Renegade Trail

Until very recently, I'd seen quite a few B-westerns but never a Hopalong Cassidy film. Well, after trying a few in May, I've now seen almost 60 of the 66 films....which shows I must enjoy them...at least a bit! Fortunately, the original prints were cleaned up and posted to YouTube some time ago...and apart from the Cassidy films, many of the old B-westerns have been trimmed to fit TV time slots. This is not the case with the Cassidy pictures...they are indeed complete.

Marshal Windy Halliday (Gabby Hayes) has contacted his old friend Hopalong Cassidy because he need help combating outlaws led by 'Stiff-Hat' Bailey, the local baddie boss-man. Soon after arriving, Hoppy strikes up a friendship with young Joey...and Joey is a really nice kid. As for his mother, she's running a ranch by herself and most folks think she's a widow. However, the truth is that her husband is a crook and has been rotting in prison...and she's lied to Joey...telling him that his father was a good guy. But when this jerk of a father escapes from prison and shows up, he's able to manipulate Joyce into pretending he's her brother. But Hoppy is suspicious...as the guy's story just doesn't make any sense and he knows that Uncle Dan is hiding something. What's next? And, what awful things does 'Uncle Dan' have in store? And, what will Hoppy and his friends do?

Like most of the Cassidy films, this one was filmed around Lone Pine, California...an incredibly scenic location filled with gorgeous vistas and Mt. Whitney. It's so beautiful that after seeing a few Cassidy films, I've planned a vacation to the area to see this area where about a thousand different movies were made!

So is it any good? Yes. The film has a lot of originality to it, stressed characters over action and it's pretty exciting at times. Also, something unusual about the picture is that there is some singing in it (at about the 40 minute mark) and it's very nice...and naturally NOT done by Hoppy! Overall, another excellent installment but also a sad film as it marks the final appearance by Gabby Hayes in a Cassidy film...and soon the studio would have to find a replacement. They went through several old coot sort of characters until finally sticking with Andy Clyde...the only sidekick of Hoppy's who was about as enjoyable as Hayes.

The whole point of Renegade Trail is to prevent young Sonny Bupp from finding out his dad is not a dead war hero but a live escaped prisoner who has come to town looking for his wife Charlotte Wynters. Upon finding her he intends to rustle her cattle herd and leave her flat. Definitely Russell Hopton is one of the slimier villains ever to grace a Hopalong Cassidy feature.

Hopton might just have gotten away with it if Bill Boyd and Russell Hayden were not in town visiting their old pal Gabby Hayes who is now the town marshal. As it turns out Gabby has filled young Sonny Bupp's ears with tales of Hoppy's exploits so he already is a hero worshiper. Even if his dad were on the straight and narrow I doubt he could live up to Hoppy.

Anyway to see how this is all resolved is for you to watch this good Hoppy feature.

Gabby Hayes' last movie with the Hopalong Cassidy series is a good one. He has an unusual role (for him) as the Marshall of Cactus Springs, & is actually fairly effective as a Marshall! There's a strong plot, good character development, & Hoppy is often not on screen. The cast is strong, especially Russell Hopton as the main baddie. Good action shots of Gabby & William Boyd (separately) riding hard. Hoppy is in his black outfit all through the movie, always a good sign. The two songs don't slow things down too much, but the main weakness of this film is the overall lack of action, for example, Hoppy is in only one gunfight. Rated 3*.

Enjoyable Hoppy outing. This one stresses the camaraderie, love and respect between the Hoppy and his two sidekicks, old-timer Windy (now sheriff) and young Lucky. It also stresses Hoppy's great reputation for decency and competence. There is very little action (OK with me) in the first half of the movie. It is fun to hear Windy brag to a young boy how great Hoppy is and how Windy taught Hoppy and Lucky everything worth knowing. Fun also to hear the banter as the three josh each other. Hoppy shows up, but the young boy and his mother don't know it is Hoppy. The mother even tongue lashes Hoppy, not realizing who he is. Finally, there is some good humor between Windy and Lucky about the chances of the mother getting Hoppy to marry her.

The second half of the movie has the requisite action, and all ends well

Fast but predictable Hopalong Cassidy flick lasts only 50-some minutes but of course pays off with some fistfights, gunfights, pretty girls in tight period costumes, and back clad hero Boyd, plus a foursome of singing cowboys. Standard Saturday morning fare for the ten years olds of yesteryear.