Sinister Journey

In the 63rd of the 66th Hopalong Cassidy movies, William Boyd and pals Andy Clyde and Rand Brooks are working on the railroad. It seems that Hoppy knows the CEO of the line, just as he knows everyone west of the Pecos, and daughter Elaine Riley has gotten married to John Kellogg, and there's been some mighty strange things going on.... and when someone gets killed, it's up to Hoppy to clear Kellogg.

The Hopalong Cassidy series often seemed more concerned in putting Boyd in a situation where cattlemen wouldn't be seen -- although I don't think I've seen any where he's in favor of sheep. That said, it's a well shot and directed effort, with a story that makes a good deal of sense. Boyd was a competent actor, if not the best of line readers, the series was popular and he clearly spent money as executive producer that showed up on screen, resulting in a very nice B Western.

AKA "Two Gun Territory." Unfortunately, neither of the two guns in the alternate (rerelease?) title belonged to Hoppy. He's completely gunless throughout this movie (is this the only movie in the series in which he never carries a gun?). Although I was tipped off at the outset by his rancher's (non-black) clothes & hat, I did expect at least a little action in this film. It's hardly a "western," in that there are no gunfights involving Hoppy (although others use guns a couple of times), no horse chases, & only one fist fight (again, not involving Hoppy). Lucky doesn't even get to do his "usual thing" with the young heroine, because in this movie, she's married! The plot is set up like a mystery in a western setting; the music soundtrack is also much more that of a mystery movie than a western movie. Plenty of comedy, though, & some of it was pretty good, but this film is one of the poorest in the Hopalong Cassidy series, as well as being one of the last half dozen films Boyd made as Cassidy. Even the Hopalong Cassidy TV series had more action (& certainly more mystery) than this film. Disappointing, even to a great Hoppy fan. I had to rate it only 4/10.

An odd title as there's no real journey involved, but pretty decent production values, and a not too shabby plot, would have been even better had Boyd wore his traditional black 'Hoppy' outfit, or at least worn his guns, seems almost as if Boyd was trying to give Hoppy a different image, which of course was completely unnecessary. Sadly, the Hoppy movies were nearing the end of the trail!

"Sinister Journey" is one of the last Hopalong Cassidy films. However, despite there being more than five dozen before it, the story is original and is well worth seeing. I appreciate this because MOST B-westerns have 2 or 3 basic plots...and this one doesn't fit into any of them.

When the story begins, Hoppy helps a young couple. It seems that someone deliberately contaminated their well with loco weed...and Hoppy's quick thinking helped the wife feel much better. Then you learn that the husband, Lee, is NOT exactly the local railroad owner's pal, as Lee ran off with his daughter against her father's wishes. They seem happy enough and it looks like Hoppy has made a couple friends.

Soon after this, Hoppy goes to see the father-in-law, Tom Smith. As you'd expect, they know each other and are long-time friends...but Smith insists that Lee is a jerk and he's not about to forgive and forget. Into this animosity lurks a stranger...one who will exploit this animus for his own awful reasons. Soon, Smith is murdered and Lee is set up for the killing....and it's all part of this awful plan. What is the plan and why and who is behind it? See the film.

This film has a lot of false leads and surprises...nearly earning it an 8. Well worth seeing, and if you want to see it, try YouTube as they have the most pristine and well preserved prints--not the trimmed down TV versions of the 1950s.

For some reason William Boyd decided not to wear his six guns for this film Sinister Journey. It made for a rather actionless climax something Hopalong Cassidy fans are not used to.

This film has Hoppy and his sidekicks Rand Brooks and Andy Clyde answer a call from Hoppy's old friend Stanley Andrews a railroad Vice President. Things are going wrong on his railroad construction gang and he thinks the culprit is his own son-in-law John Kellogg who ran away with his daughter Elaine Riley. Kellogg he thinks is a fortune hunter.

Hoppy, Lucky, and California all met Kellogg and Riley before getting to camp and Hoppy formed a good opinion of him. Good enough that it withstood the revelation of Kellogg's prison time.

There is in fact a plot against Andrews and his family, one very carefully conceived and nearly brought off. And isn't Kellogg who Andrews should have been concerned about.

More plot than most Hoppy films, but a lot less action.