Jesse James in the Movies: "Jesse James" (1939) starring Tyrone Power

The first Jesse James movie was "The James Boys of Missouri" (1908), 18 minutes long and available online.

 

I recall reading that James' real son made sort of a sideshow film career out of playing his father.

 

So did the "assassin"

The next movie featuring JJ was: "Jesse James" (1911)

 

You know it's kind of interesting he became such a 'Robin Hood' figure considering the fact that many considered him to be a Confederate terrorist

 

I think my description would be 'common bandit'...

The next one was "Jesse James Under the Black Flag" (1921)

I thought this meant Jesse James was sailing the Spanish Main, for some reason.

 

"The Outlaw" (1921) starring Jesse James, Jr.

The younger James was an attorney who practiced in LA and had four daughters.

 

"Jesse James"(1927)

Fred Thompson was the star of low-budget Westerns. He died young of blood poisoning.

 

Jesse James (1939)

This one starred Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda and Jesse and Frank, and is quite famous. John Carradine plays Robert Ford.

 

There was a sequel with Fonda reprising his role. The Return of Frank James, I think. Both the original and sequel are considered to be pretty good, but I haven't seen them. Carradine is a great cast for Ford; if you're going to play him a certain way, that is, which I guess they are.

 

Oh, definitely. This film was directed by a good director of Americana, Henry King; "The Return of Frank James" (1940), was directed by Fritz Lang, of all people.