Jesse James at Bay (1941)

Why so much hype?

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

There's an on screen narrative at the start of the picture that states that this is an alternate legend of Jesse James, citing the historical accuracy of his being gunned down by one of his own gang. The version offered here avows that it's possibility has been 'vouched for by many old-timers'.Roys Rogers (my favorite movie and TV cowboy by the way) not only portrays a historical figure here, but also has a dual role as the infamous Jesse James and a character that resembles the outlaw going by Clint Burns. Interestingly, the character Clint is hired by crooked land dealer Phineas Krager (Pierre Watkin) to impersonate Jesse, while Jesse later impersonates Clint Burns after a fatal shoot-out for Burns. It probably sounds more complicated than it actually is, so you'll just have to check it out for yourself.Gale Storm fans, who remember her from the early Fifties TV series 'My Little Margie", might be surprised to see that she turns up here as a newspaper reporter from the St. Louis Journal doing a story on Jesse James. Actually, she was in a couple more flicks with Roy and Gabby Hayes during this time frame, 1941's "Red River Valley" and "Man From Cheyenne" the following year. She's teamed up with fellow reporter Sally Payne, a regular in Roy's early films from Republic.It wasn't until near the end of the picture that I made a mental note to go back and check something out. Roy Rogers rides his (almost) equally famous horse Trigger BOTH as Jesse James and Clint Burns. This is most evident in an early scene when the outlaws hired by Krager raid Sheriff Gabby Whitaker's ranch led by Clint Burns. Clint arrives and leaves aboard Trigger, and as Jesse arrives on the scene shortly after, he's also riding Trigger! And what are the odds that Clint and Jesse would be wearing the exact same outfits? Probably as good as Roy portraying two different characters in 1942's "Sunset on the Desert" doing the same thing. I wonder what movie audiences of the Forties thought about this coincidence.If you're expecting a handful of tunes from Roy as usual you might be disappointed here. There's only one when Roy serenades Gale Storm while horseback riding through the countryside. It must have done the trick because at the end of the story, Gale's character decides to hand her newspaper story over to partner Polly Morgan (Payne) to ride off into the proverbial sunset with Roy, ...er Jesse, ...er whoever.

When a crooked banker/railroad man attempts to swindle some farmers, Sheriff Gabby Hayes sends word to his old friend Jesse James (Roy Rogers), who robs the banks and railroads in order to make things right. The villain retaliates by hiring Jesse's slack-jawed double (Rogers again) to make trouble in order to discredit James.Jesse James At Bay is a typical but okay vehicle for Roy, who's pretty good at playing the heavy, though he gets to sing only once during the movie and then only a few verses.This is Roger's second time playing double in a movie, the first time being as Billy the kid and Billy's good-guy replacement in 1938's Billy The Kid Returns and the third being 1942's Sunset On The Desert.

Roy Rogers stars as Jesse James and his look-alike, gambler man Clint Burns. George "Gabby" Hayes is Mr. Rogers's ex-pal, Sheriff Gabby. Gale Storm (Jane Fillmore) and Sally Payne (Polly Morgan) are a noteworthy team, as two reporters on the lookout for stories about the elusive outlaw hero.Of course, mistaken identity / impersonation is a plot development, since Rogers essays a "dual role". Rogers is charming, as usual; but, there is nothing really elevating this his performance above the ordinary - any potential to deliver a memorable Jekyll/Hyde performance is done in by poor material. The better pair to watch are Ms. Storm and Ms. Paye as the St. Louis Journal reporters - they are the film's highlight. The songs are fine, though badly synched. *** Jesse James at Bay (1941) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Gale Storm

This different (and improbable) take on the Jesse James legend makes for pretty good light entertainment. Having Roy Rogers in the lead certainly alters the tone considerably, but he carries it off all right. Gabby Hayes and Gale Storm also help out. The story has an angle on James that probably bears little relation to fact, but it's rather creative, and it makes for a plot that moves quickly and holds your attention. As one of Rogers' earlier films, the emphasis is on action, and there is plenty of it. Not a movie to take seriously, but one that makes for an enjoyable hour of viewing.