The Legend of Tom Dooley

The Legend of Tom Dooley
Directed byTed Post
Written byStanley Shpetner
(as Stan Shpetner)
Produced byStanley Shpetner
(as Stan Shpetner)
StarringMichael Landon
Jo Morrow
Jack Hogan
Richard Rust
Dee Pollock
Ken Lynch
CinematographyGilbert Warrenton
Edited byRobert S. Eisen
Music byRonald Stein
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Sheptner Productions
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • July 1959 (1959-07)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Legend of Tom Dooley is a 1959 American Western film directed by Ted Post and starring Michael Landon, Jo Morrow, Jack Hogan, Richard Rust, Dee Pollock and Ken Lynch. It was based on the 90-year-old folk song "Tom Dooley", which had been inspired by the real-life case of convicted murderer Tom Dula. The theme song of the film is a ballad, a hit for The Kingston Trio in 1958. The movie's plot is consistent with the lyrics of the song, but otherwise bears little resemblance to the actual murder case.