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The Return of Frank James

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, and Jackie Cooper in The Return of Frank James (1940)
DramaWestern
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
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Fritz Lang
  • Writer
    • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Gene Tierney
    • Jackie Cooper
  • Director
    • Fritz Lang
  • Writer
    • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • Gene Tierney
    • Jackie Cooper
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 49User 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 James
    Gene Tierney
    Gene Tierney
    • Eleanor Stone
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Clem
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • Major Rufus Cobb
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Bob Ford
    J. Edward Bromberg
    J. Edward Bromberg
    • George Runyan
    Donald Meek
    Donald Meek
    • Mc Coy
    Eddie Collins
    Eddie Collins
    • Station Agent
    George Barbier
    George Barbier
    • Judge
    Russell Hicks
    Russell Hicks
    • Prosecutor
    Ernest Whitman
    Ernest Whitman
    • Pinky
    Charles Tannen
    Charles Tannen
    • Charlie Ford
    Lloyd Corrigan
    Lloyd Corrigan
    • Randolph Stone
    Victor Kilian
    Victor Kilian
    • Preacher
    Edward McWade
    Edward McWade
    • Colonel Jackson
    George Chandler
    George Chandler
    • Roy
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • Bystander
    Frank Shannon
    Frank Shannon
    • Sheriff
    • Director
      • Fritz Lang
    • Writer
      • Sam Hellman(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Gene Tierney.
    • 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 reviews49

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A Satisfying tale of Revenge served hot!
    Thanks to the terrific cast and photography, this story makes a terrific western. Henry Hull is terrific as major Cobb, who expresses justified Southern outrage over the depradations of the carpetbaggers and the railroads. Despite the ignorant comments of some who dare to make a ludicrous comparison to fascism, what we get here is an honest expression of southern feelings. Yes, there was a condesencion toward blacks then, but let film show it as it was, let's not try to rewrite history or create a pleasing fiction as all too many modern films do. 'Shoot em down like dogs??!' I would dearly love to see Major Cobb in a modern day courtroom, giving fire and damnation to the lawyers and other parasites that hide behind suits and ties! This is a real satisfying film and Gene Tierney never looked better.
    helpful•19
    2
    • d1494
    • Jun 4, 2002

    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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