The Cheyenne Tornado (1935) User Reviews (4)

A little gem!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 12 November 2017]

Reb Russell (the Cheyenne Kid), Victoria Vinton (Jane Darnell), Winton Perry (Pete Darnell), Edmund Cobb (Pete Lane, the saloon proprietor), Tina Menard (Chiquita Farelly), Ed Porter (Farelly), Hank Bell (sheriff), Lafe McKee (Darnell), Roger Williams (Clem, the ranch foreman), Dick Botiller (Felipe), Bart Carré (deputy), Oscar Gahan, Clyde McClary (barflies), Tracy Layne (Slim), Jack Evans, Art Dillard, Bert Dillard, Francis McDonald, Jack Jones, Jack King, Bud Pope (henchmen), Lew Murphy (posse man), and "Rebel".

Director: WILLIAM O'CONNOR. Screenplay: Oliver Drake. Photography; Harvey Gould. Film editor: S. Roy Luby. Title song, "Reb and His Pal, Rebel", composed and sung by Smiley Burnette. Assistant director: Bart Carré. Sound recording: T.T. Triplett. Producer: Willis Kent.

Not copyrighted by Willis Kent Productions. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 1935 (exact date unknown). 61 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: After many misadventures, the gallant Cheyenne Kid discovers who really killed wealthy rancher, Seth Darnell.

COMMENT: This film was once reported lost, but it has now surfaced in reasonably viewable prints from Sinister Cinema. That's good news, because by the humble standards of Willis Kent Productions, this one is a little gem. I emphasize "little". However, despite some weakly staged fist fights in which the principals make valiant attempts to battle it out without benefit of doubles — and despite reams of clichéd dialogue obviously written on the run — Cheyenne Tornado is a nervy little film with plenty of pace and atmosphere.

Director William O'Connor does marvels with his actual locations, and is helped no end by an excellent support cast led by the stunningly attractive Victoria Vinton. We also enjoyed Ed Cobb as the chief villain. And good to see Hank Bell in a sizable role for once.

As for the hero, our pug-ugly, baby-faced Reb Russell is certainly no actor, but manages the title role capably enough.

Surprisingly good, though flawed

[morrisonhimself · 8/10 · 14 June 2019]

Great supporting cast, including Hank Bell as a sheriff, though as usual uncredited, and Tina Menard as a Mexican spitfire overcome the stock footage at the beginning and the star's fairly inept acting.

Tina Menard was a real Mexican, and it's good to see her role properly filled, rather than by a Gringa with a fake accent.

Reb Russell, the nominal star, had many great qualities: He was athletic, a good cowboy, but maybe he could have given a better performance with a better director.

William A. O'Connor has 10 credits as director, and many, many more as assistant or second-unit director. He was quite inventive and creative with camera placement but not so much with his star.

Oliver Drake has written a good story, and, except for Reb, it is very well presented here.

By the way, even if not very believable as a cowboy star, Reb Russell is likable and it's too bad he wasn't given training and support. He could have become a bigger name.

There is a fairly good print of "The Cheyenne Tornado" at YouTube and I do recommend your giving it a try.

ADDED 15 Jan 2021: Watching it a second time, I am more impressed with Reb Russell. He had looks, could move well, and probably need only a little training to be both a star and an actor. He did have the personality and the athletic ability. It's another Hollywood story of not quite enough effort by the studio and the system.

"Well being too curious is a mighty bad habit sometimes"

[frank4122 · 10/10 · 6 March 2022]

It's the cattlemen vs. The nesters as Reb Russell gets in the middle of a range war. Lafe McKee is the first victim which only heats up as Edmund Cobb and Reb mix it up. Hank Bell is in hot pursuit of the wanted man the Cheyenne Kid. He doesn't look like a killer to Victoria Vinton so she takes him on as a hired hand. It gets further convoluted as Tina Menard and her father, Ed Porter are the targets of Vinton and her cattlemen. Reb is also in the middle of this battle and both ladies are counting on Reb. A wonderful story, great action and the Kid's horse Rebel is a sight to behold. Roger Williams, Winton Perry, Dick Botiller also make solid contributions to the action. Given more of a chance and an acting coach, Reb Russell could have been a huge western star.

Wish there were more Reb Russell westerns

[hines-2000 · 10/10 · 7 March 2022]

It all starts when Lafe McKee is the subject of headline news, "Wealthy cattleman shot by unknown gunman." Our hero, Reb Russell is hot on the scene doing a little rifle practice on some wannabe rustlers. Gorgeous senorita Tina Menard is instantly smitten with Reb while protecting her invalid dad, Ed Porter. None other than Handlebar himself, Hank Bell intervenes when Reb exposes a crooked poker game run by Edmund Cobb. Platinum blonde starlet Victoria Vinton also has an eye on the leading man giving him a job on her ranch much to the chagrin of 'the man of many careers' Roger Williams. Although a low budget production, Cheyenne a is wonderful western with some great scenes. Reb Russell has all the makings of a major star and would've been if he got some training from the studios. That also holds true for Victoria Vinton. If she were given the opportunity, she would have been a wonderful actress.