Die Todesranch

As a Hoppy western this story has some interesting moments. From the start when we see Lucky at a coroner's inquest being run by Henry Stoneham, we know who the bad guy is. Morris Ankrum (Stoneham) seemed to be born to play bad guys and he did a good job. But it was Hoppy's younger brother who was murdered so it's only time until the real villain is brought to justice.

Yet somehow a musical number is inserted with Windy (Gabby Hayes) on the piano belting out The Wearing of the Green at the behest of Bull O'Hara (Walter Long) that has everyone in the cast up dancing and singing.

This film has the first credit for Lee J. Cobb as the owner of the railroad. I was stunned to see a youngish Cobb in the cast and even more surprised to learn Lee J. Cobb was bald at 26. I always believed Lee J.Cobb to be one of our finest actors. In 1968 I took a small group of students to Lincoln Center to see Cobb as King Lear. It was electrifying and every one of my charges was captured by what they were seeing on stage.

You know how the film will end but that was what you wanted to see. I was such a fan that my parents indulged me with a black Hoppy outfit complete with two six guns and a black hat.

At 14 minutes into the film Gabby Hayes is bragging about his piano-playing talent, but he is challenged to prove it by playing "The Wearing of the Green," as demanded by Bull O'Hara. This scene was a set-up that surprises the viewer as Hayes shows he can play the piano, and everyone in the saloon--cowboys, dance-hall girls, good guys and bad guys, not only dance to the tune, but they sing it as well. Clearly, everybody has fun in this four-minute sequence. Later on, starting around 18 minutes, another song and dance takes place with "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," a number that makes Bull O'Hara weep. Incredibly, everyone in the saloon seems to be Irish!

I don't think these sequences detract from the film, they enhance it and elevate the movie from the usual Hoppy film into something stronger, helped by the performance of Faro Annie and Hoppy. This is one of the best of the Hopalong Cassidy films made in the 1930s and if it's not on the Cable Channel again, it's on Youtube.

When the story begins, Lucky is testifying at a coroner's inquest. The man presiding is clearly behaving VERY inappropriately....and he guarantees that instead of the Deputy being arrested for murder, the whole thing is ruled an accident. But a guy is dead....and it's Hopalong Cassidy's brother, Buddy (who appeared in "Hopalong Cassidy Returns". You know that sooner or later, Hopalong is coming to town and there will be justice for his brother's murder.

When Hoppy arrives, it's not exactly with guns ablazing. Instead, he is undercover...posing as a badman, 'Dangerous Bill McGrew'. He does this in order to investigate the killing and find out who was behind the deputy's actions.

It's all very exciting and good until the end...when bad writing really ruins the final portion of the film. When Hoppy exposes the 'Long Wolf', Hoppy is shot from behind...at a distance of about four feet. Yet, inexplicably, he's barely hurt at all!! What is more inexplicable is now that the Lone Wolf has him, he instead ties up Hoppy....giving him ample chance to come for him when he expectedly gets free! It really made no sense at all...and made me irritated. What also was irritating was the final scene...with a train wreck that is cheaply done...very cheaply done!

Overall, a sub-par Hopalong Cassidy film because of the botched final 10-15 minutes of the film. Up until then, I really liked it...but boy did they end this film badly!

I have to give a hearty second to zebulonguy's review here. The film shines due to its " character study .. .slow in pace... and very atmospheric" nature. He hits the nail on the head. For me Bernadene Hayes, whom I never noticed in a film before, was the best thing in the movie. She was great looking, singing, acting -- warm and sincere. Hoppy was the second best thing in the film: smiling, friendly, soft voice, warm, gentlemanly and authoritative. Also contributing was a pretty good cast which included such noted actors as Morris Ankrum and Lee J. Cobb, the president of the railroad!

***Spoilers****

The main villains were played by Morris Ankrum (the "lone wolf") as the top gang leader; Jack Rutherford as Ace Crowder (who ran the saloon-dance hall-casino) the second in command; and Al Ferguson as Deputy Sheriff Jim Plunkett, who murdered Hoppy's brother Buddy, an act which led Hoppy to the town.

Two particularly good scenes, near the end of the movie, were (1) the tense revelatory scene where Hoppy was explaining his plans to Ankrum about rounding up Ankrum's gang, not knowing that Ankrum was the gang leader, and Ankrum just then discovering that Hoppy was an undercover lawman; and (2) the exciting scene of two groups of horsemen chasing the speeding rail road train.

The following observations are all minor criticisms, and remember I loved this B-movie:

-- they never explained why the Deputy Sheriff murdered Buddy, though it was during a gunfight between the posse and the bad guys.

-- Hoppy's friend Hayden, who was angered that the authorities declared Buddy's death as "accidental," was unusually friendly afterward with the culprits Ankrum, Crowder and Plunkett.

-- Hoppy killed Plunkett in an unusualy ordinary way. Plunkettt was sent to follow Hoppy, to find Hoppy's supposed gold, and fired at Hoppy when they faced each other.

-- Hoppy went undercover to investigate the bad guys, and romanced Bernadene as a charming outlaw, and, it is a shame that we never saw the scene where Hoppy revealed his true identity to her as the great famous Hopalong Cassidy.

-- Bernadene was a major player in the story, with lots of screen time. No criticism, but she had little to do to advance the story, except to point out at the end where some characters had gone, something anyone could have done.

-- It is also odd that we never saw a reaction shot from Ankrum when he was about to die in the train crash. It's as though he disappeared from the movie. (Maybe they planned to have him in a sequel.)

-- Ankrum, the "lone wolf," had no real good reason not to kill Hoppy once Hoppy's identity was revealed and Ankrum had him tied up near the end of the movie. Also, most important, only Hoppy knew at that point that Ankrum was the Lone Wolf, so why flee town at all?

It all starts when Lucky (Russell Hayden) doesn't get the desired verdict after Hoppy's (William Boyd) brother is gunned down by Deputy Jim Plunkett (Al Ferguson). Man of many hats, Morris Ankrum instructs the jury to find it was an accidental death. High time for the greatest western trio to go undercover and Gabby Hayes becomes a pianist. Of course Bull O'Hara (Walter Long) only wants him to play Irish tunes. This leads to wonderful music, "The Wearing of the Green" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" sung by Bernadine Hayes, Long and everybody in the saloon. This was the only movie where Hayes played with her sister, Lorraine Randall. Hoppy and Ace (Jack Rutherford), who is running the salon are playing a deadly game of chicken but Hoppy's main concern is finding the Lone Wolf. Also, where does Lee J. Cobb fit into the Wolf's plan? A lot of great character development and solid acting in this well directed Hoppy film.