The Long Riders

The Long Riders (1980)

Movie about the exploits of the Younger Gang (the James Brothers rode with them).

Four sets of real life brothers are the main actors.

A very young looking Dennis Quaid in a minor role as Ed Miller, portrayed in the movie as a cowardly murderer. The actor seems to fit into the role perfectly.

Randy Quaid in a larger role as Clel Miller. He gets his just desserts in Northfield.

Stacy Keach as Frank James, James Keach as Jesse. (James as James? Isn't that a bit much?)

The Carradine brothers as the Youngers.

The Guest brothers are the Fords.

Graphically violent with some minor nudity.

The Pinkertons are portrayed as murderous incompetent bunglers. They tossed a bomb into the house of Jesse's mother, killing his little brother, who had nothing to do with the James/Younger crime spree. The movie does not explain how the bomb also blew off his mother's arm.

The Great Northfield Minnesota raid is covered in excruciating detail. Cole Younger was shot 11 times, every one of them graphically portrayed.

The movie ends shortly after that dirty little coward (Bob Ford) laid poor Jesse in his grave.

The fate of Bob Ford is not included in the movie, a major omission.

They also omit the part where Charley Ford lies his way out of trouble by claiming that he never knew that Bob intended to murder Jesse.

Belle Starr is a minor but interesting role. Her husband Sam gets a cameo in a knife fight with Cole Younger.

I really liked the music by Ry Cooder.