Corações Errantes

If you've seen many of the Hopalong Cassidy films, this one might be a bit confusing due to a continuity problem. When the film begins, Johnny jumps in the river to save Windy's life....and Johnny and Hoppy don't know Windy...and vice-versa. This is strange as George 'Gabby' Hayes had previously played Windy in "Bar 20 Rides Again" with them! Hayes was also in the first Hopalong Cassidy film, though in this one he played a different character! Such continuity problems aren't unheard of in cowboy B-movies...but it is confusing.

Shortly after saving Windy's life, Hoppy and Johnny head into town. There they learn that the man who offered them jobs is orchestrating a range war...and he's hiring them to be his hired guns. Well, not surprisingly, Hoppy is disgusted by Trumbull and his propensity towards violence....and he tells him to keep his job! But instead of just heading off into the sunset, Hoppy and Johnny stick around to learn more about this brewing problem....and as time passes, it's obvious Trumbull and his men are doing far more than just raising cattle!

So is it any good? Generally yes. My only complaint is that the story is awfully simple...and there is nothing especially unique about the movie. In other words, it's a competently made and well acted western....just like all the rest of the Cassidy films...but also not a must-see either....though I did enjoy seeing how Trumbull met his fate!

The location for this film is around Sonora, California...several hours to the west of the filming location for most of the Hopalong Cassidy movies--with Yosemite National Park separating them. This isn't a problem...just an observation and you might notice that the location is a bit more hilly and less a mountainous desert like Lone Pine.