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I Shot Jesse James

I Shot Jesse James

Western · Drama · 1949

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend Cynthy. The guilt-stricken Ford soon finds himself greeted with derision and open mockery throughout town. He travels to Colorado to try his hand at prospecting in hopes that marriage with Cynthy is still in the cards.

Movie details

I Shot Jesse James

“THE THRILLING AND COLORFUL LAST DAYS OF AMERICA'S MOST FABULOUS OUTLAW...POWERFULLY WRITTEN IN GUNSMOKE!”

1949 Western · Drama 1h 21m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend Cynthy. The guilt-stricken Ford soon finds himself greeted with derision and open mockery throughout town. He travels to Colorado to try his hand at prospecting in hopes that marriage with Cynthy is still in the cards.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over I Shot Jesse James?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Samuel Fuller

Written by

Samuel Fuller

Preston Foster

Preston Foster

John Kelley

Barbara Britton

Barbara Britton

Cynthy Waters

John Ireland

John Ireland

Bob Ford

Reed Hadley

Reed Hadley

Jesse James

J. Edward Bromberg

J. Edward Bromberg

Harry Kane

Victor Kilian

Victor Kilian

Soapy

Tom Tyler

Tom Tyler

Frank James

Court is in session

Put I Shot Jesse James on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Patience is part of the point.”

Duration becomes texture. The film asks you to inhabit its world instead of merely processing its plot.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“A test of endurance, your honour.”

Stillness keeps submitting itself as meaning. At some point, contemplation needs something worth contemplating.