Oklahoma Cyclone (1930)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

John P. McCarthy

Writer:

John P. McCarthy (story)

Release Date:

8 August 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A cowboy looking for his missing father, poses as an outlaw and joins the gang he thinks is responsible.

Plot Keywords:

Outlaw | Father | Murder

Cast

Bob Steele	...	Jimmy Henderson aka Jim Smith
Rita Rey	...	Carmelita Carlos
Al St. John	...	Slim
Charles King	...	McKim, aka Black Diablo
Slim Whitaker	...	Henchman Rawhide
Cliff Lyons	...	Henchman
N.E. Hendrix	...	Henchman Shorty (as Shorty Hendricks)
Hector Sarno	...	Don Pablo Carlos
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Burns	...	Sheriff Bill Henderson - Jimmy's father (uncredited)
Emilio Fernández	...	Pancho Gomez (uncredited)
John Ince	...	Dominguez (uncredited)
S.S. Simon	...	Cantina Owner (uncredited)

Directed by
John P. McCarthy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John P. McCarthy		story (as J.P. McCarthy)

Produced by
Trem Carr	....	producer

Cinematography by
M.A. Anderson
Hap Depew		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Fred Allen

Set Decoration by
E.R. Hickson

Production Management
Charles A. Post	....	production manager (as Chas. A. Post)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Perry Murdock	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John Stransky Jr.	....	sound (as John Stransky)

Stunts
Cliff Lyons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Perry Murdock	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Perry Murdock	....	stunt double: Charles King (uncredited)

Music Department
Harold Hersey	....	lyricist: song "The Lavender Cowboy"
Jack Scholl	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Tiffany Productions

Distributors

• Tiffany Productions (1930) (USA) (theatrical) (states rights system)
• Amity Pictures (1937) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Timeless Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Treeline Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Company:

Tiffany Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
[the posse refuses to chase Henderson and his horse down the face of a steep hill]
Sheriff Talbot: Go around! Head him off at the pass!

Movie Connections:

Remade as Song of the Gringo (1936)

Soundtrack:

The Lavender Cowboy

more singing than shooting in this western relic!!!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

"Head him off at the pass" - probably the first time those words were spoken in a movie!!!

Many of Bob Steele's films seemed to be about missing fathers and separated brothers etc. In this film he plays Jim Smith, who poses as The Oklahoma Cyclone and rides into town to escape a posse. With Charles Kng playing the sheriff, you know he has something to hide and from his reaction to a Wanted poster for "The Black Dialbo", you get the feeling that's who he is!!

"I'm swaying like a drunken female" - one of the "witty" quotes.

There is not much cyclone about Smith - more like a gentle breeze - he seems to spend a lot of time singing and romancing Carmelita (Rita Rey) who also sings as well!!!! There is not much information on the lovely Rita Rey. Her filmography lists only 3 films. She may have been one of the many South American actresses who came looking for fame - hoping to be the next Lupe Velez!!! In this film although she plays the Mexican heroine, Carmelita, her accent is hard to understand - maybe that was the problem. In 1946 she was part of a group of actors that participated in Mexico's first experimental TV station.

Smith also learns, through his pal Slim (Al St John, an old Mack Sennett comedian) that the Black Diablo is planning a raid south of the border. Smith goes with them, knowing his father is being held prisoner by them down there. Oddly enough instead of ending with a romantic clinche, the film ends with Smith cradling his dying pal, Slim, in his arms.

Not recommended.