The FRiday Night Movie - The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)

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[DemforBush]

The Civil War is over, and amnesty has been granted to many folks, including Jesse James and the Younger Gang. Not everyone is happy about that, however, and a series of twists and turns lead to the idea of one last bank robbery to set things right...

Starring Cliff Robertson, and Robert Duvall.

[DemforBush]

Northfield has its share of flaws. Plot holes, historical inaccuracies, and it can't seem to decide if its a drama or a comedy in some places. But, it's also just a hoot-load of fun to watch. Duvall and Robertson turning in strong performances, and the film has a solid supporting cast - Luke Askew, Donald Moffat, Royal Dano, etc. 6.75/10.

[DemforBush]

ping.

[Michael.SF.]

Another movie handles the same story (as well as more). Long Riders

The movie is interesting in various ways: great music by Ry Cooder, good lines, good cinematography and brothers play brothers: Quaids, Carradines, Keach

[Sergio]

Home viewing bookmark.

[SES1066]

In real history the Great Northfield Minnesota Raid was the antithesis of the liberal-loved "High Noon" in that it showed what happens when stupid criminals try to cower armed civilians. High Noon sets a stage where cowardly townsfolk refuse to aid the noble liberal lawman against a murderous gang out for revenge. Unlikely in the real west but one can never say never.

Northfield, Minnesota was chock-full of Civil War Vets and the bank that these outlaws targeted was THEIR BANK, necessary for their town's continuing prosperity. To the James-Cole-Younger ad hoc gang, it was a chance to score enough money to get them whiskey and women until their next robbery. Means and determination versus target and poor planning.

Only in liberal land are we to feel sympathy for those poor survivors of Bloody Kansas and Quantrel's bloody murders. The movie is far superior to the real facts.

[Tijeras_Slim]

“I hate square heads.”

[windcliff]

ping

[MuttTheHoople]

Open range was the same way- towns people, who fought in the Civil War and against Indians, weren’t about to get cowed by some crooks.

[Michael.SF.]

I could not find that clip!! That was the one I wanted to use.

[Ditto]

I understood that even when I was young watching those cowboy flicks. The idea that a handful of criminals could cower a whole town in those days was laughable. But sadly, today it happens quite often. 😩

[driftless2]

"antithesis of the liberal-loved "High Noon""

Northfield and what happened to the Dalton Gang in Coffeyville disproved the well-loved liberal myth of cowardly townspeople relying on the single hero to save them.

19th century American was mostly composed of people who had lived very hard lives and little desire to put up with people robbing them.

[Sherman Logan]

If you were in, or stood against, Pickett’s Charge, I really doubt four or five thugs could intimidate you.

[DemforBush]

Long Riders is a very good flick, too. One of my favorite character actors (James Remar) is in it. Remar plays Sam Starr, and is the guy who gets into the barroom knife fight with Carradine.

[DemforBush]

You know, I’ve never gotten around to seeing High Noon. I know the story, but never actually sat down to watch the movie itself.

[Michael.SF.]

I know him from Dexter, plays Dexters father. It has been years since I saw Long Riders but agree, very good movie.

I like the actress who plays Belle Star: Pamela Reed

[PilotDave]

I grew up in Northfield. The building that housed the bank is still downtown and is a museum now. Still has the bullet holes in the wall. The have a Jesse James days festival every year where the reinact the raid. The town is very proud of the armed defense that they performed.

[Falconspeed]

Thank you for the movie link. My sister named her first son “Heywood” (middle name) in honor of our great great uncle, Joseph Lee Heywood, the hero. In fact, my father inherited most of Heywood’s heirlooms due to a paucity of cousins, such as a portrait and first editions of books about the James’ brothers.

Joseph Lee Heywood (1837-76) was acting as a substitute banker when the James Outfit arrived in town. The James brothers knew that the Northfield First National Bank contained two million dollars to start up Carleton college. When the brothers entered the bank and asked Heywood for the lock combination, Heywood told the truth and said, “I don’t know the combination.” The gun fire that followed motivated the locals to take action. As a result, the locals made sure that this truly was James’ last ride.

Northfield, Minnesota does a fine re-enactment of the raid every early September and I encourage everyone to go.
http://visitingnorthfield.com/?page_id=316

[minnesota_bound]

Director Howard Hawks: “Rio Bravo” was made because I didn’t like a picture called “High Noon”. I saw “High Noon” at about the same time I saw another western picture, and we were talking about western pictures and they asked me if I liked it, and I said, “Not particularly”. I didn’t think a good sheriff was going to go running around town like a chicken with his head off asking for help, and finally his Quaker wife had to save him. That isn’t my idea of a good western sheriff. I said that a good sheriff would turn around and say, “How good are you? Are you good enough to take the best man they’ve got?” The fellow would probably say no, and he’d say, “Well, then I’d just have to take care of you”. And that scene was in “Rio Bravo”.

I get a little sick of these New Yorkers who want me to make some psychic thing, like ‘The Left-Handed Gun.’ They don’t know anything about Western history.

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you! Your movies make summer rerun viewing time so much more tolerable!

[DemforBush]

Glad to hear it! :-) I’ve been doing some deep digging of late and have found a whole slew of good flicks to keep my little movie house running through the summer season.