The Long Riders Bank Scene Is Still the Greatest Shootout in Movie History

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Big gunfights are a staple of Westerns, and over the years, many famous scenes have shown cowboys in dramatic shootouts. While there are lots of great examples, one of the best comes from the often-overlooked film The Long Riders, which beautifully captures the spirit of classic Westerns like those directed by Sam Peckinpah.

I recently revisited Walter Hill’s 1980 film, The Long Riders, and it still packs a punch. Hill, known for action favorites like 48 Hours and The Warriors, delivers exactly that – pure, unadulterated action. What’s really interesting is the cast; many weren’t your typical Western stars, bringing a fresh energy to the film. And let me tell you, the Northfield Bank robbery sequence is legendary. Even after all these years, it’s easily one of the most thrilling and well-executed shootouts I’ve ever seen in a Western. It’s a must-see for fans of the genre.

The Long Riders Is a Western Lover’s Dream

The Long Riders tells the story of the James-Younger gang, from their beginnings as outlaws to their eventual downfall. The film follows them as they commit robberies while being relentlessly hunted by the Pinkerton detectives, a private security force known at the time. Despite facing constant danger, the gang manages to survive, even after an attack destroys the home of their mother.

Following a series of clashes with Pinkerton detectives, the gang split up before coming together again for a large robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. The robbery was unsuccessful, leading to the capture of the Younger brothers. Jesse James and his brother managed to escape, but Jesse’s life ultimately ended when he was killed by a fellow outlaw.

The film recounts the gang’s notorious and often failed robberies, but it also uniquely explores the relationships between the members. Importantly, The Long Riders presents the Miller, Younger, and Ford brothers in a way that encourages viewers to understand their backgrounds and the factors that influenced their lives, ultimately portraying them with more sympathy.

Like many movies based on real events, this film doesn’t always stick to the facts. Specifically, the story about Pinkerton detectives and a man named Rixley chasing the gang is mostly made up. These individuals weren’t actually involved in the famous Northfield bank robbery.

The Long Riders’ Bank Robbery Scene Remains Unmatched

Many classic Westerns feature incredible gunfights, like the beginnings of Silverado and For a Few Dollars More, and the showdowns in The Magnificent Seven. However, the bank robbery scene in The Long Riders stands out as particularly intense and surprising, especially considering how few people have seen the film.

As a film buff, I immediately saw the influence of classic heist movies, especially in how this one starts. The director, much like Sam Peckinpah, really takes his time showing us the town and where everyone is positioned before the robbery even begins. It builds this incredible tension! Then, when things go south, it’s a total shock to see the townspeople were ready for them the whole time – the streets clear out, and suddenly, armed citizens are appearing everywhere, taking down the escaping gang. It’s a brilliantly executed reveal and a really powerful moment.

The scene explodes into a fast-paced and exciting gunfight, packed with action, realistic special effects, and skillfully framed shots. It’s similar to many other action sequences, but stands out thanks to its incredible stunts and fight choreography. Characters are hit repeatedly – Clell in the stomach, Jim in the face, Bob is thrown from his horse, Cole takes multiple shots, and Frank is wounded in the arm – all shown in slow motion that’s both painful and visually stunning.

The highlight of this scene is undoubtedly the climax: a stunning moment where the gang rides their horses through glass windows. Many consider it one of the most incredible stunts ever filmed. The bold decision to have riders on horseback crash through glass was a unique and unforgettable spectacle, unlike anything seen in similar movies before or since. What makes it even more remarkable is the significant effort and planning involved, as Hill described in an interview with The Washington Post:

I watched as the trainers worked with the horses for three weeks, getting them comfortable jumping without the glass barrier first. Then, once they were used to that, they added the glass. It really startled the horses – they only attempted that jump once! That meant we needed a whole new team of horses for the next attempt.

From a filmmaking perspective, this scene is perfect. The sound – everything from the horses to the bullets – builds tension and makes the shootout unforgettable. The camera work expertly highlights the action and the actors’ reactions, feeling fresh and avoiding tired tropes. The scene begins with beautiful shots of Northfield, then unexpectedly reveals the townspeople’s fierce and well-coordinated defense. Ultimately, Hill has created a shootout that’s better than anything else in the genre.

The Long Riders Revitalized Westerns

By the mid-1970s, the Western film genre was losing popularity. Many films that are now considered classics didn’t do well with audiences or critics when they first came out. Clint Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales was a rare success, and is now seen as one of the last great Westerns of the time. Several things led to the genre’s decline. Filmmakers started focusing more on modern stories. After the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, many Westerns were seen as overly patriotic or lacking sensitivity, and younger viewers didn’t connect with the historical settings. The growing popularity of science fiction films in the late 70s also contributed to the Western’s struggles.

James and Stacy Keach started working on the film The Long Riders with the goal of bringing Westerns back into popularity. After making a 1971 TV movie about the Wright Brothers, the brothers decided they wanted to play Jesse and Frank James. They first considered telling the story as a play, even a musical, before ultimately deciding on a Western movie script. Robert Carradine, who had previously collaborated with James Keach on a 1974 TV Western, joined the project and brought along his brothers David and Keith to play Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger. Randy and Dennis Quaid signed on as Clell and Ed Miller, and Nicholas and Christopher Guest were cast as Robert and Charles Ford.

While some reviewers thought using four pairs of real-life brothers was just a publicity stunt, it was a unique approach that definitely got people talking about the movie. Plus, director Walter Hill was eager to make a classic Western with a fresh take. Interestingly, The Long Riders feels more like a story set in the American Midwest than a traditional Western, and Hill often emphasizes this aspect when discussing his film.

Outlaws on the American frontier operated in areas where there was little law and order, while those in the Midwest intentionally broke the laws of established communities. Groups like the Jameses, Youngers, and Millers were driven by a desire for revenge against Northerners who had won the Civil War and drastically changed their lives.

Despite opening at number one and earning almost $16 million on an $8 million budget, the biggest achievement of The Long Riders was its impact on the Western genre. Walter Hill’s direction, combined with the film’s historical accuracy and Ry Cooder’s music, proved that Westerns could still be compelling. After its release on cable and VHS in the early 1980s, the film sparked a revival of interest, encouraging studios to look for new Western stories.

Westerns have continued to evolve since their early days, with several becoming modern classics. Films like Clint Eastwood’s 1992 film, Unforgiven, and the 2007 release The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford are prime examples. More recently, movies such as Django Unchained and Bone Tomahawk have taken the genre further, offering more intense violence and realism to appeal to today’s viewers who enjoy darker, more gritty Western stories.

As a film buff, I’m always thrilled to see the western still thriving in American cinema. It’s amazing how, even after a dip in popularity back in the ’70s, we’re getting new and exciting westerns all the time – often with a grittier, more innovative edge. Honestly, looking back, I think The Long Riders really kicked off this current wave of resurgence. It felt like a turning point for the genre.

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2026-03-11 22:38