Brad Pitt's long-delayed new movie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, should be of particular interest to people in this part of the country. Jesse, as many people know, was born in Clay County, robbed a lot of banks in northwest Missouri and was shot at a home in St. Joseph.
The movie, which critics have called epic and elegiac, centers around Jesse's relationship with admirer and hanger-on Robert Ford, the so-called "coward" who eventually shot him and brought his legendary reign of terror to an end.
Not long ago, I received an e-mail from Jerry McCarter at the Ray County Econonic Development Council. He wanted everyone to know that if you're interested in seeing Robert Ford's gravesite, you don't have to go very far. He's buried in the Richmond Cemetery and if you'd like directions, you can call the Chamber of Commerce at 816-776-6916. 
As for the film, it's been getting good reviews, especially for Pitt and Casey Affleck's performances as James and Ford. Be advised, however, the film is almost as long as its title, clocking in at two hours at 40 minutes. Read a bunch of reviews here to see if it's worth your time.