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IMDbPro

The Return of Frank James

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, and Jackie Cooper in The Return of Frank James (1940)
  • Western
Frank James continues to avoid arrest in order to take revenge on the Ford brothers for their murder of his brother Jesse.Frank James continues to avoid arrest in order to take revenge on the Ford brothers for their murder of his brother Jesse.Frank James continues to avoid arrest in order to take revenge on the Ford brothers for their murder of his brother Jesse.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Fritz Lang
  • Writer
    • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Gene Tierney
    • Jackie Cooper
Top credits
  • Director
    • Fritz Lang
  • Writer
    • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Gene Tierney
    • Jackie Cooper
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos41

    Henry Fonda in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Henry Hull, and Frank Shannon in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney in The Return of Frank James (1940)
    Henry Fonda and Jackie Cooper in The Return of Frank James (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Frank Jamesas Frank James
    Gene Tierney
    Gene Tierney
    • Eleanor Stoneas Eleanor Stone
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Clemas Clem
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • Major Rufus Cobbas Major Rufus Cobb
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Bob Fordas Bob Ford
    J. Edward Bromberg
    J. Edward Bromberg
    • George Runyanas George Runyan
    Donald Meek
    Donald Meek
    • Mc Coyas Mc Coy
    Eddie Collins
    Eddie Collins
    • Station Agentas Station Agent
    George Barbier
    George Barbier
    • Judgeas Judge
    Russell Hicks
    Russell Hicks
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    Ernest Whitman
    Ernest Whitman
    • Pinkyas Pinky
    Charles Tannen
    Charles Tannen
    • Charlie Fordas Charlie Ford
    Lloyd Corrigan
    Lloyd Corrigan
    • Randolph Stoneas Randolph Stone
    Victor Kilian
    Victor Kilian
    • Preacheras Preacher
    Edward McWade
    Edward McWade
    • Colonel Jacksonas Colonel Jackson
    George Chandler
    George Chandler
    • Royas Roy
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • Bystanderas Bystander
    Frank Shannon
    Frank Shannon
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    • Director
      • Fritz Lang
    • Writer
      • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original treatment had Frank romantically interested in the reporter played by Gene Tierney, but the studio became fearful of a possible lawsuit by Frank's widow and/or son, so it was eliminated from the script.
    • Goofs
      Frank mentions watching the sun come up over the mountains in Denver. East of Denver are plains. The mountains are west of Denver. The sun comes up over the plains and sets behind the mountains.
    • Quotes

      Frank James: I can't talk without thinking, not being a lawyer.

    • Alternate versions
      UK versions are cut by 5 seconds to edit horse falls.
    • Connections
      Edited into Buffalo Bill (1944)
    • Soundtracks
      Old Ironsides March
      (uncredited)

      Music by Hugo Riesenfeld

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A good western by the great Fritz Lang
    "The Return of Frank James" has a nice script, beautiful costumes, an accurate photography in gorgeous technicolor. Perhaps a further pair of gun-fights would be desirable: gun-fights in a western movie are like salt in the food. The film has a peculiar interest for cinephiles, since here the great director Fritz Lang confronts himself with the western genre for the first time. I think he makes a good job, even if does not seem completely at his home. Moreover we have the usual Henry Fonda's charisma and... OK... the main reason why I am interested in the movie is the presence of Gene Tierney at the very beginning of her career. I must confess that here her legendary beauty is still a bit unripe... let's say that Venus has just come out of the shell. No fear: within one year or two our eyes will rest on the highest beauty in movie history (in history at all, I dare say).
    helpful•12
    9
    • pzanardo
    • May 29, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rache für Jesse James
    • Filming locations
      • Lone Pine, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, and Jackie Cooper in The Return of Frank James (1940)
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    By what name was The Return of Frank James (1940) officially released in India in English?
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