The Long Riders (1980)
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Synopsis: This violent Western follows four sets of brothers--the Youngers, the Jameses, the Millers, and the Fords--who band together for a crime spree across Missouri. Law enforcers, meanwhile, prove inept in their attempts to apprehend the renegade cowboys, who are busy arguing among... This violent Western follows four sets of brothers--the Youngers, the Jameses, the Millers, and the Fords--who band together for a crime spree across Missouri. Law enforcers, meanwhile, prove inept in their attempts to apprehend the renegade cowboys, who are busy arguing among themselves. Director Walter Hill's film features four groups of real-life brothers--the Keaches, the Carradines, the Quaids, and the Guests. [More]
Genre: Westerns
Starring: Stacy Keach, James Keach, David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine
DVD Info
Release:
Mar 20, 2001
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Widescreen - 1.85
- Single Side - Single Layer
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Stereo - English
- Dolby Digital Stereo - French
- Dolby Digital Mono - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
- Trailer
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Reviews
The casting problems aside, this is a fairly solid, but not particularly extraordinary film.
One of the more idiosyncratic James gang westerns but not necessarily one of the better ones.
Sacrificing investigations into the mentality behind America's most feared band of outlaws, Hill plumps for an evocation of time and place. He does a magnificent job.
It is an action film, an engaging one, and covers old ground with a contemporary style which never feels out of place.
A superb, nitty-gritty retelling of the story of the James-Younger gang.
What's ultimately missing is a definable point of view which would tie together the myriad events on display and fill in the blanks which Hill has imposed on the action by sapping it of emotional or historical meaning.
Walter Hill's first Western is atmospheric and remarkably authentic by casting real-life thespian brothers as real-life outlaw brothers.
The Long Riders is well-done film about the legendary Jesse James.
A so-so effort, with the gimmick of brothers playing brothers its only interesting aspect.

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