The Return of Frank James is a 1940 Western film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney. It is a sequel to Henry King's 1939 film Jesse James. Written by Sam Hellman, the film loosely follows the life of Frank James following the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse James, at the hands of the Ford brothers. The film is universally considered historically inaccurate, but was a commercial success. It was the first motion picture for the actress Gene Tierney, who plays a reporter for the newspaper The Denver Star.
Contents
Plot
After the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse, Frank James seeks revenge on his killers, Bob and Charlie Ford.
Cast
Henry Fonda as Frank James
Gene Tierney as Eleanor Stone
Jackie Cooper as Clem
Henry Hull as Major Rufus Cobb
John Carradine as Bob Ford
J. Edward Bromberg as George Runyan
Donald Meek as McCoy
Eddie Collins as Station Agent
George Barbier as Judge
Russell Hicks as Prosecutor
Ernest Whitman as Pinky
Charles Tannen as Charlie Ford
Lloyd Corrigan as Randolph Stone
Victor Kilian as Preacher
Edward McWade as Colonel Jackson
George Chandler as Roy
Irving Bacon as Bystander
Frank Shannon as Sheriff
Barbara Pepper as Nellie Blane
Louie Mason as Watchman, Wilson
Stymie Beard as Mose
William Pawley and Frank Sully as Actors
Davidson Clark as Officer
Robert McKenzie as Old Man on Rocker (uncredited)
Adrian Morris as Denver Detective (uncredited)
Lillian Yarbo as Eleanor's Maid (uncredited)
Production
The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Tuolumne County, California.
Preservation
The Academy Film Archive preserved The Return of Frank James in 2000.