The Tornado
Synopsis
The Tornado mostly followed pulp Western formula -- bad guys hold up a town, take a girl hostage, and the hero rides to the rescue. But there were a couple of twists that made it seem more personal than the usual cowboy fare. Ford's Jack Dayton ... is known as "the No-Gun Man" because he faces the villains unarmed, anticipating the character played by James Stewart in George Marshall's 1939 Western comedy classic Destry Rides Again. Dayton is an immigrant who uses the reward money to bring over his mother (Jean Hathaway) from Ireland, a prototypically Fordian situation if there ever was one.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
March 3, 1917
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Ford
- Screenplay & Story
- Francis Ford, John Ford, Grace Cunard
- Original Title
- The Tornado
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 30m
- Production Studios
- Bison Motion Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Ford
Francis Ford, John Ford, Grace Cunard
Department Leadership Roster
John Ford
Director
John Ford
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Tornado.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Tornado
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Tornado about?
The Tornado mostly followed pulp Western formula -- bad guys hold up a town, take a girl hostage, and the hero rides to the rescue. But there were a couple of twists that made it seem more personal than the usual cowboy fare. Ford's Jack Dayton ... is known as "the No-Gun Man" because he faces the villains unarmed, anticipating the character played by James Stewart in George Marshall's 1939 Western comedy classic Destry Rides Again. Dayton is an immigrant who uses the reward money to bring over his mother (Jean Hathaway) from Ireland, a prototypically Fordian situation if there ever was one.
Who directed The Tornado?
The Tornado was directed by John Ford.
Who stars in The Tornado?
The principal cast of The Tornado includes John Ford, Jean Hathaway, Peter Gerald, Elsie Thornton, Duke Worne.
When was The Tornado released and how long is it?
The Tornado was released in 1917 with a total runtime of 30m.