Riders of the Deadline

I hate to be so negative, but aside from William Boyd's always-pleasing performance as Hoppy and the mostly decent production values and scenery, this film isn't up to par with the better Hoppy outings.

One thing that amused me (partially because it was so unusual) is when Andy Clyde as Califonia Carlson went about trying to actually hang himself because he was so depressed that Hoppy (apparently) turned bad. Jimmy Rogers added to the fun in discussing the hanging-to-be with Carlson. (Jimmy Rogers make for a weak sidekick, at least as compared to the others in the series. The other co-stars were on the weak side too.) Another silly but amusing thing involving Carlson was when Hoppy wedged him into the "V" of a tree trunk in order to disable him for the moment.

One of the things that stand out for me is how so little thought seemed to be given to staging the action in any believable way. With all the experienced production crew and the success of the Hoppy franchise, they could have done a better direction job. Two examples I can think of off-hand: (1) Hoppy, going undercover, is accused of being bad. Only the Ranger boss knows this, and the two arrange for Hoppy to "escape" custody. Hoppy does this in such an unbelievable way -- amidst the other Rangers, Hoppy jumps on his horse and simply rides off SAFELY in a hail of bullets; and (2) worst scene ever is when Hoppy is under suspicion and riding with the gang of bad guys and is watched closely by bad-guy Robert Mitchum. Suddenly,Hoppy (on horseback) kicks the gun out of Mitchum's hand and successfully gallops away again in a hail of bullets. Jeesh!

When Hoppy's falsely accused young friend is killed while supposedly trying to escape from jail, an embittered Hoppy is blamed and drummed out of the Texas Rangers and then turns outlaw in this typically enjoyable tale with Robert Mitchum scowling as a gun-thug and two villains for the price of one. Great camera work during the chase finale.

I absolutely love Robert Mitchum, but I'm sorry to admit I didn't sit through all 19 films he made appearances in in 1943. I watched a couple of them, including two Hopalong Cassidy flicks where he had more than just a line here and there. Riders of the Deadline was the last of this western series Bob made, and his part was the largest in this installment, so I rented it.

This certainly isn't William Boyd's last time as the recognizable cowboy; this is the 50th of 63 films he made in the series! In this one, his young buddy is killed and gets a posthumous bad reputation, so Hoppy sets out to restore his friend's good name and catch the gang who did him in. As you might suspect, Robert Mitchum is one of the bad cowboys. He does have some speaking lines in this one, though, unlike Colt Comrades, where he gets killed off in the first five minutes of the movie. If you really like old western serials, you might have already gotten hooked on the Hopalong Cassidy series, but if this isn't your cup of tea, you'll probably be glad they're only an hour a piece.

Riders Of The Deadline has Hopalong Cassidy and his sidekicks Jimmy Rogers and Andy Clyde as Texas Rangers with Hoppy taking a fatherly interest in young Richard Crane and his sister Frances Woodward. Young Crane has fallen in with the wrong crowd mainly Anthony Warde and his outlaw gang. Crane has been letting them use his ranch to hide stolen cattle. But he agrees to go straight and Hoppy has his boss Herbert Rawlinson take him on as a Ranger.

It doesn't work out though and Crane is killed for what he knows and Hoppy gets a suspension what modern police shows term a RIP. When he punches out Rawlinson he gets fired.

I'm sure that all the Saturday matinée kids were stunned then to see Hoppy turn outlaw. But patience little ones, it's only some undercover work so Hoppy can uncover who's behind all the rustling.

Robert Mitchum who made his screen debut in Hopalong Cassidy films did his final Hoppy film with Riders Of The Deadline. At first Mitchum only got a line or two, but gradually his roles built up. Usually he was one of the gang and here he plays one with a bad grudge against Hopalong Cassidy for putting him in jail and he doesn't care if he's turned bad guy or not.

This Hoppy films should even satisfy those with more adult tastes in westerns.

Good rugged scenery, a few attention-getting surprises, and a heckuva stage crackup, lift this Hoppy into a must-see for for front-row kids, whether geezers like me or welcome new-comers.

True, it's not an easy storyline as Hoppy and crew try to oust gun smugglers from their insider network. And it ain't easy since the baddies are well organized, but then it is a clever Hoppy.

There's plenty of hard riding and some fast shooting, plus a table-wrecking binge of flying fists that must have cost a bundle in new furniture. On the brief downside is a dopey Clyde effort at hanging himself, about as funny as the real thing. But maybe that's just me.

And shouldn' forget an early look at the redoubtable Bob Mitchum before he hit big time. He's got a few lines here in what amounts to a supporting role that already shows his budding brawn.

All in all, it's not a Hoppy to miss. So get-um-up Topper!