The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid

7/30/2026

***Deglamorization of the Old West*** Phillip Kaufman's "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid" details the final bank heist of the James-Younger Gang in 1876, which was an epic failure for the infamous bunch. The tone is equal parts raw realism and parody; you could almost call it a Western black comedy with similarities to Altman’s contemporaneous “McCabe & Mrs. Miller.” So, if you liked that one you’ll probably favor this as well, although “McCabe” is the superior film. For a fuller and more austere detailing of the James-Younger Gang, not to mention all-around better Western, check out Walter Hill's "The Long Riders." Jesse James is played by the great Robert Duvall, who was only 40yo at the time. Interestingly, Jesse takes a backseat to Cole Younger here, played by Cliff Robert