Message

Social Behavior:

All of the male protagonists are robbers and killers; women serve only as supportive spouses. Jesse is increasingly paranoid, and Bob is selfish and craven.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Much drinking and cigarette or cigar smoking by men in saloons. Bob appears stumbling drunk in a saloon.

Violence

The film's frequent violence is awkward rather than exciting, with a focus on its bloody effects. Shootouts are ragged, with many misses and falls, as well as bloody injuries (a couple of overhead shots show bodies with blood pooling from their heads); bullets hit heads, limbs, and chests. Beatings and a shootout during a train robbery. Trying to get information from a boy, Jesse hits him hard and repeatedly. A shootout at the Ford home sends Charlie jumping out the window; Bob shoots Wood in the head. The assassination of Jesse James is long anticipated; after the shooting, his head is shown slamming into the wall, with his body falling to the floor.

Sex

Men's discussion of "being inside a woman" (with slang references to female genitalia, like "coot") includes reference to a "squaw." Heavy verbal flirting between a man and a married woman. Jesse appears in the tub from the back (no explicit imagery). Sexy feather-fan dance at end of film (no explicit shots, but insinuation as woman teases her male audience).

Language

Some language sprinkled throughout the film, including "s--t," "pecker," "bastard," "bitch." Reference to a "'"N" word' woman."