The Legend of Tom Dooley (1959): Cast & Plot
The Legend of Tom Dooley is a 1959 drama western directed by Ted Post, starring Michael Landon as Tom Dooley, Richard Rust and Jo Morrow. It runs 1 hour 19 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 19m (79 min)
- Director
- Ted Post
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Legend of Tom Dooley About?
The premise of The Legend of Tom Dooley without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After mistakenly killing an enemy soldier, unaware that the war has ended, Tom Dooley and his friend Country Boy flee the law. The military command, unwilling to excuse the tragic but honest mistake, dispatches a relentless lawman to track them down, turning their desperate escape into a tense chase.
The Legend of Tom Dooley Themes & Keywords
· 11 tags- enemy
- civil war
- rebel
- lawman
- murder
- misunderstanding
- on the run
- soldier
- carpetbagger
- american civil war
- based on song
The Legend of Tom Dooley Cast & Characters
Michael Landon leads the cast as Tom Dooley, with Richard Rust as Country Boy and Jo Morrow as Laura Foster. Directed by Ted Post; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ted Post
- Michael Landon as Tom Dooley
- Richard Rust as Country Boy
- Jo Morrow as Laura Foster
- Jack Hogan as Charlie Grayson
Also Starring in The Legend of Tom Dooley
· 11 more- Howard Wright Sheriff Joe Dobbs
- Jason Johnson Frank
- Ralph Moody Doc Henry
- John Cliff Lieutenant
- Anthony Jochim Preacher
- Ken Lynch Father
- Jeff Morris Confederate Soldier
- Dee Pollock Abel
- Cheerio Meredith Meg
- Boyd Santell Andy
- Gary Hunley The Kid
More from Ted Post
More films directed by Ted Post, best-rated first: Magnum Force, Hang 'Em High, Beneath the Planet of the Apes and The Human Shield.
The Legend of Tom Dooley Plot Summary
What happens in The Legend of Tom Dooley from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
At the close of the Civil War, Michael Landon as Tom Dooley leads a reckless assault on a stagecoach, unaware that the fighting has ended. The raid brands him a murderer in the eyes of the townsfolk, and he returns to his hometown with the dream of marrying his fiancée, Jo Morrow as Laura Foster. The two lovers hope to start a life together, but the moment is thick with suspicion and the weight of a war-torn world pressing down on them.
Full summary
The whole story of The Legend of Tom Dooley, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Legend of Tom Dooley?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the title character Tom Dooley?
The Legend of Tom Dooley Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Fais Ta Prière Tom Dooley” and “Легендата за Том Дули”.
- Also known as
-
- Fais Ta Prière Tom Dooley
- Легендата за Том Дули
- La leggenda di Tom Dooley
- Keine Gnade für Tom Dooley
Seen The Legend of Tom Dooley?
Movies Like The Legend of Tom Dooley
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tom Horn, The Doolins of Oklahoma and Tomahawk.
The Legend of Tom Dooley FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Legend of Tom Dooley, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Legend of Tom Dooley?
The Legend of Tom Dooley runs 1 hour 19 minutes (79 minutes).
When was The Legend of Tom Dooley released?
The Legend of Tom Dooley was released on July 1, 1959.
Who directed The Legend of Tom Dooley?
The Legend of Tom Dooley was directed by Ted Post.
More films by Ted Post Who is in the cast of The Legend of Tom Dooley?
The Legend of Tom Dooley stars Michael Landon as Tom Dooley, Richard Rust as Country Boy and Jo Morrow as Laura Foster, among 15 credited actors.
Does The Legend of Tom Dooley have a post-credit scene?
No. The Legend of Tom Dooley has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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