Un terrateniente compra todas las tierras de un pueblo del Medio Oeste americano para que pueda pasar el ferrocarril. Pero el grupo de forajidos comandados por el legendario Jesse James (Farrell) no comparte la idea.
The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.
El 7 de septiembre de 1876, los famosos forajidos Cole Younger y Jesse James atracan el banco de Northfiel, en Minnesota, el más grande al oeste del Mississippi. Pero nada sale según lo previsto.
Brothers who rode with a notorious outlaw gang led by Frank and Jesse James decide to go straight and try to get pardons so they can return to a law-abiding life.
An outlaw must decide whether to stick his neck out for an innocent man.
The Younger brothers return to Missouri after the Civil War with intent to avenge the misdeeds of William Merrick, a crooked banker who has been buying up warrants on back-taxes and dispossessing the farmers.
When Missouri farm boy Jesse James witnesses the lynching of his father by the Yankees, he forsakes his family's homestead to find his brother Frank, a soldier in Quantrill's Raiders, a renegade band of Confederates. Bent on revenge, Jesse begs to join the raiders.