Frisco Tornado

This 1950 B-western action film features the great Rocky Lane as a Marshal out to bust up an insurance protection racket. The outlaws & insurance men find that Rocky Lane is not a man to be trifled with ! As Lane cleans up the extortion plot, several surprises await the viewer!

Lane's performance here is action-filled and intense. While the story-line was a familiar one, it was pretty well presented. Several western vets appear here, including the wonderful George Chesboro. The plot seemed well-paced and action was plentiful.

Fans of the western programmers of Rocky Lane will enjoy this one -- others may find the film a bit dated by today's standards.

In a story you would normally find in an urban setting, US Marshal Rocky Lane investigates a protection racket in the old west after being sent for by stagecoach line owner Eddy Waller. Seems as though Stephen Chase is selling outlaw protection insurance to the businessmen of the area and only Waller won't buy.

Chase's gang is really something, they even shoot down driver and shotgun guards of stages riding empty just to make a point. Which is why Waller sent for the federal law.

Knowing is one thing proving is another. But you also know that no bad guys will get the best of two gun Rocky Lane.

Frisco Tornado was an early film for Martha Hyer and it offers you a chance to see her before she went blond. I always considered her one of the most beautiful of stars.

It's also a fine western for Rocky Lane with all the necessary action to satisfy any western fan.

B Western by Republic Pictures directed by to me unknown R G Springsteen, with sound performance from lead Allan Lane, a typically interesting supporting part by Eddy Waller as Nugget, and the show stealer, the suave and deceitful villain Jim Crail, played with considerable charm by Stephen Chase. In fact, Chase's mendacity and depth of character make this 59' B pic worth watching, other pluses notwithstanding.

Crisp script by Coates Webster, standard cinematography, great chase sequences on stagecoach and horse. Definitely worth watching!

Big Jim Crail secretly leads a gang of outlaws who terrorize small businesses that won't buy Crail's insurance. When stagecoach line owner Nugget Clark decides to stand up to the intimidation, he summons fiery U. S. marshal Rocky Lane for help.

Another unusual element regarding insurance and the usual fast-paced plot featuring dastardly schemes cooked up by a bad hombre - the bad hombre is Crail. He causes a lot of problems for our hero. There's some fine action that uplifts the film. Great stunt work on top of the Stagecoach. A nifty fistfight between the villain and the hero. There's more humour by Waller.