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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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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 climactic gunfight features cameos by Bing Crosby and surprise appearances by actors who, at the time, were starring or had recently starred in extremely popular Western television series (such as Maverick, The Roy Rogers Show, Annie Oakley) and Western movies such as High Noon (Gary Cooper). They appeared playing the same roles that they had played on their shows.

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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..."

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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.

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Connections

References Annie Oakley (1954)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't-a-Hankerin'"
Music by Arthur Altman
Lyrics by Bud Burtson
Sung by Bob Hope and Rhonda Flemming

User Reviews

hope you like bob...

If you don't like bob hope, you might want to pass on this one. It is funny, but it's not as quick as the "Road" movies. Hope plays a life insurance salesman in the old west, who sells a huge policy to Jesse James! Bob is then sent to protect his policy holder and his job. In order to keep jesse safe, Hope risks life and limb by acting and dressing as the real gunslinger would. In his "alias" will Bob steal the trainrobber's girl to boot? Western fans might want to watch the Paleface, or Son of Paleface, before judging Hope on this one though. Basically the same movie made three times. "Alias" does have some cameo appearances from early television and movies i think western fans will find fun. Worth a watch.