The Return of Frank James

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.

The Return of Frank James
The Return of Frank James movie cover
Directed byFritz Lang
Written bySam Hellman
Produced byDarryl F. Zanuck
Kenneth Macgowan
StarringHenry Fonda
Gene Tierney
Jackie Cooper
Henry Hull
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Edited byWalter A. Thompson
Music byDavid Buttolph
Production
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Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • August 16, 1940 (1940-08-16)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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After the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse, Frank James seeks revenge on his killers, Bob and Charlie Ford.

Cast

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Production

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The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Tuolumne County, California.[1]

Preservation

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The Academy Film Archive preserved The Return of Frank James in 2000.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Jensen, Larry (2018). Hollywood's Railroads: Sierra Railroad. Vol. Two. Sequim, Washington: Cochetopa Press. p. 19. ISBN 9780692064726.
  2. ^ "Preserved Projects". Academy Film Archive.
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