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Alias Jesse James

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Alias Jesse James
theatrical release poster
Directed byNorman Z. McLeod
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Robert St. Aubrey
  • Bert Lawrence
Produced byJack Hope
Starring
CinematographyLionel Lindon
Edited by
  • Jack Bachom
  • Marvin Coil
Music byJoseph J. Lilley (uncredited)
Production
company
Hope Enterprises
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • March 20, 1959 (1959-03-20) (US)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.9 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)[1]

Alias Jesse James is a 1959 American Western comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bob Hope and Rhonda Fleming.[2][3] Based on a story by Robert St. Aubrey and Bert Lawrence, the film is about an outlaw who tries to kill an insurance agent who has been mistaken for him in order to collect on a big policy. Costumes by Edith Head.

Plot

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Milford Farnsworth is a bumbling insurance agent who unknowingly sells a life insurance policy to the outlaw Jesse James. Farnsworth is sent out west to shield the insurance company's investment by "protecting" James.

James has his own plan: to have Farnsworth killed while the insurance man is dressed as the outlaw so that James and his soon-to-be "widow", Cora Lee Collins, can collect on the $100,000 insurance policy. Farnsworth avoids several attempts on his life while he and Collins fall in love.

After the last attempt is made on his life, Farnsworth impersonates the Justice of the Peace, who is supposed to marry James and Collins. When Farnsworth and Collins make a run for it, they end up in a gun battle with the James Gang; several Western heroes make their cameos to surreptitiously help Farnsworth.

In the end, Farnsworth is celebrated as a hero, marries Collins, and becomes president of the insurance company. He boasts to a potential client that he offers protection for every contingency. His secretary announces Mrs. Farnsworth. It is Collins, followed by their six red-headed children, the youngest a pair of twins. "Well, you can't get insurance against everything," he says to the audience. His wife whispers in his ear and, as "The end" appears on screen, Farnsworth shrugs and rolls his eyes at the audience.

Cast

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Cameo appearances

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The gunfight scene at the end of the film features a number of cameo appearances by movie and television personalities who help Farnsworth and Collins defeat the James Gang. Although none are identified by character name in the film, each actor is dressed in the costume they wear playing the iconic Western character he or she portrayed on television or film. Most repeat the cliché of blowing non-existent smoke from their gun barrels, and they speak dialogue evoking their characters.

Following the theatrical release of the film, some later versions did not include all the cameos due to myriad legal problems with the rights, but Hope's clout at the time was so great that he managed to gather a dazzling array of screen cowboys for the original. The 2007 MGM Movie Legends DVD release of the film includes all of the cameos. The print streamed on TCM.com in August 2023 including all of the actors listed above.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1959: Probable Domestic Take", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
  2. ^ Variety film review; March 18, 1959, page 6.
  3. ^ Harrison's Reports film review; March 21, 1959, page 46.
  4. ^ "Alias Jesse James". www.tcm.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "TCM Monthly Schedule - View the Full TCM TV Schedule". www.tcm.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
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