Alias Jesse James *** (1959, Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey, Gloria Talbott) – Classic Movie Review 9207

Director Norman Z McLeod’s 1958 Western comedy film Alias Jesse James teams Bob Hope with Rhonda Fleming, reunited after The Great Lover (1949). And, plus, Hope was powerful enough as producer to gather a dazzling array of screen cowboys in cameo appearances for the gunfight scene at the end of the film.

Hope stars as Milford Farnsworth, who sells an insurance policy to Jesse James (Wendell Corey) and has to get it back or keep him alive. Jesse has a plan to pass off Milford’s body for his, but Milford is saved by guest appearances of a posse of Hollywood’s cowboys (James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, Ward Bond as Major Seth Adams from Wagon Train, Gary Cooper as as Will Kane from High Noon, Hugh O’Brian as Wyatt Earp, Fess Parker as Davy Crockett, and Roy Rogers) as well as Jay Silverheels as Tonto, Gail Davis as Annie Oakley, Jack Lambert as Snake Brice, Mike Mazurki as Dirty Dog Tough, Iron Eyes Cody, James Burke, Scatman Crothers as a train porter and Bing Crosby, dressed in Western clothes.

You can travel in Hope for this comedy Western that compares well with the star’s best movies. Fleming rings resoundingly as a cowboy belle called Cora Lee Collins and has a fun song with Hope, Ain’t-a-Hankerin’ (Music by Arthur Altman, Lyrics by Bud Burtson). Gloria Talbott makes her mark as Princess Irawanie.

Also in the cast are Jim Davis as Frank James, Will Wright as Titus Queasley, Mary Young as ‘Ma’ James, Mickey Finn, Bob Gunderson, Fred Kohler Jr, Ethan Laidlaw and Glenn Strange.

It is written by William Bowers and Daniel B Beauchamps, based on a story by Robert St Aubrey and Bert Lawrence.

Some later versions do not include all the cameos because of legal problems with the rights. The 2007 MGM Movie Legends DVD includes all the cameos. James Garner and Gene Autry had their scenes deleted.

None of the screen cowboys is identified by character name but each actor is dressed to resemble their iconic western character and speaks appropriate dialogue.

Alias Jesse James is directed by Norman Z McLeod, runs 92 minutes, is made by Hope Enterprises, is released by United Artists, is written by William Bowers and Daniel B Beauchamps, is shot in Technicolor by Lionel Lindon, is produced by Bob Hope (executive producer) and Jack Hope, is scored by Joseph J Lilley, and is designed by Roland Anderson and Hal Pereira. The costumes are designed by Edith Head.

After this, Hope preferred to make contemporary comedies.

Rhonda Fleming was born on 10 August 1923 in Hollywood and died on 14 October 2020, aged 97. Her most recent feature was The Nude Bomb in 1980.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9207

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