Bataille rangée

First-rate Hoppy, thanks mainly to great Sierra backdrops that embroider most every scene. In fact, unusual outdoor scenes complement almost all the run-time. Then too, there are two mountainside set-ups that are almost stunning in composition, worthy of any bigger budget production. And what about that old locomotive stuck somewhere about on the Lone Pine desert that's a real oddity. It's like an ugly ship in the middle of an ocean.

Series producer Sherman must have spent more than usual not only for the extended locations but for a lot of cowboy extras making up the two gangs. Seems a greedy landowner wants to sabotage a proposed rail line that will carry cattle herds to market. At present he charges ranchers a big toll to cross his land to market that he'll otherwise lose to the rail line. So friends of the cattlemen call in Hoppy, Lucky, and Speedy to help out.

At times, it's a little hard to separate the good guys from the bad, especially when Hoppy goes undercover-- but maybe that's just me. Actor Boyd shines as usual showing more personality than usual for an oater. But then he did have an earlier A-movie career, so his acting talents are better honed than most matinee heroes. Also, diminutive actress Moran makes an engaging pretty face even though her career was very short, and I wish we knew why. At the same time, two comedy relief players share the chuckles-- Wood and Hodgins. There may be a backstory to that oater oddity. Anyway, the programmer's a better-than-average Hoppy that, I think, keeps viewers entertained all the way. So tune in.

This Hopalong Cassidy story has Hoppy and Lucky getting involved in a Range War where rancher Willard Robertson has a nice little racket going. He's got a strategically located ranch and charges tolls to anyone who wants to cross it with their cattle to market. So he has a vested interest in keeping the railroad from being built. Between the tolls and the sabotage of all kinds to the railroad Robertson is making life miserable all around.

Hoppy goes undercover with Britt Wood and when Wood is discovered to be a spy Bill Boyd has to think fast on his feet. He also captures a bunch of the outlaws also thinking fast on his feet and with no gunplay.

More than enough gunplay for the final shootout with Boyd, Wood, and Russell Hayden at Padre Pedro DeCordoba's mission. DeCordoba allows Hoppy to use the mission as a base for his operations. A most unpacific thing, but it's Hopalong Cassidy so you know you're right with the Deity.

Hoppy fans will like this one.

Wiliiam Boyd returns in this fast-paced , well written early entry in the Hopalong Cassidy series. Boyd was wonderful as always as the black-clad hero, with Russell "Lucky" Hayden a fine sidekick.

In this one, Hoppy goes undercover to expose the bad guys who are fighting railroad expansion through the open range. Glenn Strange co-stars as does Britt Wood.

The early Hoppy films were the best and this one is very good. Millions of kids looked up to Hoppy, who always fought fair and stood his ground. The script, cast and production values here are exemplary.

Highly recommended....... A fun film !

Buck Colins heads a group of local ranchers who are trying to prevent the railroad from completing its line through their property. Till now they have been able to charge tolls on herds passing through. Hoppy goes undercover to expose them.

Britt Wood takes Windy's (Gabby Hayes) place as the comic sidekick, 'Speedy' McGinnis, and he is anything but speedy. A slow thinking character who takes his time coming up with one and one is two, and Deputy Fenton (Earl Hodgin) is another dopey character who falls for Hoppy's lasso trick, but they bring a lot of amusement amidst the usual gunplay, fast riding and the busy plot. It's a bit sluggish in places, but overall a steady entry. Solid shootout finale.

The formula for the Hopalong Cassidy films was pretty consistent. In just about every story, he has two sidekicks (when Roy and Gene only had one!)....an old coot and a handsome young guy. But who played these parts varied. For example, the old coot was played by George 'Gabby' Hayes in the early films. But after a contract dispute, he left Paramount and went to work for Republic....and Paramount experimented with a few others until eventually casting Andy Clyde as 'California'....and he kept this role in more than half the films. But in between were a few others, and in "Range War", Britt Wood played 'Speedy'...and in total he played this role four times.

The story begins with Hoppy and Lucky heading to a town having railroad problems. It seems that the local ranchers would love to have a railroad spur...then they could avoid crossing over Buck Collins' property...where he forces them to pay a toll! And, when the construction of the railroad is disrupted again and again, you have a strong suspicion that Collins in behind it. And, it does seem like this local baddie is behind payroll robberies which have left the workers unpaid and grouchy....as well as having ringers among the workers who stir them up again and again. Can Hoppy get to the bottom of this? And, what about Speedy? Where does he come into all this?

Like most of the Cassidy films, this one is filmed in the area of Lone Pine, California...in the foothills of Mt. Whitney. It's one of the most beautiful and atmospheric locations for westerns....and many hundred were filmed there. In this film, the amazing scenery is highlighted more than usual....making for a lovely film.

So is it any good? Well, considering nearly all of the Cassidy films are among the best of the B-westerns, I had relatively high hopes for this one and the film certainly didn't disappoint. Exciting and worth seeing...and if you want, it's available on YouTube...completely restored and not an abbreviated copy edited down for television.



By the way, character western actor Glenn Strange does something very unusual here for a Hopalong Cassidy film. I've seen most of them and this one is the first one I've seen where he plays a sheriff AND one that isn't evil! In all his other performances, he's one of the baddie's henchmen....but not here.