Hoppy's Holiday

I think Bill Boyd had a lot more fun toying with Rand Brooks and Andy Clyde about taking a little time for a vacation from the Bar 20 than he did when he actually got to Mesa City. Because when they got there Hoppy, Lucky, and California get hip deep in a bank robbery or at least the solving of it.

This Cassidy feature has a lot more humor than most, it almost plays like a comedy. Not quite though because Hopalong Cassidy was still a most serious cowboy hero to the youth of the nation. It all involves Andy Clyde spending some money for a new suit and a suitcase to pack it in. It gets switched with the suitcase the robbers hid the loot in. Hoppy baits a most clever trap to get the outlaws.

In keeping with the times over in Mesa City one of the characters comes into town driving one of those newfangled horseless carriages. Hoppy says it's the way of the future, but California is both curious and intimidated by the contraption.

One of the better films in the latter part of the Hopalong Cassidy series.

When Bill Boyd, Andy Clyde and Rand Brooks take a break from ranching with a stay in town, it's all fun and games until someone robs the bank, and Andy is framed for it.

Although Boyd was capable of turning in a comic performance when the script called for it, in this one, he decides to leave the clowning to the veteran of Mack Sennett and Jules White shorts. Andy has to submit to being stuck in jail, eating a cheese sandwich on an enormous , shiny bun, while Boyd runs around, solving the mystery of who robbed the bank, stuck the money in the same suitcase that Andy had just bought, switched the suitcases so Andy got the one with the money, and then made the money disappear. Meanwhile, Brooks does.... well, he largely disappears from this entry. Clearly Boyd, who had bought the rights and was now producer as well as star, knew the advantages of have good comedy, and Mr. Clyde was a sound choice. It also meant that Boyd didn't look foolish. He had reached the "kid look up to Hoppy, we have to think of the kids" stage. I think he was right, but it makes this one a little less interesting than it might, had Boyd been more actively involved in the comedy.

One of Hoppy's later outings – William Boyd somehow looked a lot older (in a staid grey shirt, out of black for most of the picture), and even a new fangled motorcar played a part in the plot!

Lucky and California are hankering after a bit of fun for a change and their pestering of Hoppy eventually pays off when he decides to stop at Mesa City awhile for their Welcome Stranger celebrations. He can tell at a glance – and therefore we can - that there's dirty work afoot and who the baddie must be. The bank is duly robbed and California is implicated in it by simply bumping into one of the baddies in the dark and unintentionally swapping suitcases. Anyway, spending the night in jail gave Andy Clyde the chance for a splendid monologue while waiting for his huge ham sandwich from Lucky. Hoppy isn't overly perturbed by the events - even if you don't know how it will all turn out he is the epitome of reassurance! Favorite bits: The square dance; the leisurely posse chasing the dignified car full of baddies; Jeff Corey abruptly finding out crime doesn't pay; the shots through the "dummy waiter" - and generally high production values throughout.

It was another nice one from the team, a little less gun-play than usual to be sure but well worth a look in just the same.

Not the usual Hoppy music & no TV theme music added onto the beginning of this authorized tape. Hoppy is dressed all in black at the beginning, but changes to a rancher's outfit 20 minutes into the film (a bad sign which usually leads to more talk & less action, e.g., he wears no guns while wearing his rancher's outfit, & in this movie, takes Lucky's gun). Set in Mesa City in the late 1890s to early 1900s (based on the `horseless carriage' that shows up). Blooper: a square dance caller closes his mouth but his calls continue! Interesting touches: 1) Hoppy dances, which is somewhat of a rarity; 2) nice photography (especially when Hoppy is seen through a double wall opening to a dumb waiter); 3) long comedy monolog by California; 4) a posse on horseback chases robbers in a car; 5) the heroine (MW) is quite forgettable & has an unusually small role for a Hoppy heroine (even Lucky doesn't fall all over her, as he usually does); 6) Hoppy returns to his black outfit near the end, & calls his horse `Topper,' which I haven't heard too often. A pleasant film, but not among Hoppy's best, either as a western or as a mystery. I rate this 5/10.

"Hoppy's Holiday" is a fair entry into the franchise, though it has a big shortcoming--it's easy to see who is behind the bank robbery and why. That isn't enough reason not to see it, however...as even a film with a plot this thin is worth watching if it's a Hopalong Cassidy movie!

The story begins with Hoppy and his sidekicks, Lucky and California, going into town for a mini vacation. However, soon after they arrive, there's a bank robbery. California gets klunked on the head and his suitcase is accidentally switched with the suitcase with the loot in it...and folks initially think California is one of the robbers. So, it's up to Hoppy to figure it all out and bring the dirtbags to justice.

With most Hopalong Cassidy films, the time period in which it occurs is vague. A few are clearly set in the time of the old west (1870-1890) and a few, inexplicably, are set in modern times...with telephones and the like. This one is in between...with a very early car featured in the film (about 1900). But the funny part of this is seeing the baddies driving out of town in this early jalopy. It's funny because they traveled at about 10-20 mph (or less), tended to break down easily AND could only travel on smooth roads....and you could practically catch up to them by jogging!

Overall, a decent film but as I said above, it's pretty obvious who is behind this mess. Entertaining but slight. And, IMDB trivia is interesting with this one, as Ellen Corby (Grandma on "The Waltons") co-wrote this one...as well as one other Hopalong Cassidy film!