"The Long Riders" is a western movie released in 1980 that tells the story of the infamous James-Younger gang, a group of outlaws that became notorious for their string of daring bank and train robberies throughout the American Midwest in the 1870s. The film is unique in that it features a cast of real-life brothers playing the roles of their historical counterparts - the Keach brothers as the James brothers, the Carradine brothers as the Youngers, and the Quaid brothers as the Millers.
The movie begins with the gang, led by Jesse James (played by James Keach), robbing a bank in Missouri. The gang's activities are initially motivated by revenge as they seek retribution for the perceived wrongs committed against them and their families by corrupt businessmen and the Union Army during and after the Civil War. As the gang continues its crime spree across the Midwest, their legend and notoriety grow, with the law hot on their trail.
The Long Riders balances the action and excitement of the gang's robberies with a more humanizing portrayal of the outlaws themselves. While they are shown as ruthless criminals with no qualms about shooting their way out of trouble, the film also presents them as complex individuals with their own motivations, loyalties, and personal struggles.
The James-Younger gang's ultimate fate - including the deaths of several members and the eventual capture of others - is depicted in the film's climactic third act, with the surviving members struggling to come to terms with the end of their notorious reign.
Overall, "The Long Riders" is a well-regarded western that offers a sympathetic and nuanced portrayal of one of the Wild West's most infamous groups of outlaws. The film's impressive cast, accurate period details, and skillful combination of action and drama make it a standout entry in the genre.