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The Return of Frank James

The Return of Frank James

Encore triumph from 20th Century-Fox.

19406.31h 32m

Overview

Farmer Frank and his ward hunt brother Jesse's killers, the back-shooting Fords.

Directed by Fritz Lang
Written by Sam Hellman
Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck
0

Top Cast

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda

Frank James

Jackie Cooper

Jackie Cooper

Clem

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney

Eleanor Stone

Henry Hull

Henry Hull

Major Rufus Cobb

John Carradine

John Carradine

Bob Ford

J. Edward Bromberg

J. Edward Bromberg

George Runyan

Donald Meek

Donald Meek

McCoy

Eddie Collins

Eddie Collins

Station Agent

George Barbier

George Barbier

Judge

Russell Hicks

Russell Hicks

Prosecutor

Themes & Keywords

coloradosequeljesse jamesrevenge19th century

About The Return of Frank James

The Return of Frank James is a western film released in 1940 exploring themes of colorado, sequel, jesse james, revenge, 19th century. Directed by Fritz Lang, it stars Henry Fonda, Jackie Cooper, Gene Tierney. Farmer Frank and his ward hunt brother Jesse's killers, the back-shooting Fords.

Movies Similar to The Return of Frank James

Discover titles like The Return of Frank James — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Return of Frank James

If you enjoyed The Return of Frank James, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The Return of Frank James.

Unforgiven
36% Match

Unforgiven(1992)

Movie7.9/10

William Munny is a retired, once-ruthless killer turned gentle widower and hog farmer. To help support his two motherless children, he accepts one last bounty-hunter mission to find the men who brutalized a prostitute. Joined by his former partner and a cocky greenhorn, he takes on a corrupt sheriff.

The Outlaw Josey Wales
35% Match

After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.

My Darling Clementine
33% Match

Three brothers stop off for a night in the town of Tombstone. The next morning they find one of their brothers dead and their cattle stolen. They decide to take revenge on the culprits.

Red River
32% Match

Red River(1948)

Movie7.3/10

Following the Civil War, headstrong rancher Thomas Dunson decides to lead a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Missouri. During the exhausting journey, his persistence becomes tyrannical in the eyes of Matthew Garth, his adopted son and protégé.

I Shot Jesse James
32% Match

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend Cynthy. The guilt-stricken Ford soon finds himself greeted with derision and open mockery throughout town. He travels to Colorado to try his hand at prospecting in hopes that marriage with Cynthy is still in the cards.

The Left Handed Gun
31% Match

When a crooked sheriff murders his employer, William "Billy the Kid" Bonney decides to avenge the death by killing the man responsible, throwing the lives of everyone around him into turmoil, and endangering the General Amnesty set up by Governor Wallace to bring peace to the New Mexico Territory.

The Wonderful Country
30% Match

Having fled to Mexico from the U.S. many years ago for killing his father's murderer, Martin Brady travels to Texas to broker an arms deal for his Mexican boss, strongman Governor Cipriano Castro. Brady breaks a leg and while recuperating in Texas the gun shipment is stolen. Complicating matters further the wife of local army major Colton has designs on him, and the local Texas Ranger captain makes him a generous offer to come back to the states and join his outfit. After killing a man in self-defense, Brady slips back over the border and confronts Castro who is not only unhappy that Brady has lost his gun shipment but is about to join forces with Colton to battle the local raiding Apache Indians.

The Sons of Katie Elder
30% Match

The four sons of Katie Elder reunite in their hometown of Clearwater, Texas for her funeral and discover that the family ranch is now in the hands of Morgan Hastings, a corrupt businessman who wants to exploit the area around the town.

Nevada Smith
30% Match

Nevada Smith is the young son of an Indian mother and white father. When his father is killed by three men over gold, Nevada sets out to find them and kill them. The boy is taken in by a gun merchant. The gun merchant shows him how to shoot and to shoot on time and correct.

The True Story of Jesse James
25% Match

Having fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War, Jesse James and his brother Frank dream of a farm life in Missouri. Harassed by Union sympathizers, they assemble a gang of outlaws, robbing trains and becoming folk heroes in the process. Jesse marries his sweetheart, Zee, and maintains an aura of domesticity, but after a group of lawmen launch an attack on his mother's house, Jesse plans one more great raid -- on a Minnesota bank.