Jesse James (Murphy) and his friends -- brother Frank (Richard Long), brothers Cole (James Best) and Jim Younger (Dewey Martin), plus Kit Dalton (Tony Curtis) -- arrive in Lawrence, Kansas, and are falsely accused of being members of Quantrill's Raiders. They are about to be lynched but are saved by the intervention of a Union officer. The men are released and they go on and join Quantrill (Donlevy). Jesse at first admires Quantrill but comes to question his devotion after seeing atrocities committed by the man and his troops. He also falls for Kate Clarke (Marguerite Chapman). The raiders take part in the Lawrence Massacre in which Jesse and his men rob their first bank. Most of the raiders abandon Quantrill except for Jesse. Quantrill is blinded then killed in a shoot out with Union troops. Jesse leaves Kate and heads off with his friends to a bank robbing.

Director: Ray Enright

Writer: Robert L. Richards (screenplay and story)

Starring: Audie Murphy (Jesse James)
          Brian Donleavy (Col. William Clark Quantrill)
          Marguerite Chapman (Kate Clark)
          Scott Brady (Bill Anderson)
          Tony Curtis (Kit Dalton)
          Richard Long (Frank James)
          James Best (Cole Younger)
          Dewey Martin (James Younger)