In Alias Jesse James, a self-conscious Western comedy, Bob Hope plays greenhorn insurance salesman Milford Farnsworth, who sells a paid-up policy to a T.J. James, who he soon discovers is the legendary criminal Jesse James (Wendell Corey). The beneficiary is Jesse’s girl, Cora Lee Collins, a dance hall queen known as “The Duchess” (Rhonda Fleming).
Grade: B-
Milford is sent West to retrieve the policy and get his company off the hook and he joins the James gang, to protect Jesse. Milford begins to emulate the notorious outlaw, which gives Jesse the idea that he can substitute the Milford for himself, collect the $100,000 insurance and flee to California with the Duchess.
Jesse’s plans are carried out and Milford is left in a ditch for dead. However, his bulletproof vest saves the day, and in the end, he and the Duchess hold off the James gang until reinforcements arrive.
The gunfight scene at the en features cameo appearances by movie and TV personalities who help Farnsworth and Collins defeat the James Gang. Although none are identified by character, each actor is dressed in costumes they wear playing the iconic Western characters they portrayed. Most repeat the cliché of blowing non-existent smoke from their gun barrels, and speak words that evoke their characters.
Hugh O’Brian as Wyatt Earp: “That got ’em!”
Ward Bond as Major Seth Adams from WagonTrain: “Well, back to the wagon.”
James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon in TV series Gunsmoke: “Well, another one for boot hill.”
Roy Rogers (as himself), his radio, TV programs, many films, including earlier Hope western, Son of Paleface.
Fess Parker as Davy Crockett, as he portrayed him in Disney film and TV miniseries, says, “Shoot at my friend, will ya,” as he moves to reload his flintlock (which does smoke).
Gail Davis as Annie Oakley: “A little high…”
Gary Cooper as himself: “Yep”. Cooper wears dark blue shirt, black hat and badge, not dressed as Will Kane from High Noon.
Jay Silverheels as Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s partner on the TV show, shoots one of the villains with arrow. “Paleface bite dust.”
Bing Crosby, dressed in TV-style Western regalia and wearing badge, ends the gunfight by shooting Jesse James’ gun out of his hand. Crosby coughs when blowing into his gun, then shrugs and says to audience, “This fellow needs all the help he can get,” referring to similar comments breaking the fourth wall in Hope and Crosby Road to… pictures.
Cast:
Bob Hope (Milford Farnsworth)
Rhonda Fleming (The Duchess)
Wendell Corey (Jesse James)
Jim Davis (Frank James)
Gloria Talbott (Indian Maiden)
Will Wright (Titus Queasley)
Mary Young (“Ma” James)
Sid Melton (Fight Fan)
George E. Stone (Gibson Girl Fan)
James Burke (Charlie, bartender)
Joe Vitale (Sam Hiawatha)
Lyle Latell (Conductor)
Harry Tyler (Elmo, station master)
Mike Mazurki (Tough)
Mickey Finn (Tough)
Nestor Paiva (Bixby
Mike Ross (Killer)
Emory Parnell (Sheriff)
Stan Jolley (Conductor)
Dick Alexander (Jeremiah Cole)
Oliver Blake (Undertaker)
Jack Lambert (Snake Brice)
Ethan Laidlaw (Henchman)
Glenn Strange (Henchman)
J. Anthony Hughes (Dirty Dog Salonk eeper)
Bob Gunderson
Fred Kohler, Jr.
Iron Eyes Cody
Credits
A Hope Enterprises, Inc. Production.
Released through United Artists.
Color by DeLuxe.
Director: Norman McLeod.
Producer: Jack Hope.
Executive Producer: Bob Hope.
Scenarists: William Bowers and Daniel D. Beauchamp.
Photographer: Lionel Lindon.
Art Directors: Hal Pereira and Roland Anderson.
Special Photographic Effects: John P. Fulton.
Process Photography: Farciot Edouart.
Set Decorators: Sam Comer and Bertram Granger.
Costumer: Edith Head.
Editors: Marvin Coil and Jack Bachom.
Sound Recorders: Lyle Figland and Charles Grenzbach.
Music Arranger/Conductor: Joseph J. Lilley.
Music: Songs “Ain’t-A-Hankerin’” and “Protection” by Arthur Altman
Lyrics: Dunham.
Sung by: Guy Mitchell (over title credits).
Assistant Director: Daniel McCauley.
Based on a story by Robert St. Aubrey and Bert Lawrence.
