I Shot Jesse James
“THE THRILLING AND COLORFUL LAST DAYS OF AMERICA'S MOST FABULOUS OUTLAW...POWERFULLY WRITTEN IN GUNSMOKE!”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Preston Foster
John Kelley
Barbara Britton
Cynthy Waters
John Ireland
Bob Ford
Reed Hadley
Jesse James
J. Edward Bromberg
Harry Kane
Victor Kilian
Soapy
Tom Tyler
Frank James
Tommy Noonan
Charles Ford
Eddie Dunn
Joe, Silver King Bartender
Margia Dean
Saloon Singer
Byron Foulger
Silver King Room Clerk
Jeni Le Gon
Veronica, Cynthy's Maid
Barbara Woodell
Mrs. Zee James
Phillip Pine
Man in Saloon
Robin Short
Troubadour
Willie Bloom
Waiter (uncredited)
Gene Collins
Young Gunslinger (uncredited)
Albert Glasser
Musician (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 26, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Samuel Fuller
- Screenplay & Story
- Samuel Fuller, Homer Croy
- Original Score
- Albert Glasser
- Original Title
- I Shot Jesse James
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 21m
- Production Studios
- Lippert Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Samuel Fuller
Samuel Fuller, Homer Croy
Albert Glasser
Ernest Miller
Paul Landres
Carl K. Hittleman, Robert L. Lippert
Department Leadership Roster
Albert Glasser
Original Music Composer
Samuel Fuller
Director
Carl K. Hittleman
Producer
Samuel Fuller
Writer
Robert L. Lippert
Producer
Ernest Miller
Director of Photography
Paul Landres
Editor
Alfred Berke
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for I Shot Jesse James.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring I Shot Jesse James.
Abstrusest 2
True Crime
Film Noir
Classic-era film noir, 1940 to 1959.
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Every film released by The Criterion Collection on DVD, Blu-ray or 4K, including box sets and Eclipse. Enumerated from Wikidata and Wikipedia.
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Curated list of Most Popular on Criterion (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About I Shot Jesse James
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is I Shot Jesse James about?
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.
Who directed I Shot Jesse James?
I Shot Jesse James was directed by Samuel Fuller.
Who stars in I Shot Jesse James?
The principal cast of I Shot Jesse James includes Preston Foster, Barbara Britton, John Ireland, Reed Hadley, J. Edward Bromberg.
When was I Shot Jesse James released and how long is it?
I Shot Jesse James was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 21m.
Who composed the musical score for I Shot Jesse James?
The original motion picture soundtrack for I Shot Jesse James was composed by Albert Glasser.
What is the age rating and content advisory for I Shot Jesse James?
I Shot Jesse James holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).