Alias Jesse James

1959
U
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Bob Hope and Rhonda Fleming in Alias Jesse James (1959)

Outlaw T.J. "Jesse" James tries to kill insurance agent Milford Farnsworth, who's been mistaken for Jesse, in order to collect on a $100,000 life insurance policy.Outlaw T.J. "Jesse" James tries to kill insurance agent Milford Farnsworth, who's been mistaken for Jesse, in order to collect on a $100,000 life insurance policy.Outlaw T.J. "Jesse" James tries to kill insurance agent Milford Farnsworth, who's been mistaken for Jesse, in order to collect on a $100,000 life insurance policy.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Top cast82

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Bob Hope

Milford Farnsworth

Rhonda Fleming

Cora Lee Collins

Wendell Corey

Jesse James

Gloria Talbott

Princess Irawanie
(as Gloria Talbot)

Jim Davis

Frank James

Will Wright

Titus Queasley

Mary Young

'Ma' James

Mickey Finn

Tough #2 in Dirty Dog Saloon

Bob Gunderson

James Gang Member

Fred Kohler Jr.

James Gang Member
(as Fred Kohler)

Ethan Laidlaw

James Gang Member

Glenn Strange

James Gang Member

Richard Alexander

Jeremiah Cole
(uncredited)

James Arness

Marshal Matt Dillon
(uncredited)

Al Bain

Train Passenger
(uncredited)

Eddie Baker

Townsman
(uncredited)

Margaret Bert

Townswoman
(uncredited)

Oliver Blake

Mortimer Hopelaw
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Cameos in the final gunfight included popular stars of TV and screen Westerns, appearing in order: Hugh O'Brian (as Wyatt Earp), Ward Bond (as Major Seth Adams from "Wagon Train"), James Arness (as Matt Dillon), Roy Rogers, Fess Parker (as Davy Crockett), Gail Davis (as Annie Oakley), Gary Cooper, Jay Silverheels (as Tonto from "The Lone Ranger"), as well as Bing Crosby in his customary Hope film cameo.

Goofs
According to the date on Queasley's telegram, the story takes place in 1880. Yet Milford and Cora Lee sing a song mentioning Grant's Tomb, even though President Ulysses S. Grant didn't die until 1885 and his tomb in New York City wasn't built until many years after that. Also, Milford sees a young boy playing the piano who tells him his name is Harry Truman. Truman wasn't born until 1884.

Quotes
Titus Queasley: Farnsworth, what do you expect to achieve with such crass ineptitude, such utter incompetence, such colossal stupidity?
Milford Farnsworth: Well, I was hoping to become your assistant.

Alternate versions
In various literary sources (Citadel press' "The Films of Gary Cooper" for one), both Gene Autry and James Garner are quoted making cameo appearances in the film, but neither is to be found in the present US video version.

Connections
Referenced in Bonanza: Alias Joe Cartwright (1964)

Soundtracks
Alias Jesse James
Lyrics by 'By' Dunham (as William D. Dunham)
Music by Marilyn Hooven and Joseph Hooven (as Joe Hooven)
Performed by Guy Mitchell

User reviews36

Featured review

Great sight gags!

This movie was tied up for years due to royalty rights since 11 cowboy stars of the late '50s appear in cameos helping Bob Hope in the final shootout. Note that Gene Autry and James Garner do not appear in the current product, though they were in the original.

Then there is an owl-eyed kid named Harry Truman playing the piano. Bob clubs a gila monster ("The mice sure grow big around here"), then realizes he used a rattlesnake.

I've shown this tape to many people, and all agree it's the best Bob Hope movie and one of the funniest movies they've ever seen.