North of the Rio Grande

Rather tame Hoppy western until the slam-bang finale. Until then, it's mostly indoors in a saloon while Hoppy tries to get the corrupt town's Deputy Plunkett who killed his brother. At the same time in the background lurks the mysterious Lone Wolf. Meanwhile, Windy and Lucky go undercover to help Hoppy track him down. On the whole, the storyline moves along at a rather leisurely pace for an oater. Then too, the plot line with its two main strands rather than one suggests a last-minute combining of separate scripts for whatever reason. I can't help thinking there's a backstory of some sort to this odd Hoppy production.

There are some noteworthy aspects, however. Surprisingly, it's not fists that fly as in standard Hoppy fare, instead it's Windy's fingers as they race over the piano keyboard in the town's saloon- wow- who knew! Perhaps stealing the show, however, is deglamorized actress Hayes as the saloon's Faro Annie. All in all, she delivers an unusually poignant turn instead of the usually winsome role of a western leading lady. And catch that very last close-up where she and the movie leave us on an unexpectedly somber note. Then too, I like the way Director Watt manages some unusual touches such as the horse charging over the sunken camera. I wish IMDB had more information on his much-too-short career. Also, catch New York actor Lee J. Cobb in a supporting role, before he turned A-lister in such theatrical hits as On The Waterfront (1954). All in all, the programmer amounts to a different Hoppy entry in many important respects. Whether viewers enjoy the departures from the usual depends, I guess, on personal taste. Frankly, I was disappointed.

This entry into the Hopalong Cassidy series proves to be an interesting one. Directed by Nate Watt , the film is a character study and is successful in this objective. Nate Watt only directed 7 Cassidy films, more's the pity as he really managed to get under the character's skins more than any other director.All of his Hoppy films are slow in pace, very atmospheric, more adult than the usual series films , and very strong on the principle characters involved. This film features a typical downbeat Nate Watt opening. Hoppy's brother Buddy has been murdered ( he was in a previous Hoppy film ). Hoppy, Lucky and Windy set out to investigate "The Lone Wolf", a bandit and mastermind behind many robberies in the town , plus the instigator of Buddy's murder. Stephen Morris ( aka Morris Ankrum ) is the villain of the piece. Lee J. Cobb is in a small part.The female lead, as in most Watt films is far stronger than usually portrayed in a Hoppy film. Bernadene Hayes has a real charm and really enhances the film. There is an obvious bond between her character and Hoppy , this is nice for a change from the Lucky character's usually silly romances.The final scene is beautifully acted by Boyd and Hayes, watch their eyes as they both convey their true feelings. Another beautifully directed sequence has Hoppy and Faro Annie ( Hayes ) dancing in the saloon whilst Windy plays the piano. Hayes sings "When Irish eyes are smiling ". This is beautifully done and it is obvious to any viewer Boyd is thoroughly enjoying the change of pace.There is a cracking finale with the villain and Windy on board a runaway train and again a poignant scene when Hoppy and Lucky believe Windy to be dead.This is not the finest Cassidy, indeed not Nate Watt's best but it has moments of originality and sheer bliss that should not be missed.

Sadly Nate Watt's career never really took off as it should have. But it should be noted he was assistant director on the classic 1939 film Of Mice and Men. I like to think he contributed a lot to that wonderful film.

As a Hoppy western this story has some interesting moments. From the start when we see Lucky at a coroner's inquest being run by Henry Stoneham, we know who the bad guy is. Morris Ankrum (Stoneham) seemed to be born to play bad guys and he did a good job. But it was Hoppy's younger brother who was murdered so it's only time until the real villain is brought to justice.

Yet somehow a musical number is inserted with Windy (Gabby Hayes) on the piano belting out The Wearing of the Green at the behest of Bull O'Hara (Walter Long) that has everyone in the cast up dancing and singing.

This film has the first credit for Lee J. Cobb as the owner of the railroad. I was stunned to see a youngish Cobb in the cast and even more surprised to learn Lee J. Cobb was bald at 26. I always believed Lee J.Cobb to be one of our finest actors. In 1968 I took a small group of students to Lincoln Center to see Cobb as King Lear. It was electrifying and every one of my charges was captured by what they were seeing on stage.

You know how the film will end but that was what you wanted to see. I was such a fan that my parents indulged me with a black Hoppy outfit complete with two six guns and a black hat.

At 14 minutes into the film Gabby Hayes is bragging about his piano-playing talent, but he is challenged to prove it by playing "The Wearing of the Green," as demanded by Bull O'Hara. This scene was a set-up that surprises the viewer as Hayes shows he can play the piano, and everyone in the saloon--cowboys, dance-hall girls, good guys and bad guys, not only dance to the tune, but they sing it as well. Clearly, everybody has fun in this four-minute sequence. Later on, starting around 18 minutes, another song and dance takes place with "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," a number that makes Bull O'Hara weep. Incredibly, everyone in the saloon seems to be Irish!

I don't think these sequences detract from the film, they enhance it and elevate the movie from the usual Hoppy film into something stronger, helped by the performance of Faro Annie and Hoppy. This is one of the best of the Hopalong Cassidy films made in the 1930s and if it's not on the Cable Channel again, it's on Youtube.

I have to give a hearty second to zebulonguy's review here. The film shines due to its " character study .. .slow in pace... and very atmospheric" nature. He hits the nail on the head. For me Bernadene Hayes, whom I never noticed in a film before, was the best thing in the movie. She was great looking, singing, acting -- warm and sincere. Hoppy was the second best thing in the film: smiling, friendly, soft voice, warm, gentlemanly and authoritative. Also contributing was a pretty good cast which included such noted actors as Morris Ankrum and Lee J. Cobb, the president of the railroad!

***Spoilers****

The main villains were played by Morris Ankrum (the "lone wolf") as the top gang leader; Jack Rutherford as Ace Crowder (who ran the saloon-dance hall-casino) the second in command; and Al Ferguson as Deputy Sheriff Jim Plunkett, who murdered Hoppy's brother Buddy, an act which led Hoppy to the town.

Two particularly good scenes, near the end of the movie, were (1) the tense revelatory scene where Hoppy was explaining his plans to Ankrum about rounding up Ankrum's gang, not knowing that Ankrum was the gang leader, and Ankrum just then discovering that Hoppy was an undercover lawman; and (2) the exciting scene of two groups of horsemen chasing the speeding rail road train.

The following observations are all minor criticisms, and remember I loved this B-movie:

-- they never explained why the Deputy Sheriff murdered Buddy, though it was during a gunfight between the posse and the bad guys.

-- Hoppy's friend Hayden, who was angered that the authorities declared Buddy's death as "accidental," was unusually friendly afterward with the culprits Ankrum, Crowder and Plunkett.

-- Hoppy killed Plunkett in an unusualy ordinary way. Plunkettt was sent to follow Hoppy, to find Hoppy's supposed gold, and fired at Hoppy when they faced each other.

-- Hoppy went undercover to investigate the bad guys, and romanced Bernadene as a charming outlaw, and, it is a shame that we never saw the scene where Hoppy revealed his true identity to her as the great famous Hopalong Cassidy.

-- Bernadene was a major player in the story, with lots of screen time. No criticism, but she had little to do to advance the story, except to point out at the end where some characters had gone, something anyone could have done.

-- It is also odd that we never saw a reaction shot from Ankrum when he was about to die in the train crash. It's as though he disappeared from the movie. (Maybe they planned to have him in a sequel.)

-- Ankrum, the "lone wolf," had no real good reason not to kill Hoppy once Hoppy's identity was revealed and Ankrum had him tied up near the end of the movie. Also, most important, only Hoppy knew at that point that Ankrum was the Lone Wolf, so why flee town at all?