The Long Riders
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Movie Reviews of The Long Riders
Movie Review: Great, realistic atmospheric Western
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Long Riders" is one of the best Westerns ever made. It concerns one specific facet of the West treated now in only three other films, all of which concern the post-Civil War careers of the Missouri riders: those men and boys who threw in their hands with Bloody Bill Anderson, William Quantrill, Archie Clements and other guerrilla leaders in response to the horrific depredations of the murderers and rapists from Kansas styling themselves "Jayhawkers" and "Redleggers" (the union militia from Kansas, known for their red gaiters). The other three films are "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Ride with the Devil", and most recently, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".
Each of these films takes its measure of literary license, but each succeeds in recreating the historical reality of that era for modern viewers. "The Outlaw Josey Wales" is truest to the Western genre, while the other three all compete for historical accuracy in their own ways. "The Long Riders" is probably the best in its depiction of these men as continuing the Civil War in their own way, employing military-style tactics learned from their Missouri guerrilla leaders to rob trains and banks, and always wearing their distinctive, long grey dusters, which gave them the name "The Long Riders" (a name continued by Bill Doolin, Bill Dalton and the rest of the Oklahoma Long Riders).
The casting of the Keach, Carradine, and Quaid brothers as the James, Younger, and Miller (Ed and Clell) boys is a great touch, and Ry Cooder's arrangement of the music sets the period atmospherics perfectly (so much so that even "The Assassination of Jesse James" has to include a bit of "The Unreconstructed Rebel" with its defiant addendum from the Missouri riders: "I don't want no pardon, for anything I done.").
This film treats a piece of history that has been clouded and tarnished by dozens of traditional western portrayals employing all kinds of bad, stock stereotypes--none of which has any relationship to history or even reality. This film has the distinction of being the first to get at least a good part of the historical background, characterization, and period details right. David, Keith and Robert Carradine provide exceptional performances as the seldom-treated Younger brothers, and Stacey Keach is outstanding as Frank James. The weakest performance is that of James Keach as Jesse James, but it seems to have been a director's or screenwriter's choice to focus a minimum amount of time on Jesse James so as to highlight the rest of the gang. David Carradine's portrayal of Cole Younger is probably the strongest in the film, down to the capture of the shot-up Younger brothers after the botched Northfield raid and their dialogue with reporters and the authorities, which closely tracks the actual accounts. Despite the overdone development of the affair between Cole Younger and Belle Starr, the affair was real, and produced a daughter (an oft-overlooked historical fact; see Paul Wellman, A Dynasty of Western Outlaws).
I recommend this film to anyone interested in what these men were really like. No better film treatment exists, although "The Assassination of Jesse James" comes close with its periodicity.
Movie Review: Walter Hill's best film -- an unsung classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Just as the 80s were beginning and the Western was about to take a sad, decade long sleep, Walter Hill, fresh from his unexpected success with the gang film "The Warriors," turned out this unique and utterly remarkable Western about the James-Younger gang. Using real-life brothers to play the outlaw kin (two Keaches, three Carradines, two Quaids, two Guests), Hill crafts an intense character study that plays like a collaboration between Western great John Ford ("Stagecoach") and Japanese master Akira Kurosawa ("Yojimbo", a film Walter Hill later remade as "Last Man Standing"). "The Long Riders" is close to plotless, but it paints a fascinating picture of the gang and the family and community ties that keep them together (the Ford influence right there...community was his great theme) while delving into the nuances of each character (this is where the fraternal casting really helps out). And Hill acheives all this depth in only 100 minutes! The action sequences are the best in a Western since Sam Peckinpah; the Northfield robbery is particularly striking and brutal.
Aside from Hill and all the great actors, cinematography Ric Waite and composer Ry Cooder deserve special mention for the film's success. Waite creates an authentic "period" look with his deep, glowing photography; the DVD transfer captures this perfectly for the first time. Cooder's score is completely against the grain for the time: small, intimate, and filled with forgotten folk tunes that help paint a picture of a united, family-built community. It is almost a companion piece for David Mansfield's equally intimate score for "Heaven's Gate," released the same year as "The Long Riders."
The DVD has no extras except for a trailer, but the film is so wonderful and so rewards repeat viewings that you should grab a copy of it right away. Believe me, you'll be stunned by this piece of film art.
"I ain't aiming to do nothing...I'm doing it!"
Movie Review: A Magnificent Western
Summary: 5 Stars
One good example of a great movie Western is 1980's The Long Riders that was about the Jesse James gang and its ultimate downfall at Northfield, Minnesota in 1876.
The Long Riders is a movie where the producers went way out of their way to ensure high quality for their show. For instance, in most movies actors are cast as siblings without regard if they resemble each other. In this movie, real life brothers were cast as the brothers in the outlaw gang.
As a result, the roles of Bob Younger, Cole Younger & Jim Younger were played by David Carradine, Keith Carradine & Robert Carradine. The roles of Frank James and Jesse James were played by Frank Keach & Stacy Keach. The roles of Clell Miller & Ed Miller were played by Dennis Quaid & Randy Quaid. The roles of Bob Ford & Charlie Ford were played by Christopher & Nicholas Guest.
Not only did this casting result in brothers who actually looked like brothers, it also ensured that they acted towards each other on screen like brothers too. Even outlaws have families and loved ones too. This brilliant casting makes The Long Riders a classic Western. Of all the movies dealing with the Jesse James gang, this is the very best one. It is also historically accurate, which is an added bonus.
This is the very best Western of the 1980's and as such is heartily recommended.
Movie Review: An interesting way of presenting the Jesse James story
Summary: 5 Stars
This enjoyable R rated film depicts the James and Younger brothers in a good light, as likeable family men, who lived in Missouri and were affected by the Civil War that had just been over and the hard times that followed. They were liked by all the people in the vicinity. The film uses actual brothers to play the roles of the historic brothers. Two Keaches play the James boys, three Carradines play the Youngers, two Quades play two other relatives, and two other bothers play the Fords who Jesse and Frank reject from joining their gang and who killed Jesse James by shooting him in the back. The film depicts the Pinkerton detectives, who were chasing the gang, as doing many wrongs. They kill Jesse and Frank's simple-minded innocent brother, an innocent cousin of the Youngers, and an innocent farmer whose only crime was giving the James gang a place to stay.
Movie Review: BEST WESTERN - Hands Down
Summary: 5 Stars
WARNING!! BIASED REVIEWER!!Sorry, but I have little appreciation for Westerns. They tend to be preachy and predictable, with no moral ambiquity. Good guys, Bad guys, pat happy endings. Not so with this intelligently crafted film. It steers clear of the cactus cliches, while coupling reasonably accurate American history with superb story telling. The actual brothers portraying the historical brothers schtick is more than just a casting gimmick. It serves the film well, as the performances are excellent throughout the entire cast.
As far as the DVD goes, expect no extras, and good audio & picture quality, and you won't be disapointed.