Partners of the Plains

Check out bad guy Scar's black hat--- it's big enough to shade an army. But don't expect Hoppy to be wearing a white hat. In fact, he's got a different wardrobe from his usual. I guess that reflects the movie's story. There is a bad guy and a bang-up climax, but our hero's main conflict is with a snooty girl, Lorna, from the east. Turns out she owns the ranch where Hoppy works, and it's gone to her head, ordering everyone around like servants. Naturally, Hoppy won't take it, so a personality clash ensues, ending in who will dominate.

The bad guy stuff with Scar's kind of thrown in so as to get some gunplay and hard riding. Meanwhile, Baldy (Clark) does a pretty good comedy relief, while Lucky hangs in there with nothing much to do. Anyhow, it's a different Hoppy flick with its own appeal since actress Gaze does an excellent job being both snooty and finally charming. Too bad her career was so short, 13 appearances. I really like the ending with its own brand of appeal. So if you don't mind a different kind of entry, give it a try.

Partners Of The Plains finds Hopalong Cassidy and young protégé Lucky Jenkins signing on to get in shape a new ranch that some English people have bought. John Warburton over from across the pond seems nice enough, but young Gwen Gaze and her aunt Hilda Plowright act like they are to the manor born. Hoppy really has to put her in her place.

Still she's intrigued by Bill Boyd because no one has ever treated her quite like that before. The owners also are bothered by rustlers headed by screen villain Al Bridge who has some history with Hopalong Cassidy.

The film also seems an audition for Harvey Clark to replace Gabby Hayes as part of the trio. Clark had his moments as Baldy, but he died later that year.

This film is recommended for the way Hoppy puts Gwen Gaze in her place, western style.

A decent entry in the Hoppy catalogue, with our hero locking horns with an English ranch owner played by Melbourne born actress Gwen Gaze, who starts off disliking Hoppy, and clashing with him often through most of the film, but eventually his charm wins her over! Russel Hayden's 'Lucky' is on hand of course, but no Gabby Hayes in this one, his place taken by Harvey Clark as 'Baldy', he survives the film, but sadly died later in the year at only 52. Gwen Gaze for whatever reason retired from films in 1943, but lived to a ripe old age of 94, dying in 2010. Interesting to look back on these old films now, and follow the lives and fate of all the actors via IMDB.

To my pleasure this was a different kind of Hoppy film, but it retained the best elements of the series — Hoppy's sterling, steely character, and his friendship towards his associates.

The British owners of the L-D Ranch, where Hoppy is the foreman, are visiting the ranch on their way to California. The chief owner is snooty, imperious, self-absorbed Lorna Drake. What is unusual is how Hoppy's love-hate relationship with her dominates the length of the film. In fact, in the first half of the film there is absolutely no bad-guy activities. In the second half of the film, Scar Lewis, who had been sent to jail by Hoppy, finally makes his move: he convinces the spurned lover of Lorna to help him get Hoppy into a remote cabin where they can blast the dam to flood Hoppy to his death. That's it — no robbery, rustling, counterfeiting ring, etc — just a plan to kill Hoppy.

Hoppy's movie-long bickering with Lorna got tiring at times, but for the most part was enjoyable. It's always fun to watch Hoppy's character withstand all adversity and forgive the temporary failings of his friends.

This was my first Hopalong Cassidy film and it was easy to see why "Hoppy" has such a big following. Hoppy works on a ranch and the owner, a spoiled opinionated woman named Lorna Drake visits for the first time and these two get along like oil and water. Hoppy is joined on the ranch by Lucky and Baldy...they end up having a face off with bad guy Scar Lewis and his gang, but the real story is the battle of wills between Hoppy and Lorna.

Classic western in that the good guy rides a white horse, but I couldn't help wishing for a good old fashioned spanking ala John Wayne!

"Men who look like ornaments on a croquet court." (Reference to bow-legged cowboys)

"Any bronc that's worthwhile is worth the trouble taming. "-Hoppy.