Purely Joyful Movie!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

'The Return of Frank James' is sequel to 'Jesse James' where Henry Fonda reprises his role as Frank. The film follows Frank's life after his brother Jesse is killed by the Ford brothers, and his chase of cowardice gunslingers. John Carradine (probably one of the greatest coward in Western history) again plays Bob Ford, and these two great players are supported by magnificent cast - Gene Tierney in her first film role, Henry Hull and Jackie Cooper.Visually striking (like one can expect from Lang movie), but substantially shallow, and historically incorrect, but whole lot of fun. This film is probably one of the best examples of mindless popcorn movies of 1940's. But it also proved that lighthearted westerns were not Fritz Lang's strongest genre.

OK, but not great. Historically fairly inaccurate, and contains some cringeworthy over-acting, most particularly from Henry Hull as Major Cobb. Henry Fonda is miscast as Frank James - it is very difficult to believe that he is an outlaw. He just seems too "nice".Still, it is fairly entertaining and gripping. Gene Tierney lights up the screen.For a good movie on the murder of Jesse James and an accurate portrayal of the demise of Robert Ford rather watch "The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford" (2007).

Frank James, after learning that the men who killed his brother, Jesse, have been pardoned, comes out of hiding to enact revenge.Following straight on after the ending of Henry King's 1939 Tyrone Power starrer, Jesse James, The Return Of Frank James sets its stall out from the off to entertain without giving much credence to history. Back by popular demand as Frank is Henry Fonda, who in turn is joined by the returning John Carradine and Charles Tannen as Bob and Charlie Ford respectively. Along for the ride and offering up petite beauty and innocence is Gene Tierney in her first starring role.Directed by Fritz Lang, who had cemented his glowing reputation with the likes of M & Fury, The Return Of Frank James is a solid if unspectacular Western entry. Certainly the dark theme of revenge is not to be sniffed at, nor is the strand dealing with the influence of the press. Whilst the California photography from George Barnes is appropriate and pleasing on the eye. It's just that the film, in spite of its fine production, feels like the cash in sequel it obviously is. It's a hard film to take seriously, which in a film dealing with serious issues such as revenge, is not particularly good really is it?!It's actually the jovial nature of it that stops it from veering towards the maudlin. Certainly the court case sequences are joyous and give Fonda and the team something to get stuck into. But it's an odd mix of a film, with its main allegiance difficult to really pin down. Yet in spite of my own protestations, it's a film I heartily recommend to those interested in light hearted Westerns, regardless of if that was Lang's intention from the off? It's also fair to say that those who enjoyed Henry King's far better first movie, will doubtless enjoy this sequel as well.Safe, solid and definitely enjoyable, but ultimately it's not very memorable. 6/10

I do not know if this is true or not, but I heard from someone that in order to make Grapes of Wrath, which he really wanted to do, Fonda had to make Jesse James, which he did'nt really want to do, because they were on the same contract, and any sequels or prequels to that. But it does'nt really matter if Fonda did not want to do Jesse James or Return of Frank James, because he has such a great acting ability, which he displays on screen. I think this one is superior to Jesse James for many reasons, all of which are hard to explain. Cooper turns in a worthy role as Frank's sidekick, Clem. But don't you think that the African-American servant is kind of silly? Some people say that Carradine is not a good villain, but when that happens, just refer to McCoy and Co. to fill in that role. I love Henry Hull's character, especially his rantings and ravings in the courthouse, and also his rantings and ravings while he paces up and down the floor of his newspaper office. There isn't very many people that he does not think should be taken out and shot down like a dog, is there?