The Long Riders (1980)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Bill Bryden (written by) &
Steven Smith (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

"All the world likes an outlaw. For some damn reason they remember 'em." - Jesse James

Plot:

The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the Jesse James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Revenge | Brutality | Train Robbery | Shot To Death

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

David Carradine	...	Cole Younger
Keith Carradine	...	Jim Younger
Robert Carradine	...	Bob Younger
James Keach	...	Jesse James
Stacy Keach	...	Frank James
Dennis Quaid	...	Ed Miller
Randy Quaid	...	Clell Miller
Kevin Brophy	...	John Younger
Harry Carey Jr.	...	George Arthur
Christopher Guest	...	Charlie Ford
Nicholas Guest	...	Bob Ford
Shelby Leverington	...	Annie Ralston
Felice Orlandi	...	Mr. Reddick
Pamela Reed	...	Belle Starr
James Remar	...	Sam Starr
Fran Ryan	...	Mrs. Samuel
Savannah Smith Boucher	...	Zee (as Savannah Smith)
Amy Stryker	...	Beth
James Whitmore Jr.	...	Mr. Rixley
John Bottoms	...	Mortician
West Buchanan	...	McCorkindale
Edward Bunker	...	Chadwell
Martina Deignan	...	Shirley Biggs
Allan Graf	...	Bank Customer Graf
Chris Mulkey	...	Vernon Biggs
Thomas Myers	...	Gallatin Bank Cashier (as Thomas R. Myers)
Marlise Pierrat	...	Wilhelmina (as Marlise Pieratt)
Glenn Robards	...	Doctor
Tim Rossovich	...	Pitts
Lin Shaye	...	Kate
Gary Watkins	...	Bank Teller Heywood
Peter Jason	...	Pinkerton
Duke Stroud	...	Pinkerton
Steven Chambers	...	Pinkerton (as Steve Chambers)
William Traylor	...	Pinkerton
J. Don Ferguson	...	Preacher
Hugh McGraw	...	Singer
Prentiss Rowe	...	Sheriff Rowe (as Prentiss E. Rowe)
Stuart Mossman	...	Engineer
Michael Lackey	...	Gustavson
Mitch Greenhill	...	Guitarist
Bill Bryson	...	Banjo Player
Tom Sauber	...	Fiddle Player
Jimmy Medearis	...	Farmer
Edgar McLeod	...	Photographer
Luis Contreras	...	Man at the Bar
Kalen Keach	...	Little Jesse
R.B. Thrift	...	Archie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Carradine	...	(scenes deleted)
Ry Cooder	...	Musician (uncredited)
George Miklos	...	Clogger #1 (uncredited)
Bill Rampley	...	Cowboy / Posse (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Hill

Writing credits
Bill Bryden		(written by) &
Steven Smith		(written by) (as Steven Phillip Smith) &
Stacy Keach		(written by) (as Stacy) &
James Keach		(written by)
Walter Hill		uncredited

Produced by
James Keach	....	executive producer
Stacy Keach	....	executive producer
Tim Zinnemann	....	producer

Original Music by
Ry Cooder		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Ric Waite		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Freeman A. Davies		(as Freeman Davies)
David Holden

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Jack T. Collis

Art Direction by
Peter R. Romero		(as Peter Romero)

Set Decoration by
Richard C. Goddard		(as Richard Goddard)

Costume Design by
Bobbie Mannix

Makeup Department
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist
Christine Lee	....	hair stylist (as Chris Lee)

Production Management
Gene Levy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Gries	....	first assistant director
Mary Lou MacLaury	....	second assistant director
Craig R. Baxley	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joe Acord	....	construction coordinator
Johnny Lattanzio	....	paint foreman (as John Lattanzio)
Craig Raiche	....	property master

Sound Department
Gordon Ecker	....	supervising sound editor (as Gordon Ecker Jr.)
Robert Fernandez	....	dubbing mixer
Les Fresholtz	....	dubbing mixer
Stan Gilbert	....	dialogue editor
Chris McLaughlin	....	production sound
Michael Minkler	....	dubbing mixer
Marvin Walowitz	....	supervising sound editor: wallaWorks
James E. Webb	....	production sound (as James Webb)
Joseph Holsen	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Wylie Stateman	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh)

Stunts
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunt coordinator (as Craig Baxley)
Jim Burk	....	stuntman
William H. Burton	....	stuntman (as Billy Burton)
Steven Chambers	....	stuntman (as Steve Chambers)
Clifford Happy	....	stuntman (as Cliff Happy)
Freddie Hice	....	stuntman
Richard Humphreys	....	stuntman
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stuntman
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stuntman
Greg Walker	....	stuntman
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Diane Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sal Camacho	....	assistant cameraman
Roger Gebhard	....	assistant cameraman
Jim Lucas	....	camera operator
Frank Miller	....	camera operator
Rick Neff	....	camera operator
Harold Rabuse	....	key grip
Baird Steptoe	....	assistant cameraman
Mel Traxel	....	still photographer
Lance Williams	....	camera operator
Jim Wuertemburg	....	gaffer (as James Wuertemburg)
Paul Hunt	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	best boy (uncredited)
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Brian W. Roy	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tom Bronson	....	costume supervisor
Marie Brown	....	costumer
Dan Moore	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Lisa Zeno Churgin	....	assistant film editor (as Lisa Churgin)
Jill Demby	....	associate film editor
Teri E. Dorman	....	assistant film editor
Richard Ritchie	....	color timer (as Dick Ritchie)
Edward A. Warschilka	....	assistant film editor (as Edward A Warschilka Jr.)
Miriam Weeks	....	assistant film editor (as Miriam E. Weeks)

Music Department
George Bohanon	....	musician
Curt Bouterse	....	musician
Oscar Brashear	....	musician
Bill Bryson	....	musician
Ry Cooder	....	music arranger
Ry Cooder	....	musician
Jim Dickinson	....	musician
Mitch Greenhill	....	musician
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Milt Holland	....	musician
David Lindley	....	musician
Baboo Pierre	....	musician
Tom Sauber	....	musician

Transportation Department
Ronnie Baker	....	transportation coordinator
Bill Hunt	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Sheila Barnes	....	assistant: Tim Zinnemann
Jerry Chinn	....	craft service
Mary F. Galloway	....	location manager (as Mary Galloway)
Sandy King	....	script supervisor
Jimmy Medearis	....	head wrangler
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Bob Roe	....	production assistant
Katina Savvidis	....	dance choreographer
Art Schaefer	....	production accountant
Debby Steele	....	assistant: Stacy Keach
Robert Werden	....	unit publicist
Mae Woods	....	assistant: Walter Hill
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen	....	production coordinator
Rodger Jacobs	....	research coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Huka Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• United Artists Films (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Canada) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS) (cut)
• Future Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Reserva Especial (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Scanvideo (1984) (Finland) (VHS) (cut)
• Studio S (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Blowitz & Canton  public relations
• Georgia Film Commission  special thanks for their help and cooperation
• Modern Film Effects  optical effects
• Optical House, The  optical effects
• Warner Bros. Records  original soundtrack recording available on

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Spain:18 | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | UK:15 (DVD re-rating) (cut) (2013)

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Huka Productions

Trivia:

The roles of Jesse James and his son, little Jesse, are played by father and son, James and Kalen Keach.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When making their escape after Northfield Bank robbery, a rider slams into a tree limb. The cable used to snap the actor back off his horse is visible.

Quotes:

Beth Mimms:Jim Younger, there are some things that a gentleman does not ask a lady!
Bob Younger:Beth, when you're old enough to call yourself a lady, I'll keep that in mind.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Kill Bill: Volume 2' (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Girl I Left Behind Me

Hill almost elevates cinema violence into an art form...

As Sam Peckinpah's 'The Getaway,' Walter Hill's 'The Long Riders' almost elevates cinema violence into an art form…

Visually, 'The Long Riders' contains much that is stunning, even mesmerizing: the green Missouri scenic landscapes; the train robbery sequence; the stagecoach heist; the crossing of a wild river; but there is no question that it is the scene of the gang's disastrous foray into Northfield, Minnesota - that highlight this film… These specific episodes give 'The Long Riders' its rhythm, power, spectacle, and excitement…

With his slow motion 'terror shootout,' Hill seems to impress his viewers by showing them an inventive montage of high-level gory violence… But Hill's most wonderful sequences are those that were the most reserved: the wonderful moment when Frank is cutting the hardest wood with a forest ax and his brother Jesse, walking with his fiancée, attempting to settle down and raise a family…

Hill may have a reputation for being a tough guy, but his best screen moments (in "Hard Times", "The Warriors", "Streets of Fire") are the ones in which he allows his romantic tendencies to slip through, when he gives his characters the dignity that means so much to them… Hill tries to debunk the American myth that Western gunfighters were "heroes," and to show these embittered guys for the 'rough men that they really were.'

Hill's real intention is to present us with a gang of four families of brothers, and get us to accept them on their own terms, in their own brutal world… The men of 'The Long Riders' are at their most dastardly at the beginning of the film when Ed Miller (Dennis Quaid) indiscriminately shoots an innocent clerk, but for the rest of the film - one by one - Hill reveals their better, more 'human' sides… We further get to appreciate them as we compare them to the awful men around them; next to the Pinkertons killing a simple-minded 15 year old boy, they come out best, the 'good guys.'

To Hill, good and bad aren't on opposite sides of the coin; they share the edge…