The Actual Story Behind The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

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Actual Tales is an ongoing column concerning the true tales behind motion pictures and TV exhibits. It’s that straightforward. This installment focuses on the true story behind Andrew Dominik’s 2007 Western, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Very similar to its characters, Andrew Dominik’s 2007 Western epic, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, has taken on a cult following since its field workplace flop. The movie and its star-studded forged take its inspiration from a 1983 novel of the identical identify by Ron Hansen, who in flip took primarily based the e book on actual occasions. Here’s a have a look at the true story behind the movie.

The James Brothers

The story of Jesse and Frank James (performed within the movie by Brad Pitt and Sam Shepard) is the sort naturally fitted to the Western style, one that usually offers in myths or the house between truth and fiction. Born in Kansas within the 1840s, the James Brothers got here of age in the course of the Civil Struggle. Dedicated Confederates, they quickly joined factions engaged in guerrilla warfare, the so-called “bushwhackers.” Jesse, for his half, grew to become a recognized assassin, with some historians speculating he killed upwards of seventeen folks in his life.

On the finish of the battle, the James brothers set out on the financial institution robbing that will make them well-known. In accordance with the Encyclopedia Britannica entry on the 2 brothers:

All through their lengthy profession and afterward, their exploits had been seized upon by writers who exaggerated and romanticized their deeds to satisfy the calls for of Japanese readers for bloody Western tales.

Because the movie itself notes, many quickly started to think about Jesse James as a Robin Hood-like determine, giving that which he stole to these most in want. Nonetheless, historians notice there’s little proof to recommend he ever stole for anybody however himself. He grew to become a logo for racist white People who mourned the lack of the confederacy. As Wil Haygood wrote within the Washington Publish: 

The parable of Jesse James rampaged as if on a white horse, carrying a person who many had been wont to imagine held a code of ethics and a need to redeem their very own misplaced satisfaction. They had been, for probably the most half, rural whites who had been floor down by the Civil Struggle and present hand-to-mouth.

The James Gang

Almost as well-known because the brothers had been these with whom they related. Dominik’s movie depicts the gang on the finish of the James brothers’ tenure after they had been already dwelling myths. The boys stay within the shadow of those that got here earlier than them: those that died within the service of the James brothers’ crime. This sense of paranoia fuels their actions all through the movie. Listed here are a few of the actual males featured within the movie.

Wooden Hite

Jeremey Renner performs Wooden Hite, Jesse’s cousin and a member of the gang. Hite, in keeping with historian Invoice O’Neal, was first a raider with “Bloody” Invoice Anderson, one of the vital well-known Accomplice guerrilla fighters. In 1876, the James Gang suffered certainly one of its best setbacks. They deliberate to rob a financial institution in Northfield, Minnesota. Nonetheless, issues shortly took a tour for the worst. As soon as the gang entered the financial institution, the townspeople obtained phrase and commenced taking over arms. Two members of the gang had been killed, and one other two had been wounded. Needing to rebuild the gang, the James brothers introduced on Hite. However, in keeping with O’Neal, his tenure was shortlived:

Wooden, a gangling, stoop-shouldered man with distinguished entrance enamel, was simply recognizable, and after a number of prepare holdups he sought refuge at his father’s residence in in Logan County, Kentucky.

Dick Liddil

Dick Liddil (performed by Paul Schneider) joined up with the James brothers across the identical time as Hite, close to the tip of the gang’s run in 1879. Within the years after the brand new gang’s work, a streak of “paranoia,” in keeping with PBS, started making its method by means of the group. Authorities officers had been closing in. Infighting ensued. Nobody knew who to belief.

Sources differ on the feud that ensued between Liddil and Hite on the finish of the James Gang’s tenure. However one rationalization is the hatred began over a lady named Martha. The dispute led to a gunfight between the 2 in 1882, throughout which a person by the identify of Robert Ford (performed by Casey Affleck) killed Hite. In accordance with Wild West journal:

[Liddil] went to Kansas Metropolis and turned himself in, primarily for concern of what Jesse James would do to him for killing Jesse’s first cousin. Liddil apparently informed the regulation most of what he knew about Jesse and the gang, nevertheless it was not till the tip of March that Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden revealed to the general public that Liddil was in custody.

The Ford Brothers 

Robert and his brother Charlie, performed within the movie by Sam Rockwell, had been additionally linked to the James gang. Sam entered the combo first, in keeping with O’Neal. He, like within the movie’s opening scene, grew to become concerned in lots of the gang’s well-known prepare robberies. And simply as within the movie, the true Robert obtained in shut with Jesse, solely to then betray him for the reward cash and to curry favor with the federal government.

On April 3, 1882, Robert shot Jesse at the back of the pinnacle, because the legend goes, whereas he was dusting off an image in the lounge of his residence. O’Neal writes that Ford, like within the movie, was rewarded for killing Jesse by Missouri Governor Thomas Theodore Crittenden (James Carville), who pardoned Robert for the homicide of Hite.

The brothers grew to become well-known. Nonetheless, darkish occasions had been forward. In accordance with O’Neal, Bob got here to be regarded with “widespread contempt and scorn” by folks across the nation. In 1884, Charlie dedicated suicide. Bob took his story across the nation, however O’Neal writes, “boos had been the same old response.”

In accordance with historian Joe Johnston (through St. Louis Public Radio):

The actual drawback with what Bob did was that he shot Jesse within the again. You simply didn’t try this. Even the boys who thought Jesse needs to be taken out of fee, thought Bob went about it the unsuitable method.

The Assassination of Robert Ford

Bob’s popularity in American life made him a goal. In 1889, in keeping with a report from the New York Instances, he survived an tried assassination. The Instances quotes Bob’s recounting of the story. As he leaned again in his chair, a person grabbed his hair and drew a knife. Fortunately, a buddy of Bob’s intervened and prevented the person from slitting Bob’s throat. Bob says within the report:

The knife out by means of my collar and grazed my neck, inflicting a slight wound. I used to be unarmed, or I’d have shot him on the spot. Because it was he took to his heels and escaped.

Bob’s luck, nevertheless, would run out. He died on June 8, 1892, on the age of 30, murdered by Edward Capeheart O’Kelley of Missouri after a battle in a saloon. The explanations for the killing are disputed. Nonetheless, in keeping with Johnston:

[O’Kelley’s] father fought for the Union and his grandparents had been from a accomplice household—he was separated from his dad and mom bodily and likewise ideologically. He grew up idolizing Jesse and dreaming of using with him.

O’Kelley served solely ten years in jail for killing Bob Ford. After he was launched, he himself was killed in Oklahoma after a run-in with the regulation. The violence continued.

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Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Movie College Rejects since 2018. Comply with and/or unfollow him on Twitter @willdigravio.