KANSAS RAIDERS
US, 1950, 80 minutes, Colour.
Audie Murphy, Brian Donlevy, Marguerite Chapman, Tony Curtis.
Directed by Ray Enright.
Kansas Raiders is a story of Quantrell's Raiders and the young experience of Jesse and Frank James, the Younger Brothers and Kit Dalton. The film was made by Universal, one of many compact westerns produced during the '40s and '50s - still entertaining today. It was an early vehicle for Audie Murphy as well as for a number of Universal contract stars including Dewey Martin, Richard Long, James Best, Richard Egan and Tony Curtis (who gives little indication as Kit Dalton of his impending stardom and success). Brian Donlevy gives a very interesting performance as Quantrell.
The film shows the civil war, the raiders and Quantrell's delusions of grandeur - as well as the brutality of their raids culminating in that of Lawrence, Kansas.
Quantrell's Raiders have been portrayed in many films including Dark Command (with Walter Pidgeon) and their havoc was seen at the opening of Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales.
1. Interesting and entertaining western? Civil war? Quantrell's Raiders? The American heritage?
2. Short running time: colour photography, locations, action sequences? Musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Quantrell, his place in the Civil War, his own war? The raids in Kansas - in the name of the war, the murder of innocent citizens, looting?
4. The focus on Quantrell: his army background, setting himself up, his followers, his uniform and solemnity in inducting them? His relationship with General Lee? The army, the raids, the murders, the looting? His standing aloof from the brutality? His henchmen doing the dirty work? His speeches to Jesse James? Using him as a leader? His relationship with Kate? Their challenge to his conscience? His promise to stop the massacres? Going back on his word? The raid on Lawrence and his escape? His being blinded? His followers leaving him, General Lee cutting him off? Jesse and the group staying? The siege of the house? The escapes? Jesse's staying? His tricking him, going out in a blaze of gunfire? The complexity of the man's character? Motivation, ambitions, cruelty?
5. Jesse James and the young Missouri band? Their youthfulness. the havoc of the war, the loss of homesteads? Wandering, the warnings by the soldiers? Joining Quantrell? Kate's warnings? Jesse being taken in by Quantrell? The speeches, the drinking? The induction? The first raid and no Union soldiers? Jesse sickened by the massacre? Staying away? Kate's persuasion? Quantrell's speech and promise? The raid on Lawrence and the massacre? Jesse shooting the murderers including Anderson? The escape, the continued raids? The influence of the group on Jesse? The final confrontation, his staying with Quantrell, leaving? Kate leaving him? Going with the others to the outlaw experience? An interesting portrait of the young Jesse James?
6. The portrait of Frank James and his relationship with Jesse, a sobering influence? The Younger Brothers and their impetuosity? Quoting their father? Kit Dalton and his enjoying being a Quantrell Raider? Their standing by Quantrell? Going on their outlaw way?
7. Kate and her presence, her love for Quantrell, disgust at his behaviour, warning Jesse James? Conscience, the challenge to Quantrell? The escape and her leaving?
8. The raiders and their violence, their own experience, murdering and looting? Jesse James' fight with Rudolph Tate? The confrontations with Anderson? Looting in the name of the South?
9. The Union army and its pursuit of the raiders, Lawrence Kansas and the blinding of the officer, his final besieging of the house?
10. Innocent victims, murdering, looting?
11. The commentary on the Civil War, the effect on the American consciousness?
