Fonda sets out to avenge the death of his brother, Jesse, in this OK sequel to "Jesse James." Not one of Lang's better efforts, but not bad on its own terms. Fonda is pretty laid back as Frank, somewhat reminiscent of his performance in "My Darling Clementine." Lang and Fonda did better with their previous collaboration, "You Only Live Once." The problem with the script is the lack of a strong villain, with Carradine as the cowardly fellow who shot Jesse failing to generate any tension. The Technicolor print looks very nice, as does Tierney in her film debut. The extended courtroom scene is played more for laughs than drama, indicative of the film's overall mood.
Review of The Return of Frank James
