The Long Riders (DVD)

The Long Riders- A Review By Addy

==Introduction==

_The Long Riders_ is a film that whenever I have watched it I felt it was the sort of film that was directed by one of my favourite directors, Sam Peckinpah. Therefore it came as very little surprise to learn that Sam Peckinpah was Walter Hills mentor. So Walter Hills _The Long Riders_ was released in 1980 and is a film based on the true story of the James/Younger gang ...
...James==

During the American Civil War Jesse and Frank James rode with the Missouri Raiders under the legendary 'Bloody' Bill Anderson. This is where they harnessed the skills that would in later years see them excel as bank robbers. The Missouri Raiders used Guerilla style warfare which incorporated riding in hard and fast whilst being able to shoot accurately from astride a horse at full gallop. They also utilised espionage, information ... more

The Long Riders- A Review By Addy

Introduction

The Long Riders is a film that whenever I have watched it I felt it was the sort of film that was directed by one of my favourite directors, Sam Peckinpah. Therefore it came as very little surprise to learn that Sam Peckinpah was Walter Hills mentor. So Walter Hills The Long Riders was released in 1980 and is a film based on the true story of the James/Younger gang led by the enigmatic but charismatic Jesse James.

Jesse James

During the American Civil War Jesse and Frank James rode with the Missouri Raiders under the legendary 'Bloody' Bill Anderson. This is where they harnessed the skills that would in later years see them excel as bank robbers. The Missouri Raiders used Guerilla style warfare which incorporated riding in hard and fast whilst being able to shoot accurately from astride a horse at full gallop. They also utilised espionage, information gathering and all manner of operations outside of the regular duties of a standard soldier. After the war with carpetbaggers and the Union railroad suffocating the confederacy and with many atrocities being carried out by the Federals, it was not long before the James family fell foul of the Yankee incursion and had to strap on their firearms to get some recompense. As the Wild West equivalent of Robin Hood, the James Younger gang were so loved that the protection and aid offered them gave the boys an illustrious career of outlawry stemming in excess of fifteen years.

"We tried a desperate game and lost. But we are rough men used to rough ways, and we will abide by the consequences." Cole Younger (1876)

Film Specs

Running Time: 99 minutes
Screen Format: 1.85:1 Anamorphic NTSC
Soundtracks: English Mono/French Mono
Subtitles: French/Spanish
Special Features: Theatrical Trailer
Release date: 1980
Certificate: 18

Starring

James Keach - Jesse James
Stacy Keach - Frank James
David Carradine - Cole Younger
Robert Carradine - Bob Younger
Keith Carradine - Jim Younger
Dennis Quaid - Dennis Miller
Randy Quaid - Clell Miller
Christopher Guest -Charlie Ford
Nicholas Guest - Robert Ford

It was in late summer 1876 that Cole, Bob and Jim Younger boarded the train for Northfield, Minnesota, and the ill-fated robbery there. Cole with eleven bullets, Jim with five and Bob with his chest shot up were finally found in an area known as Hanska Slough. After a brief gunfight, Bob stood and yelled, "I surrender; they are all down but me." Northfield News Publishing Company (1876)

Synopsis

The Long Riders begins with the James/Younger gang already well into their career of alleviating Yankee banks of their money. From here the film really starts to capture the decline and ultimately the demise of the James/Younger gang. The film embodies much of the family life as well as the outlaw life of the members. Eventually the gang attempt a daring robbery that becomes legendary and referred to as "The Northfield Raid"

A Viewers Opinion

One of the minor disappointments for me is that the film only scratches the surface of the alter ego of Jesse James in the form of Mr. Howard but clearly this was not the direction Walter Hill wanted to take for his version and he only had 99 minutes to put across what he wanted. Perhaps he could have extended the film and given other aspects of Jesse a portrayal such as the period leading up to Jesse becoming an outlaw and his reasons. Hill tries to illustrate that many empathise with him and his gang but never truly manages to convey why this is. Furthermore, for Hill this would have been too much of in the opposite direction of his style and may have spoiled the film.

One of the things that the film does do well is convey the morality and gentleman manner of the outlaws. Trigger happy folk are expelled from the gang and even though there is animosity among some of them they are loyal to the end. In fact they are such refined gentry that without their firearms they are very bourgeois, courteous to women, very polite and articulate.
The finest quality of the film which is Peckinpah-esque is the manner in which authenticity is incorporated into the film. Sets are magnificent and town scenes are littered with extras giving a real life Wild West feel to the set. Clothing is spot on but also the soundtrack itself adds to the authenticity by integrating authentic folk music with an original soundtrack by Ry Cooder. In 1980 Ry Cooder won the Best Music award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The chilling rendition of "I'm A Good Ole Rebel" is considered to be one of the great period pieces done in the modern era. The script is spot on and the fine line up of actor's cast themselves into their roles to perfection.

Another marvel is the scene at the Northfield Raid. My word this is directing perfection and a quality of special effects seldom seen in this era of film making. During the blazing gun battle with the outlaw gang being shot up to oblivion they utilise some scenes in slow motion. There are eerie sounds and you can hear the winging sound of the bullets flying slowly through the air getting louder as they close in on the target, flesh is heard tearing and horses snort their panic at the loud sounds and smell of blood. There are blends of speeding up and slowing down. One part the gang charge the horses head on through a huge glass window in desperation to escape and the slow motion kicks in and hauntingly you hear the horses whinnie and breath heavy with laboured breath and the men's yells of fear resonate distort mixing with other sounds and warp like a demonic incantation. In essence you the viewer feel every bullet, sense every ounce of sheer terror and desperation and feel like you are there yourself. Never again did I see film work such as this until decades later in a the beach landings of a film called "Saving Private Ryan"

From a female perspective the film also helps to put across the hardships endured by being the wife, lover etc of an outlaw especially in the relations Cole Younger has with Belle Starr. Relationships are touched upon quite a bit in the film and even the childish games that some play in courting rituals. The importance of family is also rammed home profoundly which historically was of paramount importance to southern folk. Even though the film in parts is brutally violent in a realistic manner the essence of morality is never far behind and put across to the viewer once their attention is fully gained. This is something never lacking in either a Peckinpah or Hill matinee, they draw you in with brutal, cold, reality and authenticity to sell you the concepts or principality. Films such as The Wild Bunch with Peckinpah or Southern Comfort with Hill have seemingly bad men who have a clear distinction on morality, who only go so far in their badness, and ultimately do something really great. This usually ends up being that they sacrifice themselves for a greater good.

Conclusion

This film for me was ahead of its time and breathed new life in a struggling genre. This is a western with such a huge difference to other westerns and whilst some of the ingredients are the same the mix as created an exceptional cake with a difference, a difference where quality is the difference. The film has claims to fame such as the most on screen groups of siblings in any one movie, or awards for soundtrack but that is just extra bonuses, the magic of this film is the film itself.

Things I Learned From The Film

♠ Who needs body armour ? luck is much better. Cole Younger got wounded thirty times in his life and had fourteen bullets still in him when he died an old man in bed!
♠ Never do spring cleaning without arming yourself first
♠ If the cooking don't kill you, your guest will
♠ When robbing banks in an unfamiliar territory make sure that you do your homework first.
♠ Having a bullet hole through your face does nothing to improve your chances with the fairer sex

"Just able barely to mount a horse and ride about a little in the spring of 1866 my life was threatened daily, and I was forced to go heavily armed. The whole country was then full of militia, robbing, plundering and killing." Jesse James

All that is left for me to say is thanks for all the reads and rates and that's all folks. Addy.

© May 2008 

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