Les femmes de Jesse James

A couple of southern theatre exhibitors decided they could make a western (or, in this case, a Southeastern) just as bad as the worse of those coming from Hollywood and proceeded to prove they could be not only as bad, they could be much worse. They ensured their success at obtaining this goal by hiring Don Barry as the director. Barry was the best choice, as only the egotistical-and-sad Barry could direct (or believe) a film in which he starred as a lady-killer whose charms women could not resist.(The Susan Hayward real-life swimming-pool incident not withstanding.) Jesse James (Don Barry), leaves Missouri for Mississippi, and immediately charms all the women in the cast out of their bloomers and garters, even though three of them towered over him. His first conquest is the banker's daughter who helps him loot the bank in exchange for a promise of marriage; he wanders over to the saloon and runs the crooked partner of the proprietress out of town, takes all of his-and-her money and leaves her, between kisses, hounding him for her share; the third one, the saloon singer, actually makes a mark out of him as she cons him into a boxing match against a professional fighter and he loses the fight and his money, but he holds the singer and the fighter up as they leave town and gets his money back; and then he romances and swindles Cattle Kate, a replay of what he had done somewhere before to Kate and the "gotcha-again" Kate even ends up behind bars. But no film that contains a cat-fight between Peggie Castle and Lita Baron can be called a complete waste of time

Don Barry was a heck of an actor; he probably could have been a good director, with a better script and a bigger budget.

As it was, he showed some inventiveness with camera angles in this generally not very good movie.

The title could be rather off-putting, sounding like some kind of exploitation film. As it turned out, the title actually made sense, or at least as much sense as the story could provide.

Peggie Castle was lovely, and actually quite good in a role that could have been ruinous if played differently.

Some of the cast members seemed to have been recruited from bystanders, but ultimately most of them did as well as they could with the script.

Jack Buetel showed he could perform and should be known as more than Jane Russell's leading man in "The Outlaw." Several others did little or nothing other than this film, but one, Mac McAllister, showed enough professionalism and personality I think it's a shame he didn't do more.

In some ways this is a standard Western, but the saloon brawl was definitely non-stereotypical. If you see this film, be sure to pay attention to the sheriff during the fight.

My copy of this film is a DVD in Volume 36 of The Great American Western series from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. It is not a very good quality picture, and, in too many places, the film was broken and spliced resulting in a jumpiness.

Still, all in all, this is a movie for Western fans and Don Barry fans to see at least once.

Added 18 July 2015: There are now some versions available at YouTube.com. Maybe at least one will be better quality.

Famed outlaw Jesse James is on the dodge and holding up in a small town in Mississippi. Before heading back to Missouri, James manages to complicate the lives of several women-mostly in low-cut gowns. This was star Don Barry's only stab at direction, and from the looks of it,all will be glad that he stopped here.**UPDATE**My earlier review of this picture was based on a viewing many years (decades?) prior. I recently obtained a copy of this movie, and I must say, that it is extremely BETTER than I remembered.

Not filmed in Hollywood, this one has a different feel than most of Barry's B Westerns, almost a nostalgic quality...it was to be his last starring role, of course. The acting isn't as bad as I recalled and Barry plays the Jesse role almost tongue-in-cheek. The story moves along at a nice pace and the bare knuckle fight between Barry and a boxing champ is good fun. Yes, the LOW budget shows, but it isn't any worse than some of what Barry did for Lippert a few years earlier. If you love B Westerns, or Don "Red" Barry, I would highly recommend this one.

Al Hillman is Champ O'Toole, not Clem Botts the Sheriff. Please check credits on film. Al Hillman died in 1965 at age 42 from cancer. In his memory, please correct the misprint on the IMDb profile. He did not play the role of the sheriff, but was the colorful boxer, Champ O'Toole, and this can be verified by the credits on the film itself. I found the movie to be fun and full of mischief. The Mississippi setting gives the film an authentic feel for the nature of the far from plush lifestyle of outlaws on the run. The female stars are vivacious and did not mind letting go of their vanity for a little cat fight, which in the 1950's was brazen!

1954? Crazy funny and would be rated R today for all the nutty borderline sexuality! Hilarious cat fights and low-budget drama.

Really surprised me. Enjoyed it for the extra cheese!!! The dance scenes and songs were especially tease-oriented and entertaining.

It was more of a sex comedy than a western and was well edited.

Jesse the player was often caught in his own web, and it was hilarious to see the cowboys betting on the girl fights.

All in all the film was shockingly B fun.

It delivered a silly sexy romp and really, what else can you expect? There were also some weird and experimental camera shots which added to the fun.

Will watch again!