The Long Riders (1980)

The Long Riders (1980) movie, not to be confused with the The Long Ryders alternative country music band, is all about brothers. Not only does the revisionist western tell the story of the real-life bros who made up the James-Younger Gang, it stars actors who are siblings off screen. For example, James Keach and Stacy Keach portray Jesse James and Frank James, respectively. The kin characters also include Cole Younger (David Carradine), Jim Younger (Keith Carradine), and Bob Younger (Robert Carradine) as well as Ed Miller (Dennis Quaid) and Clell Miller (Randy Quaid). Rounding out the familial players are Christopher Guest as Charley Ford and Nicholas Guest as Robert Ford. Yet for as cool as these casting choices are, we’re more impressed with the unrelated lasses on screen. We’re talking Savannah Smith Boucher, Lin Shaye, Amy Stryker, and Pamela Reed. As outlaw Belle Starr, the latter actress proves she’s equally at home with a six shooter and a sex pistol. In fact, the red-haired hottie steams up the camera lens when she is shown in a bathhouse. Better yet, Pam reveals her back for her man. And when she stands up to embrace her gun-slingin’ guy, she shows her off her wet heinie! You could say Ms. Reed’s bare buns steal the show, but the real crime is that these assets really belong to a body double. Nevertheless, such flesh makes us long in the pants! Lest we ask, “is that a ten-gallon hat or are you just happy to see her?”