Gunfighters of the West: Jesse James

I know one of the James' descendants, and I tell her that I'm afraid to mess with her; this video is a good reminder why James blood is something to reckon with. Although the title is named for Jesse, it features both Frank and Jesse James and the Cole Younger family gang since they all worked together. Frank James and Cole Younger met during the Civil War when both were Confederate raiders (read: terrorists) in Missouri. After the war, Frank and Jesse hooked up and for ten years they and the Younger brothers ran riot, knocking over banks, robbing trains, and developing a kind of Robin Hood status. (They never actually gave to the poor; they just wouldn't steal from them.) Jesse became the most legendary, primarily because he was handsome and had a dashing style all his own. As long as they were on home turf, the gang had little resistance and no "snitchers," but eventually an ill-considered raid in Northfield, Minnesota led to the break-up of the two gangs. Told in an engaging style which features re-enactments, historic photos and scholarly interviews, this tape is a sure-fire hit for public libraries. Highly recommended. The four other titles in the series are: Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, The Earp Brothers and Billy the Kid (series price: $79.98). Aud: H, C, P. (R. Reagan)