Reel Memories No. 102 – The Long Riders

by William V. Reynolds
Columnist

If Jesse James had had a bumper sticker and a bumper to put it on, it probably would have read
something like this, “Lee surrendered, I didn’t.” If you are truly a Southerner or have lived in the
South for any length of time, you’ve probably seen this sentiment on someone’s automobile. This
statement pretty much sums up the attitude of Jesse James and the men who rode with him.
The Long Riders (1980) is yet another telling of the Jesse James story. For all intents and
purposes the Civil War is over. Lee has surrendered. Reconstruction was about to begin and
many of the people in charge are carpetbaggers. The carpetbaggers are determined to make the
South pay for its past sins. They become the controllers as the railroads push westward and the
banks make huge investments in these enterprises.
The James brothers (portrayed by James and Stacy Keach) are joined by the Younger brothers,
Cole, Jim, and Bob (portrayed by David, Keith, and Robert Carradine), Bob and Charlie Ford
(portrayed by Nicholas and Christopher Guest), Ed and Clell Miller (portrayed by Dennis and
Randy Quaid). In a sentence, brothers portraying brothers, one of the unique qualities of the film.
Jesse James (Stacy Keach) who would later be known for his role as private detective Mike
Hammer, emerges as the leader of the gang. He proposes that they should concentrate on robbing
trains and banks in order to extract revenge against the Yankee carpetbaggers. Between the years
1865 and 1881 the James Gang was responsible for a number of such depredations.
The film spends a good deal of time emphasizing the last bank holdup of the James gang. The
gang is well known in Missouri and surrounding states. So Jesse comes up with a bold new plan
to rob a bank in Northfield, Minnesota. Jesse, who is unaware that the Pinkerton Detective
Agency has an informer in his gang, namely Bob Ford, organizes the plan and the gang rides to
Minnesota.
The bank robbery, of course, is a total disaster because the town has been informed that the gang
is coming. Most of the gang is killed or captured during the raid. Jesse and Frank managed to
escape and make their way back to Missouri. Jesse finally concludes that he has to lay low for a
while. He settles down under an assumed name.
Things are going pretty well until the reward for Jesse James reaches a point that even his own
gang members are tempted to collect it. Finally, Bob and Charlie Ford pay a visit to his home.
While there, Bob shoots Jesse in the back when he reaches up to straighten a picture on the wall.
Today we give a reel memories salute to the cast and crew of The Long Riders.
William V. Reynolds is the author of “Murder in the Okefenokee” available at McCaysville
Public Market and Pat’s Country Kitchen in McCaysville; Parris Pharmacy, Ingles and Book
Nook in Blue Ridge; Book Nook in Blairsville; and Phillips and Lloyd in Hayesville.