Colt Comrades

Colt Comrades was one of the Hopalong Cassidy films where Robert Mitchum got his start. But Mitchum's part here is brief as he's killed while in the custody of US Marshal Cassidy. That was to silence him from telling what he knew about the Ben Cartwright of the area Victor Jory.

Jory's got the biggest ranch but he wants it all and he's got the water rights for the whole valley with how he's dammed up the only stream. He's squeezing all the other ranches including the one where Hoppy, Johnny Travers and California are now partners.

Earle Hodgins plays one of his rustic conman types when swindles California out of money for oil rights. He always adds something to any film he's in. Ironically the work that California and Hodgins do in drilling for oil starts the tables turning on Jory.

A good film for both Robert Mitchum completists and the legion of old little partners that followed Hopalong Cassidy.