Bar 20

In this B western from United Artists and director Lesley Selander. Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd), along with pals California (Andy Clyde) and Lin Bradley (George Reeves), sets out to buy some cattle for his titular ranch. The trio come across a stagecoach robbery and help a damsel in distress, Marie Stevens (Dustine Farnum). She takes the trio back to her ranch where they meet her fiancee Richard (Robert Mitchum) and friend Mark Jackson (Victor Jory). The bandits who robbed the stage seem to have a larger motive, and Hoppy and his pals may just become targets themselves. Also featuring Betty Blythe, Douglas Fowley, Francis McDonald, and Earle Hodgins.

This was the 48th of 66 Hopalong Cassidy pictures, and it's the first one I've seen. I may have seen bits of others when I was a kid, but this is the only one that I can definitively say that I've seen from start to finish. I watched it for Mitchum, here credited as "Bob Mitchum". His role is quite substantial compared to the others he played in his first year in movies, and he's not bad. This movie did offer the rare sight of seeing Superman sock Robert Mitchum in the jaw. Otherwise, this is the usual B western stuff, made slightly better by the cast. One other note: lead actress Dustine Farnum was the daughter of silent movie western star Dustin Farnum. She was all of 18 at the time, and this ended up being her sole movie credit.

A decent entry in the series with young Robert Mitcham getting his meatiest role yet, and future 'Superman' George Reeves getting a shot as one of Hoppy's sidekicks and doing a good job. Pretty heroine Dustine Farnum was sadly, in her only screen role, and should have been given more opportunities, but became a Hollywood casualty dying at just 58. Like a lot of Hopalong Cassidy movies, some of the behind the scenes drama is a story in itself! Incidentally, 'Bar 20' is an odd title for this film, as it's only mentioned once, and plays no part in the plot!

Outlaws rob Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) and his sidekicks (Andy Clyde, George Reeves) of money meant for buying cattle in this fairly entertaining Hoppy western starring a young Robert Mitchum, one of a string of appearances in the series, but this time he playing a nice guy, though a little stubborn.

A stand-out Hoppy. There's lots of Lone Pine scenery including the neolithic Alabama Hills. Those rock spires are made for ambushes, and they get a good workout here. Lots of hard riding too, with some gunplay and flying fists. I was hoping for a broad-shoulder championship between Adams (Mitchum) and Lin (Reeves)—that would have been some bout. Actually, Hoppy shares a lot of time with an outstanding cast that includes movie great Mitchum in one of his early roles, Superman's Reeves whose mysterious death is still debated, along with premier bad guy Jory, carnival barker Hodgins, and comic relief Clyde. Almost all the scenes are on location except for a few courtyard studio set-ups. My only gripe is with the convoluted plot, but you can probably follow it better than I could. Two take-aways from the oater-- If you fall into a well, don't ask Tom (Hodgins) to help you out, and if you know a mule named Molly, be sure to bring your guitar. Enjoy!

Robert Mitchum who got his start in movies in the Hopalong Cassidy series usually played outlaws in his appearances. But in Bar 20 Mitchum plays an earnest but rather thickheaded and proud young bridegroom who just cannot believe the obvious. The obvious being that his best friend and best man Victory Jory is trying to rob and swindle him.

Bar 20 finds Hoppy and his sidekicks George Reeves and Andy Clyde on a trip to Betty Blythe's ranch to buy some cattle and Hoppy's carrying a wad of cash. Our heroes as it happens rescue Blythe and her daughter Dustine Farnum from a stagecoach holdup though the outlaws get away with her expensive engagement ring.

Later on Hoppy and the sidekicks are robbed of the cash. It's a rather complex series of events that convinces Hoppy that Jory is the one behind it. But no one can convince Mitchum that Hoppy and his sidekicks aren't the bad guys. Apparently the reputation that Hopalong Cassidy has in the west counts for nothing. I'm sure the kids in 1943 who saw this on Saturday afternoon thought Mitchum was the stupidest guy alive.

George Reeves did many Cassidy features himself, but this was his one and only shot at being a regular sidekick. I wonder why Harry Sherman didn't use him further in that role.

A bit more plot than usual distinguishes Bar 20 from the usual Cassidy films. But I'm sure the kids liked it as will you.