The Long Riders (1980)

Director, Walter Hill was keen to make a western, following his successes with The Driver and The Warriors the previous two years but I don't feel this really is anywhere near as good as the following years Southern Comfort. That starred Keith Carradine and it is he and his brother David who take top honours here. The Keach brothers are fine and similarly the Quaids but although it must have seemed a good notion to have three pairs of siblings play in this Jesse James tale, I'm not sure it works as well as it should have. The men rob banks and then fade out whilst in-between they talk a lot about family and marriage and mothers but it is not too convincing. The film only looks good now and again and it is hard to care for anyone here.

If you are a fan of the western genre then this film will leave you satisfied. Just like the old stories about great train robbers, and bank heists... the younger gang along with the James' boys team up to race across the US states creating mayhem wherever they go although considered post modern robin hoods at the same time. It was an incredible thrill ride mainly for the reason that all the actors were related to each other.The Carridines, the Quaids, and the Keaches. Some of the most prolific actors during the eighties. A tale about desperation after the civil war. Struggling with finances the James' brothers join or rather form a posse to ride between states robbing banks, and trains to feed their desires. At one point one of the Miller boys, (Dennis Quaid) shoots an innocent bystander resulting in his expulsion from the group only to go off, and try to live a normal life.In the meantime his other brother (Randy Quaid) sticks with the group in light of the circumstances. Every one of them try to live a decent existence of either farming or another trade but the call of the wild keeps them moving forward with a last job in Missouri where they are ambushed by the state marshal. This culminates into one the greatest chases on the silver screen where the group during their escape rides through an entire building on horseback.Many called it the most violent movie to date until Scarface hit the screen starring Al Pacino. Yet the idea of a free nation in the west by hand gun and pure grit tells it as more poetic for the fallen south. Many who knew Jesse James, thought of him as a hero than a killer except the tale in this film says he was shot by two gunman in his home. Others say he escaped to Mexico or was seen in another part of the country. His death albeit mysterious remains debatable. As for the other part of the clan they lived out their lives in prison as it was told in the history books.The long riders will remain as one of the best told stories about the younger gang, and how their lives changed the way the law oversees its citizens when it comes to pure determination, fortitude, and audacity. Not all live by the law, but when it comes down to family, there is no law in existence that can change the heart of those who remain faithful to one another. Highly recommended to those who love westerns.

!980's version of the well-worn Jesse James-Cole Younger legends as they move from one robbery to the next, but never abandon their regional roots.Kick-ass western in the mode of The Wild Bunch (1969). Certainly no effort here at glamorizing anybody or anything. These outlaws of legend are about as grungy and unslickened as I expect the real ones were. No bath tub Motel 6 around here. Heck, they're not even very likable. No romanticizing these rough-necks, even as they plug a couple bank tellers in pretty cold-blooded fashion. Then again, they're respected by family and locals. Perhaps in their own way, they're continuing Confederate resistance to Yankee domination.And get a load of that hog farm that's about the last word in mud and slop. No Farmer John's running this pig-pen. Thankfully, there're no cosmetic gun-downs. Instead, when shots are traded, blood spouts freely from gaping puncture wounds, something traditional Hollywood seldom did. But, holy of holys, even director Hill and Co. carry on Hollywood's tradition of never shooting horses, even when that's obviously the best way of thwarting outlaw escape. Nonetheless, I salute the makers for their efforts at background realism, so unlike the air-brushed accounts of the 40's and 50's. But who is Pamela Reed. Her turn as a sluttish Belle Starr darn near steals the show, and that's up against strong turns from the Keach and Carradine brothers, respectively. Given the crowded cast, there's not much chance at developing character, but the scripters furnish good glimpses through he-man byplay and interaction with women. If the movie's flawed, I think it comes with the Northfield raid which appears overdone and none too plausible given the deafening cannonade of shots.All in all, it's a memorable western, well-mounted and well-performed. So if you liked The Wild Bunch, you're bound to like this successor. Yes indeed, decades of film-makers have milked the James legend, but this is one of the best, if not the best.

I love how the makers of this movie use sets of 'American brothers in real life' to depict sets of 'American brothers in real-old American history!'David, Keith, and, Robert Carradine portray the Younger Brothers; James and Stacy Keach portray the James Brothers; Dennis and Randy Quaid portray the Miller Brothers; and, Christopher and Nicholas Guest portray the Ford Brothers - great casting!This is an excellent movie from start to finish! The acting is excellent...as is the direction; the music; the sets; the settings and scenery; the costumes; etc., and, especially the action - the action is exemplary!"The Long Riders" is directed by Walter Hill ("The Warriors"), who is a protégé of the exUS Marine "Master Director" of movie-war, -battle, and, -violence...Sam Peckinpah; and, he obviously learned a lot!This is a great movie if you're into extreme and realistic westerns such as "The Wild Bunch" and, "Tombstone."I highly recommend this movie to those whom are! :)