The Return of Frank James is a 1940 Western film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney. It is a sequel to Henry King's 1939 film Jesse James. Written by Sam Hellman, the film loosely follows the life of Frank James following the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse James, at the hands of the Ford brothers. The film is universally considered historically inaccurate, but was a commercial success. It was the first motion picture for the actress Gene Tierney, who plays a reporter for the newspaper The Denver Star. Premise After the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse (played in the earlier film by Tyrone Power), Frank James (Henry Fonda) seeks revenge on his killers, Bob and Charlie Ford (John Carradine and Charles Tannen). Cast Henry Fonda as Frank James Gene Tierney as Eleanor Stone Jackie Cooper as Clem Henry Hull as Major Rufus Cobb John Carradine as Bob Ford J. Edward Bromberg as George Runyan Donald Meek as McCoy Eddie Collins as Station Agent George Barbier as Judge Russell Hicks as Prosecutor Ernest Whitman as Pinky Charles Tannen as Charlie Ford Lloyd Corrigan as Randolph Stone Victor Kilian as Preacher Edward McWade as Colonel Jackson George Chandler as Roy Irving Bacon as Bystander Frank Shannon as Sheriff Barbara Pepper as Nellie Blane Louie Mason as Watchman, Wilson Stymie Beard as Mose William Pawley and Frank Sully as Actors Davidson Clark as Officer Robert McKenzie as Old Man on Rocker (uncredited) Adrian Morris as Denver Detective (uncredited) Lillian Yarbo as Eleanor's Maid (uncredited) Production The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Tuolumne County, California. Preservation The Academy Film Archive preserved The Return of Frank James in 2000. References External links 1940 films 1940 Western (genre) films 20th Century Fox films American Western (genre) films American biographical films American films about revenge American sequel films Biographical films about people of the American Old West Films directed by Fritz Lang Films produced by Darryl F. Zanuck Films scored by David Buttolph James–Younger Gang 1940s English-language films 1940s American films