Alias Jesse James (1959)

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

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

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

Stars:

Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey

Cast

Complete credited 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
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry (scenes deleted)
James Garner	...	Brett Maverick (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Inept insurance salesman Milford Farnsworth sells a man a $100,000 policy. When his boss learns the man was Jesse James he sends Milford after him with money to buy back the policy. After a masked Jesse robs Milford of the money, Milford's boss heads out with more money. Jesse learns about it and plans to rob him, have Milford dressed as him get killed in the robbery, and then collect the $100,000.

---

Plot Keywords:

jesse james | outlaw | insurance agent | showdown | blue dress | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein Schuß und 50 Tote

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hope Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last period film made by Bob Hope. The rest of his films were contemporary comedies.

---

Goofs

He clearly sells the policy to Jesse James during a lunchtime session in the bar (broad daylight, and a sign reading 'Free Lunch'), and his boss tells him to take the rest of the day off. But when the boss points out that he's just sold a life policy to a notorious gangster, he says "Not once during the evening did he mention..."

---

Quotes

Titus Queasley: Farnsworth, what do you expect to achieve with such crass ineptitude, such utter incompetence, such colossal stupidity?
Milford Farnsworth: Well, I was hoping to become your assistant.

---

Connections

References The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955)

---

Soundtracks

"Protection"
Music by Arthur Altman
Lyrics by Bud Burtson

User Reviews

Paleface 3? Not quite, but a very enjoyable Hope picture it be.

Bumbling buffoon insurance salesman Milford Farnsworth sells notorious outlaw Jesse James a $100,000 policy. When his boss finds out who the customer is, he dispatches Farnsworth after James in the hope of buying back the policy, he also gives strict orders that Farnsworth must ensure that James comes to no harm.

Bob Hope sells Jesse James an insurance policy,! that alone should prepare you for what type of picture this is. There is nothing out of the ordinary here that we haven't seen before in most other Hope vehicles, and as a huge fan of The Paleface and the even better Son Of Paleface, I would point readers to those pictures by way of them being far better. However Alias has some fine moments that keep it way above average, in fact for visual gags this picture scores higher than most of Hope's better known comedies. Be it a steaming alcohol fuelled hat or a magic mushroomed fed horse, there is still much fun to be had as Hope plays out his winning formula. Along for the ride is the supremely sexy Rhonda Fleming as Jesse James' gal, Cora Lee Collins, and as James himself we get Wendell Corey looking as tho he is enjoying himself. The final reel of this film is now something of legend as we get to play spot the genre star during a protracted shoot out, stars such as Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers & Gail Davis join Bing Crosby to close the picture on a mightily high point. 6.5/10