The Long Riders Bank Scene Is Still the Greatest Shootout in Movie History

by

Gunfights are a staple of Western films. Iconic action scenes, like the shootout in Open Range and the train robbery in The Wild Bunch, define the genre. But one of the very best can be found in The Long Riders, a fantastic but often overlooked Western that pays tribute to filmmakers like Sam Peckinpah and classic Wild West stories. Released in 1980 and directed by Walter Hill, The Long Riders featured a talented cast, including many actors not typically seen in Westerns. This, combined with the genre’s decline in popularity at the time, unfortunately led to the film becoming a forgotten gem.

Walter Hill, the director behind action favorites like 48 Hours and The Warriors, brings his signature style to The Long Riders. The film lives up to expectations with thrilling, well-executed action, offering a fresh take on the Jesse James story. The Northfield Bank robbery scene, in particular, is a standout – a brilliantly choreographed and realistically performed sequence that helped revitalize the Western genre.

The Long Riders Is One of Western’s Most Underrated Films

I recently watched The Long Riders, and it’s a really gripping story about the James-Younger gang – you know, those famous outlaws. It follows their whole run, from when they first started robbing banks and trains to their eventual downfall. What’s cool is how it shows them constantly being chased by the Pinkerton detectives, basically the private police force back then. They pull off some daring heists, but it’s a tough life, and things get really personal when someone even attacks their mother’s house! It’s a wild ride from start to finish.

Okay, so after taking down a bunch of Pinkerton detectives, the gang decides to split up, but inevitably, they get back together for one last, ambitious heist – this time in Northfield, Minnesota. Let me tell you, it was a disaster. The Younger brothers were caught red-handed, but Jesse and Frank James managed to slip away. Sadly, Jesse’s story doesn’t have a happy ending; he was ultimately killed, not by the law, but by a fellow outlaw. A tragic end to a wild ride, really.

The movie explores the gang’s well-known, often failed robberies, but it also focuses on the relationships between the members. What makes this film unique is that it presents the Miller, Younger, and Ford brothers in a way that encourages viewers to understand their backgrounds and the factors that influenced their lives, ultimately portraying them with more empathy.

Like many movies based on true stories, this film doesn’t always stick to the facts. Specifically, the story about Pinkerton detectives and a man named Rixley chasing the gang is mostly made up – they weren’t actually involved in the famous Northfield bank robbery.

The Long Riders’ Bank Robbery Scene Is Violent and Action-Packed

Many Westerns feature iconic gunfights, like the beginning of Silverado, the climax of For a Few Dollars More, and the showdown in The Magnificent Seven. However, the bank robbery scene in The Long Riders stands out as particularly intense and memorable – especially considering how few people have seen the film.

The film clearly takes its cues from classic heist movies, especially in its exciting opening sequence. Similar to director Sam Peckinpah, it carefully shows us the town and where the criminals are positioned before the plan falls apart. When the robbery fails, it’s revealed the town was ready for them – the streets quickly clear and armed residents appear from everywhere to confront the escaping gang.

The scene explodes into a fast-paced and exciting gunfight, packed with action, realistic effects, and impressive camera work. It’s similar to many other Western shootouts, but stands out thanks to its incredible stunts and fight choreography. Characters fall left and right – Clell is shot in the stomach, Jim in the face, Bob is thrown from his horse, Cole takes multiple bullets, and Frank is hit in the arm. All of this is shown in painful, yet visually stunning, slow motion.

The highlight of this scene is undoubtedly the climax: a stunning moment where the gang rides their horses through glass windows. Many consider it one of the most incredible stunts ever filmed, and the decision to have riders on horseback crash through glass was truly unforgettable and hasn’t been replicated in this genre. The scene is even more remarkable considering the significant effort and planning involved, as Hill detailed in an interview with The Washington Post:

We trained the horses for three weeks to jump without the glass barrier first. Then, we introduced the glass. The horses are startled by it and will only attempt the jump once, so we had to use a fresh group of horses for each attempt.

From a filmmaking perspective, this scene is perfect. The sound – everything from the horses to the bullets – builds tension and makes the shootout unforgettable. The camera work highlights the impressive stunts and actors’ reactions without feeling predictable or overdone. The scene starts with beautiful shots of Northfield, then unexpectedly shows the townspeople putting up a strong, coordinated fight. Ultimately, Hill has created a shootout that’s better than most and truly stands out in the genre.

The Long Riders Saved the Western Genre

By the mid-1970s, the Western film genre was losing popularity. Many movies that are now considered classics weren’t well-received by audiences or critics when they first came out. Clint Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales was a rare success, and is now seen as one of the last truly great Westerns of that time. Several things led to the genre’s decline. Filmmakers started making more movies about current events. After the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, many Westerns were seen as overly patriotic or lacking sensitivity, and younger viewers didn’t connect with the historical settings. The growing popularity of science fiction films in the late 70s also contributed to the Western’s struggles.

James and Stacy Keach started working on The Long Riders with the goal of bringing Westerns back into popularity. After making a 1971 TV movie about the Wright Brothers, the brothers decided they wanted to play Jesse and Frank James. They first considered telling the story as a stage play, and even a musical, before ultimately writing a screenplay. Robert Carradine, who had previously collaborated with James Keach on a 1974 TV Western, joined the project and brought his brothers David and Keith along to play Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger. Randy and Dennis Quaid signed on as Clell and Ed Miller, and Nicholas and Christopher Guest were cast as Robert and Charles Ford.

While some reviewers thought using four sets of real-life brothers was just a publicity stunt, it was a unique approach that definitely drew attention to the movie. This, combined with director Walter Hill’s involvement – who was excited to make a classic Western with a fresh take – helped build anticipation. Hill often points out that The Long Riders feels more like a Midwestern story than a traditional Western.

Outlaws in the American West often operated in areas beyond the reach of the law, while those in the Midwest actively rebelled against established rules within settled communities. Groups like the Jameses, Youngers, and Millers were driven by a desire for revenge against Northerners who had won the Civil War and drastically changed their lives.

The film The Long Riders debuted at number one in the nation and made almost $16 million with an $8 million budget. But its most important achievement was helping to revive the Western genre. Director Walter Hill’s vision, combined with authentic historical details and Ry Cooder’s music, showed audiences how compelling a good Western could be. After it became available on cable and VHS in the early 1980s, the film sparked a renewed interest, leading studios to look for new Western stories.

Westerns have continued to evolve since their early days, and several have become modern classics. Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992) and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) are prime examples. More recent films like Django Unchained and Bone Tomahawk have taken the genre even further, offering increased violence and realism to appeal to today’s viewers who enjoy a grittier take on Westerns.

Westerns are still a significant part of American movies today. Every year, we see fresh takes on the genre with new stories, filmmakers, and actors, often pushing boundaries with more action and creativity. Despite a dip in popularity in the 1970s, much of the western’s current comeback can be attributed to the influence of the film The Long Riders.

Read More

2025-10-29 22:08