MartinHafer This is one of Bob Hope's films before his movies really went downhill in quality in the 1960s. And, like his better films this is a period piece--his last one, in fact. Now I am not saying it's a great film but it is amusing and features a truly wonderful final climactic scene that makes the film worth seeing--but I'll say no more about this because it would ruin it.The film begins with Hope working for an insurance company but it's hard to understand why his poor boss (Will Wright) keeps him on the payroll. He hasn't sold a single policy and the closest he came to it was a guy who died before they could complete the required physical! In fact, after further screw ups, Wright has finally had enough and tells him to get lost. Soon afterwords, Hope meets up with a stranger (Wendell Corey--in an odd bit of casting) who buys a huge policy. Wright is so happy he rehires Hope. Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent the new policy holder is Jesse James and Wright is worried this policy will bankrupt them, as EVERYONE seems to want James dead! So, he sends Hope out west--to find Jesse and stay with him to prevent an early demise or give him a refund and cancel the policy. Along the way, Hope has various cute encounters with tough guys and Rhonda Fleming. I don't want to say more, but this mildly amusing farce works up to a wonderful finale and was a was worth my time. Not a great film but pretty good.

Spikeopath Bumbling buffoon insurance salesman Milford Farnsworth sells notorious outlaw Jesse James a $100,000 policy. When his boss finds out who the customer is, he dispatches Farnsworth after James in the hope of buying back the policy, he also gives strict orders that Farnsworth must ensure that James comes to no harm.Bob Hope sells Jesse James an insurance policy! that alone should prepare you for what type of picture this is. There is nothing out of the ordinary here that we haven't seen before in most other Hope vehicles, and as a huge fan of The Paleface and the even better Son Of Paleface, I would point readers to those pictures by way of them being far better. However, "Alias" has some fine moments that keep it way above average, in fact for visual gags alone this picture scores higher than most of Hope's better known comedies. Be it a steaming alcohol fuelled hat or a magic mushroomed fed horse, there is still much fun to be had as Hope plays out his winning formula. Along for the ride is the supremely sexy Rhonda Fleming as Jesse James' gal, Cora Lee Collins, and as James himself we get Wendell Corey looking as though he is enjoying himself. The final reel of this film is now something of legend as we get to play spot the genre star during a protracted shoot out, stars such as Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers & Gail Davis join Bing Crosby to close the picture on a mightily high point. 6.5/10

John T. Ryan If our recollections are correct, there was an awful lot of build-up and expectation of this film. It was advertised and plugged quite a bit as being "THE" New Bob Hope starring vehicle; attributing something special to it. Mr. Hope even made a seemingly serious remark about hoping that this ALIAS JESSE JAMES (Paramount, 1959) was Oscar material.It wasn't really that special, but it was very good and probably a cut above most of the other movies of that period. It seems that there was a big change in screen comedy in those days. Dean & Jerry had parted company in 1956 after a decade together. Abbott & Costello had been inactive, what with Bud Abbott first retiring; then Lou Costello setting out on his own, only to meet an early death in March of 1959.Even though Bing and Bob usually made gag cameos in each others' films, there hadn't been any joint effort from them, no "Road" pictures since ROAD TO BALI (1952). In the interim, Mr. Hope's screen projects were all pretty much in keeping with the laugh standards previously established. Bob even ventured out of the usual with a couple of dramatic parts. In THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (Paramount, 1955) he portrayed vaudevillian Eddy Foy, and turned in fine performance in the process. Two years later, Bob took the role of New York City's "colorful" Prohibition Era, bigger than life character, Mayor Jimmy Walker (Paramount, 1957). Of course there were other film projects, his Television Show and don't forget he always spent his Christmas Holidays away from home; entertaining our Men and Women in the Armed Forces who were stationed overseas.So, back we go to today's 'Mystery Challenger', ALIAS JESSE JAMES.OUR STORY…………..In the proverbial nutshell, a tenderfoot Insurance Salesman, Milford Farnsworth (Mr. Hope) sells a $100,000.00 insurance policy on the Outlaw Jesse James to a man unknown to be Jesse, himself (Wendell Corey). Jesse then plans to collect on the policy by having another person killed and identified as Jesse. (Of course, you'd never guess just who that guy could be!) That's it; a very thin premise with which to make a movie. Yes, we agree; but that's really all that is needed. If put in to proper, skilled hands of some veteran comedy gag men-writers and a capable Director of comedy, it can be expanded. This certainly was the case here.It is the jokes, the sight gags and the "In" humor of the ensuing situations' making up the scenes that propel the story forward that makes it all happen. We have the basic premise so often used of the "Dude" or the "Tenderfoot", if you will, who winds up facing down all the henchmen before confronting the "Big Shot" boss. It has been the central theme of oh so many films.Our favourite gag involved Bob's running to a young, bespectacled boy playing a piano in the saloon. When Bob asked him his name, he replied, "Harry Truman!" The film promised to have a big surprise in the finale, giving it a little more punch, as well as a carload of laughs. What it turned out to be was Cameos by a whole bunch of Western Stars from the Movies and Television. Remember, this was the 1950's and the Western Series was the 'A' number 1 staple of the Networks' Primetime Schedule.As a result of this, we have quick surprise appearances by James Arness (Marshall Matt Dillon on GUNSMOKE), Ward Bond (Major Adams on WAGON TRAIN), Gail Davis (TV's ANNIE OAKLEY), James Garner (the brother, Brett on MAVERICK), Hugh O'Brian (WYATT Earp), Fess Parker (DAVEY CROCKETT), Roy Rogers (Self) and Jay Silver heals (Tonto from THE LONE RANGER).It was a truly peculiar occurrence that the one Guest Star who we kids didn't recognize was doubtless the best known on the Big Screen; as it was Gary Cooper! He even had a line of dialogue to say. It was "Yup!" Whether or not this was Oscar material for Mr. Bob Hope is strictly up to ones' own judgment and conjecture. It was certainly much better a vehicle for him than some of the other following projects, such as: CALL ME BWANA (1963), A GLOBAL AFFAIR (1964) and I'LL TAKE SWEEDEN (1965). As for teaming up with Bing, it appeared that he and Mr. Crosby had gone to the well once too often with THE ROAD TO HONG KONG (United Artists, 1962).

azcowboysingr I grew up on a steady diet of cowboys & Bob Hope, & I fondly remember this one from my teenage years at the local theatre. While it is not as great as "The Ghostbreakers", or "Son of the Paleface", it is still a very enjoyable and hilarious romp through the "old West". There are sight-gags & pratfalls galore, & some really witty dialogue & joke routines from Hope (even Wendell Corey manages to be funny in this one...quite a change from the stalwart Mountie in "The Wild North"!) I especially loved seeing the drop-dead beautiful Rhonda Fleming at the height of her career. When she kisses Bob, I had to grind my teeth in jealousy that it wasn't me instead. The ending is really an inspired bit of nostalgia, with many of the great cowboy stars from 1950s TV Westerns showing up in cameo roles. About the only ones missing are Paladin, Hopalong Cassidy, & the Lone Ranger (Tonto is there though...I think this was filmed during the time that Clayton Moore was in a salary dispute with his TV producers...maybe that explains his absence?). Gene Autry was in the theatrical release but was cut out of the version that plays on TV now...probably because his widow wouldn't give legal permission. I found it really sad that we were deprived of seeing him because of mere money. Gene was always one my favorite cowboy stars...sigh. Anyway, if you enjoy family-friendly films & classic comedy routines, then you'll love this movie.