Product Details

• Actors: Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Jackie Cooper, Henry Hull, John Carradine
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: May 4, 1999
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301802012
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,053 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Henry King's 1939 Jesse James sidestepped history to embrace folklore's version of the outlaw as a populist hero. This sequel is pure dime-novel fiction, with Jesse's brother (Henry Fonda) getting even, albeit reluctantly, with Bob Ford (John Carradine), "the dirty little coward" who back-shot his leader to win amnesty. The revenge theme would seem tailor-made for 20th Century–Fox's newly signed directorial talent, Fritz Lang, to whip up a fine Teutonic frenzy. However, the maestro of Die Nibelungen treated the material straight, like the good, impersonal Hollywood craftsman he was eager to be taken for, at that point in his career. Besides, Lang loved the West and Western lore, and was happy working in the Western genre. (Check out his next Fox assignment, Western Union, for a richer confirmation of this.) The Technicolor is vivid, nowhere more so than in the red lips of Gene Tierney in her screen debut. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lang's First "Western Noir", January 28, 2008

By 

Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Return of Frank James (DVD)

In 1940, Darryl Zanuck gave Fritz Lang the opportunity to shoot his first Western - a sequel to director Henry King's "Jesse James" (1939). When asked why he allowed Lang to make a Western, the Fox producer responded: "Because he'll see things we don't." Lang's attention to detail and atmosphere dominates this unusual tale of revenge. "The Return of Frank James" also marks a cinematic advance for the German director in his vivid use of Technicolor and location photography. An impressive highlight is the chase through the High Sierras - a spectacular action sequence that reveals Lang's expressionist design in his use of architectural rock formations. "The Return of Frank James" has a look and feel unlike any Western of the period. In some respects, it can be considered the first "Western noir." Henry Fonda delivers a memorable performance in the title role, with good support from Henry Hull, John Carradine and Jackie Cooper.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sequel to Jesse James, August 1, 2006

By 

Daniel Lee Taylor "dan57" (GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Return of Frank James (DVD)

If you have ever seen the Tyrone Power movie of Jesse James, this is a must. If you have not seen it, this is still a great movie. The film picks up where the first ended and runs from there. Henry Fonda is simply great as the slow talking but extremely wily Frank James. much of the cast carries over into this sequel with is seamless in production. It was very well written and beautifully filmed. This is a good one to watch. Better yet, get both and watch them together. It will be a hoot.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Western from a Classic Director and Classic Actor, April 25, 2002

By 

Kevin B. Hovis "Sir Kevin" (Canton, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Return of Frank James [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is much better than what the other reviewers would have you believe. While it is a sequel, it stands on its own as sort of a revenge flick with Frank (Henry Fonda) terrorizing and delivering retribution to John Carradine's Robert Ford, the man who shot Jesse James. It is also the screen debut of the beautiful Gene Tierney. Compared to the special effects laden trash spewn out by Hollywood today, this has excellent characterization, excellent plot and excellent acting. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Fritz Lang did a great job of depicting his vision of the Old West and while it may not be the greatest Lang film such as his 1931 classic, M, it is still a classic nonetheless.