THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI

Robert Bice and Keith Richards as Frank and Jesse James

THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI (12 chapter Republic serial/1949. Director: Fred C. Brannon. 

Frank and Jesse James (Robert Bice of Captive Women and Keith Richards) only want to forget their past, go straight, and live their lives in peace. They are befriended by Lon Royer (John Hamitlon), a former member of the James Gang, and his daughter, Peg (Noel Neill), who are running a freight business in the town of Rimrock. Unfortunately, Ace Marlin (Roy Barcroft of Manhunt of Mystery Island), who is running a rival business, wants to obliterate the competition and murders Lon. Marlin's silent partner, who pretends to befriend the grieving Peg, is Belle Calhoun (Patricia Knox), who owns the general store. Frank and Jesse, masquerading as Peg's cousins, John Howard and Carroll, do everything they can to help Peg and her business, and counteract the increasingly violent and sinister actions of Marlin. 

Roy Barcroft and Patricia Knox

The James Brothers of Missouri is the third and last of the three Jesse James serials produced by Republic Pictures. Clayton Moore was Jesse in the first two serials, and while Richards is fine as Jesse James, Moore is still missed. Neill appeared in the previous serial, The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, but she plays a different character this time. This is also true of Roy Barcroft, who is very adept in his villainy. Patricia Knox is also quite credible as a woman who seems to have a heart of gold but is really as nasty and manipulative as any hooker-hard gun moll. Lane Bradford [The Invisible Monster], Tom Steele, and Marshall Reed are familiar serial stalwarts who play various thugs in Marlin's employ. 

Keith Richards

The acting in this is fine, but Fred C. Brannon, who often co-directed these serials, proves that he has as assured a sole directorial hand as any other Republic fixture. The serial moves at a brisk pace and features some thrilling chase sequences, as well as cliffhangers in which Jesse is unconscious in the back of a runaway wagon, which blows up, and Peg is nearly scalded by acid. In this serial, Frank and Jesse are not anything like the real desperadoes, who were thugs, unrepentant criminals, and who even attacked and murdered civilian abolitionists. The story that they robbed the rich and gave to the poor like Robin Hood is also a load of crap. Keith Richards amassed nearly 200 credits, most of them on television or in bit parts in the movies. He played a drunken saloon patron in Jesse James Rides Again, then played Jesse himself -- a rare starring part -- two serials later. 

Verdict: The "heroes" in this weren't really heroes, but the serial is good and exciting western fun. ***.