This is one of 54 Hopalong Cassidy features produced by Harry Sherman, initially distributed by Paramount Pictures from 1935-1941, and then by United Artists 1942-1944, which were purchased by their star William Boyd for nationally syndicated television presentation beginning in 1948 and continuing thereafter for many years, as a result of their phenomenal success. Each feature was re-edited to 54 minutes so as to comfortably fit into a 60 minute time slot, with six minutes for commercials. It was not until 50 years later that, with the cooperation of Mrs. Boyd. i.e. Grace Bradley, that they were finally restored to their original length with their original opening and closing credits intact.
Although a remake of Hopalong Cassidy Returns (1936), a few details were changed, and some were the result of Hopalong Cassidy's established on screen persona. Morris Ankrum, who played the villainous gunman in the first version, returns in the remake as the crusading newspaperman. In the original when Hoppy is offered a drink by the gang boss Lilli, he simply refuses. In the remake, when gang boss Belle offers Hoppy a drink he states emphatically "I don't drink", as the character was then established as one who did not drink nor smoke. In the original, Lilli is shot and she asks Cassidy for one kiss as she is dying, and he obliges her with a kiss. 5 years later in the the remake, Belle is not shot, she goes to jail, and there is no kiss at the end as Cassidy's character by that time had been firmly established as a confirmed bachelor.
Last film of Russell Hayden as Hopalong Cassidy's sidekick Lucky Jenkins.
This film was first telecast in Atlanta Saturday 11 December 1948 on WSB (Channel 8) and in Fort Worth Saturday 5 March 1949 on WBAP (Channel 5).
Cara Williams is the grandmother of Drew Berrymore.