''Cyclone of the Saddle'' is a 1935 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Elmer Clifton Elmer Clifton (March 14, 1890 – October 15, 1949) was an American writer, director and actor from the early silent days. A collaborator of D.W. Griffith, he appeared in ''The Birth of a Nation'' (1915) and ''Intolerance'' (1916) before giving ...

, starring

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row westerns. Biography Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booking ...

Janet Chandler Janet Chandler (December 31, 1911 – March 16, 1994) was a model and actress in American films. She had starring roles in several films of the 1930s. She was born Lillian Guenther in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She began her film career as a child actr ...

Bobby Nelson Bobby Nelson, born Charles Karass (17 April 1917 - 20 February 2002) was a Canadian-American professional wrestler and businessman who appeared frequently in the National Wrestling Alliance midwest territories beginning in 1936 and continuing t ...

, and

Yakima Canutt Enos Edward "Yakima" Canutt (November 29, 1895 – May 24, 1986) was an American champion rodeo rider, actor, stuntman, and action director. He developed many stunts for films and the techniques and technology to protect stuntmen in performing t ...

Cast

as Andy Thomas *

as Sue * Bobby Nelson as Dick *

as Snake *

Helen Gibson Helen Gibson (born Rose August Wegner; August 27, 1892 – October 10, 1977) was an American film actress, vaudeville performer, radio performer, film producer, trick rider, and rodeo performer; and is considered to be the first American profess ...

as Ma *

Milburn Morante Milburn Morante (April 6, 1887 – January 28, 1964) was an American actor, film director and makeup artist.Katchmer p. 267 Partial filmography * '' The Covered Trail'' (1924) * '' Battling Mason'' (1924) * ''The Terror of Pueblo'' (1924) * '' ...

as Pa * Charles Davis as High Hawk * Chief Standing Bear as Porcupine * Chief Thunder Cloud as Yellow Wolf *

George Chesebro George Newell Chesebro (July 29, 1888 – May 28, 1959) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 400 films between 1915 and 1954. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died in Los Angeles, California. Partial filmography * ''Mi ...

as Cherokee Carter *

Art Mix Art Mix (born George Washington Kesterson; June 18, 1896 – December 7, 1972), was an American character actor from the 1920s until the mid-1940s. Biography Prior to becoming an actor, Mix worked as a circus performer and a boxer. He initially ...

as Pioneer * William Desmond as Wagon master

Plot

Settlers crossing the plains are being terrorized by a group of marauders, some posing as Indians. Andy Thomas, a cavalry soldier, is tasked by his fort's commander to go undercover and in order to stop the outlaws. He meets a wagon train, which includes the Cutters, Ma, Pa, Sue and Dick, who are making their way to their homestead. They are attacked by the marauders, but fend them off, although Pa Cutter is killed during the battle. Two of the outlaws join the wagon train and one of them, Cherokee, harasses Sue, but Andy puts a stop to that. When Cherokee dares him to break a wild pony, Andy does, and afterwards is nicknamed the "Cyclone of the Saddle". The remaining Cutters make it to their homestead, but Cherokee continues his harassment of Sue. When she is defended by her brother, who wounds Cherokee in the hand, the outlaw kills two braves from the local tribe and frames Dick for their murders. The Indians abduct Dick and his horse, Black Fox, but Black Fox manages to escape and make his way to Andy. Cherokee riles the Indians into attacking the settlers, but Andy and the cavalry arrive in time to put down the uprising, and inform the Indian chief that it was really Cherokee who killed his two men. Cherokee is given to the Indians for justice, and Andy and Sue make plans for the future.

Reception

'' The Ouachita Citizen'' gave the film a positive review, calling it "A thrilling story of the old west...", and "...a great picture and one of the most exciting we've ever seen". They felt that the film was full of excitement and action, and paid praise to the stunt work of Yakima Canutt and his "bull-whipping" skills. ''

The Shreveport Journal ''The Shreveport Journal'' was an American newspaper originally published by H. P. Benton in Shreveport and Bossier City in northwestern Louisiana. In operation from at least 1897, it ceased publication in 1991. History The name ''The Journal' ...

'' also gave the film a positive review, calling Rex Lease a "dynamo of action."

References

{{Elmer Clifton 1935 films 1935 Western (genre) films American black-and-white films American Western (genre) films Films directed by Elmer Clifton 1930s English-language films 1930s American films