Frank and Jesse
by Robert Boris
Our Price: $9.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.40 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bill Paxton, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Maria Pitillo, Randy Travis, Rob LoweDirector: Robert Boris
Brand: Lions Gate
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-01-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Movie Reviews of Frank and Jesse
Movie Review: CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS GONE BAD--BUT WHO'S AT FAULT?
Summary: 5 Stars
"Frank and Jesse" is a western, with historical significance, and plenty of shoot-em-up action. The story does not state that the killings and crime of the James Gang is acceptable, even though historically a great percentage of the public was sympathetic. That fact is presented in the movie script. What this movie does do, in a fine writing, acting, and filming experience, is explain how surviving through the conflict of the Civil War, and on the losing southern side, can change a man's outlook and ability to deal with life. Sometime in less than normal fashion. The methods some of the carpetbagger and money-venturists of the period used against the southern common people is presented as well. Not to mention the roles of politicians, the law, and capitalism in general.
So, the two young men trying to farm the James land, are attacked and turned again to killing and lawlessness, much like what they lived during the war (where that activity is condoned.) Who is guilty? Is it the James boys or is it the law, relentlessly forcing more and more killing. The film treads a fine line between murder, revenge, and self-defense.
Great acting by leads, Rob Lowe, Bill Paxton, and Randy Travis. Each presents a convincing rugged western man of the 1800's.
The historical aspect of the movie is perhaps embellished for the movie screen. What non-documentary film of historically famous characters is not changed for the entertainment of the public. The full amount of altered history is unknown, but this movie seems to show both sides of the James Gang vs Pinkerton and the railroad money boss conflict. It also shows the differences between the Frank and Jesse personalities.
It is interesting to relate the story of this movie centering around Frank and Jesse with another, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." That second movie staring Brad Pitt, highlights Jesse against a gang joiner, Robert Ford. Ford ultimately murdered Jesse. When is a murder not a murder? Enough of the facts correlate one film against the other to prove much of the history presented is legitimate. I recommend both DVDs, perhaps "Frank and Jesse" first, having more of the history of the James family provided.
If you don't mind a good bit of blood, and ruthless killings, then get this one, just for the historical demonstration of lawlessness and violence in the early life of this country. Then you'll have to take a side as to whether the James boys were justified, driven to the violence, born with it, or did they (as some believed) enjoy their life of crime? You will be presented the case. You will have to play judge and jury. Who is the guilty party? Or what is guilty? Or guilty OF what?
Plenty more in this movie than just a western. A timeless period-type story of the 1800's after the Civil War. Recommended even to the parson.
Summary of Frank and Jesse
When the civil war ended frank and jessee returned to their family farm. A railroad agent after the brothers land kills their younger brother while yankee soldiers do nothing. This and other atrocities by the soldiers start them on their legendary life of crime in the west. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 02/18/2003 Starring: Rob Lowe Bill Paxton Run time: 106 minutes Rating: R Director: Robert BorisThe story of Jesse and Frank James, the real-life robbers whose exploits earned them a Robin Hood reputation, has been portrayed in dozens of films that are more faithful to myth than to history. Only in the revisionist 1970s did the romantic shadings come off in a few genre-busting examples (notably The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid and The Long Riders). Oddly enough this 1994 feature takes more than a few factual liberties to restore the romantic portrait of the bank-robbing brothers. Four years after the Civil War, in a South crawling with carpetbaggers and occupied by Union troops, the hotheaded Jesse (Rob Lowe) and his clearheaded older brother Frank (Bill Paxton) take to the trail in a campaign of bank jobs, train robberies, and stage holdups while evading the dogged efforts of Allan Pinkerton (William Atherton) and his detective agency. Writer-director Robert Boris presents the boys as heroes of the defeated South, gentleman robbers avenging the pillage of their people by the railroad and bank concerns pouring in from the North and pursued by a maniacally driven Pinkerton on a personal quest for revenge. In the wake of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven this film comes off as old fashioned and a little naive, but the measured pace and the casting of country singer Randy Travis (who plays Cole Younger and narrates with a voice like molasses) gives the film, in moments, the intimacy of a ballad. --Sean Axmaker
Westerns DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Real-life Gangsters & Outlaws Portrayed in the Movies
Deadwood '76Release date: 2003-11-18; DVD
Best price: $2.43
Price in other shops:
![Lepke [VHS] Image](/images/Lepke-VHS-6300269841-X.jpg){kind=small}
Lepke [VHS]Warner Home Video; Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $25.00
![Machine Gun Kelly [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Machine Gun Kelly [VHS]Columbia/Tri-Star; Release date: 1992-05-27; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $23.72
The St. Valentine's Day MassacreTwentieth Century Fox; Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops:
The Public EnemyWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-01-25; DVD
Best price: $2.48
Price in other shops:
![Hit the Dutchman [VHS] Image](/images/Hit-the-Dutchman-VHS-6302620449-X.jpg){kind=small}
Hit the Dutchman [VHS]Lions Gate/Trimark Home Ent.; Release date: 1993-01-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
Pretty Boy FloydWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $4.89
Price in other shops:
![Mad Dog Coll [VHS] Image](/images/Mad-Dog-Coll-VHS-B00005NGCO-X.jpg){kind=small}
Mad Dog Coll [VHS]Kultur; Release date: 2001-07-31; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $18.98
Price in other shops:
HavanaUniversal; Release date: 1998-11-17; DVD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Frank and JesseLions Gate; Release date: 1999-01-05; DVD
Best price: $4.32
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
3:10 to Yuma (Widescreen Edition)LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2008-01-08; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops:
Wyatt Earp (Single Disc Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-05-02; DVD
Best price: $3.40
Price in other shops:
The Last Days of Frank & Jesse JamesRelease date: 2003-05-20; DVD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-02-05; DVD
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Texas RangersRelease date: 2002-04-16; DVD
Best price: $4.43
Price in other shops:
Young Guns IIWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $3.52
Price in other shops:
TombstoneRelease date: 1997-12-02; DVD
Best price: $5.74
Price in other shops:
American OutlawsRelease date: 2001-12-04; DVD
Best price: $6.31
Price in other shops:
The Long RidersTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2001-03-20; DVD
Best price: $3.94
Price in other shops:
Wild BillRelease date: 2002-04-02; DVD
Best price: $4.87
Price in other shops: