Dias de Jesse James

A train ride in Missouri finds that Jesse James is more popular than President Grant for baby names. Kind of convenient for the real deal, Jesse James (Don 'Red' Barry) and his brother Frank (Harry Worth) to show up and rob the train. Gabby Hayes takes some bad advice from his granddaughter (Pauline Moore) to put the money in a bank run by crooked banker (Arthur Loft). Things heat up fast as Roy Rogers is assigned as detective and meets up with the all-time greatest villain Harry Woods. Some great scenes in this one especially when Trigger on command throws Rogers from his horse and every scene with the gorgeous and talented Pauline Moore was a sight to behold. Also great performances from Wade Boteler, Ethel Wales, Glenn Strange, Olin Howland and childhood star Scotty Beckett.

Days of Jesse James (1939)

*** (out of 4)

A bank is robbed and Jesse James and his gang are accused of pulling off the heist. Special agent Roy Rogers thinks that James' bad reputation is getting him blamed for crimes that he didn't do so he joins the gang to try and find out what really happened. Of course, the real villain is the bank owner did the crime knowing he wouldn't be a suspect. DAYS OF JESSE JAMES was just one of many "historical" films that Rogers made during this period but if you're expecting some sort of documentary on the real history of James then you're going to be disappointed. All of these films obviously just used these historical names for marquee value so one should just expect entertainment and nothing else. This here is a pretty good one thanks in large part to the terrific cast. As you'd expect, Rogers is very good in the role of the good guy but then again I don't think he could be bad at pretty much playing himself. We have George 'Gabby' Hayes playing his sidekick so obviously you're in for a lot of good comic relief. Pauline Moore, one of my favorite love interests for Rogers, is also very good in her part as she has a lot of nice chemistry with the star. Don Barry does a nice job as well as Jesse James. Fans of Universal horror films will enjoy seeing Glenn Strange in a small role. With a short running time, fast action and a nice story, this here certainly won't be mistaken for a masterpiece or some sort of classic but fans of Rogers and "B" Westerns should at least be entertained by this.

Roy Rogers (as Roy Rogers) is out to get Red Barry (as Jesse James), whom he believes has robbed a bank - now, who'd believe Jesse James has robbed a bank? George "Gabby" Hayes (as Gabby) is along for the ride as Mr. Rogers' loyal sidekick. To set things right, Rogers becomes a temporary member of the "James Gang".

The film raises interesting questions about heroes and villains, but none of it is particularly unique. Rogers saving Scotty Beckett (as Buster) from a burning building, and a fast-moving posse, are the excitement highlights. Among the songs, Rogers' "Echo Mountain" is terrific; it's played a couple of times, and would have made a good title song (for a different film). With all that, "Days of Jesse James" is a fairly routine Rogers western.

**** Days of Jesse James (12/20/39) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Don 'Red' Barry

1st watched 8/21/2002 - 5 out of 10(Dir-Joseph Kane): Typical good-ole guy routine from Roy Rogers where he figures out everything to solve the mystery of who robbed a bank in the good ole west. Pretty much what I expected, although there are some twists and turns in this one and the methods Rogers and his sidekick use to find out whodunit is fairly ingenious, but does this make it a good movie. Well, not really, it just makes it ok to watch. I think these films have their place and I'm glad to see them restored onto DVD but the plot is much too simple and the villains a little to nice for us veteran-film viewing folk. Bye for now pardners!!

Days of Jesse James finds Roy Rogers as a peace officer on the trail of the selfsame outlaw who's getting accused of a lot of things due to his notoriety.

In fact that's what's happened here. A banker and his son decide to ripoff their own bank and their depositors and pin the crime on the notorious Jesse James. Roy's also in competition with railroad detective Harry Woods who is after the James gang.

Woods is rarely on the side of the law in westerns and he's barely on the side of it here. With his character and with Jesse who is played by another of Herbert J. Yates's cowboy stars at Republic, Don Barry, the film this most resembles is 20th Century Fox's epic western Jesse James which came out the same year.

Roy's limited to only one song here and there's more emphasis on plot than you'll find it most B westerns. Actually the film bares more of a resemblance to a Randolph Scott product than a Roy Rogers western and that's to its credit.

Still the legion of fans for The King of the Cowboys will love it.