Shortly after his success with 1955's Rebel Without a Cause, Ray was hired to direct this movie based on Jesse James' later life.

He had only one movie left under his contract with 20th Century Fox, before he would depart for Europe and film Bitter Victory.

[6][7] In place of Dean, director Ray hoped to cast Elvis Presley, who had successfully completed his first film, Love Me Tender.

[8] Hope Lange, also a contract player for 20th Century Fox, as were Robert Wagner and Jeffrey Hunter, was hired for the role of Jesse's wife after her Academy Award-nominated success with Peyton Place.

Stock footage that had previously been used on the earlier James film which inspired this one was re-used and reconfigured for CinemaScope.