agent Milford Farnsworth (Bob Hope) who has been mistaken for him in order to collect on a big policy.

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Beautiful Woman | Sharpshooter | Annie Oakley | Mistaken Identity

Cast

Bob Hope	...	Milford Farnsworth
Rhonda Fleming	...	Cora Lee Collins
Wendell Corey	...	Jesse James
Gloria Talbott	...	Princess Irawanie (as Gloria Talbot)
Jim Davis	...	Frank James
Will Wright	...	Titus Queasley
Mary Young	...	'Ma' James
Mickey Finn	...	Tough #2 in Dirty Dog Saloon
Bob Gunderson	...	James Gang member
Fred Kohler Jr.	...	James Gang member (as Fred Kohler)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	James Gang member
Glenn Strange	...	James Gang member

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hope Enterprises

Trivia:

Final film of Ward Bond.

Movie Connections:

References Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)

Soundtrack:

Alias Jesse James

"The anchor is heavier than the ship..."

Assured and self-amused Bob Hope glides smoothly through jokey western involving an insurance salesman from New York unknowingly selling a valuable life policy to the infamous gunslinger/train robber Jesse James; he's forced by his boss to head West to find Jesse and ask for the policy back. Hope's nervous shtick routine (always followed by a series of variable one-liners) isn't quite the stuff of side-splitting comedy--and yet he's so adept at these gags, there's nostalgic pleasure in just watching him have at it. A few of the jokes and sight-gags which bomb out the first time are then repeated (such as Hope's brim unfurling after a stiff drink, or a goat snacking on playing cards). After an hour or so, fatigue sets in, and Wendell Corey seems to have no idea how to play outlaw James. Saloon singer Rhonda Fleming, in a succession of lovely Edith Head gowns, provides a nice love-interest and shares a fun duet with Bob. The finale is a real delight, great for movie and TV buffs, and nearly makes the picture worthwhile. ** from ****