Hop-a-Long Cassidy

I thought this —the first Hoppy movie— was excellent and entertaining. It could have had more action and a better mystery-detective-like plot, but so what? It was rich in character exposition, plus the fine acting, scenery, etc. James Ellison was the best young Hoppy sidekick in my opinion. I also enjoyed the acting and dialog from Uncle Ben (Gabby Hayes), Buck Peters and Red Connors characters. I was touched by the qualities expressed by the whole Bar 20 family: honor, loyalty, friendship, love, respect, competence, etc. Best,of course, is William Boyd's acting/persona. There is no need to repeat plot here as it is done in other user reviews. Key memorable scenes were (1) Hoppy's first introduction to Johnny Nelson, who had only heard heroic tales about Hoppy and had resented them; and (2) Uncle Ben's almost mystical communication with Hoppy to relay clues about the rustlers.

It was interesting for me to see this first of the Hopalong Cassidy movies last night. I saw a distinctly different Hopalong than those later movies I have seen. This one had a hard look in his eye that was most menacing and at one point, he was about to draw his gun on his own man, which made for a completely different Hopalong than the one which emerged in time. He actually resembled men of the REAL OLD WEST instead of the watered-down, lip-stick sissy version most of Western characters in the movies had--such as Gene Autry.

I remember last year I got to see the very first episode of Bonanza--the TV Western series. I noticed the same thing there how the Cartwrights were hard, rough and even deadly (the way men were in the REAL WEST) and, having watched the series over several years, I noticed they too mellowed with time.

Otherwise, I certainly enjoyed this first issue of Hopalong Cassidy. He was certainly my HERO as a small boy of 5-6 back in 1953-1954 when I first started watching him on TV. And it was good to view this one.

I won't bother with the plot. Others have already done that. But the point I made is one that clearly stood out to me about this very first movie in the series.

Although the Character of Hopalong Cassidy had Virtually Nothing in Common with the Author Clarence Mulford's Novels...

William Boyd and "Hoppy" Maintained one of the Most Popular and Long Running Character Features in Movie History...(66 Films & TV).

"Hoppy" in the Movies Did Not...Smoke, Drink, or Result to Violence Unless Provoked and the "Bad Guy" Drew or Punched First.

A Complete Opposite of Mulford's "Hoppy", A Grizzled, Tobacco Chewing, Ruffian.

Unrealistic to a Fault, but Not as Unrealistic as say Gene Autry, Roy Rogers or Other Kid's Heroes of the Day.

It's Not Easily Understood Why the Character was So Popular.

His Outfit was Black from Head to Toe, and sure was the Antithesis of Gene and Roy where Only the Bad-Guys Wore Black.

It was a Stunning Contrast to His Horse "Topper" an All-White Stallion.

Add to That Boyd's Hair was Completely Premature White.

These Things Certainly Helped the "Hoppy" Image.

Although Extremely Popular in His Initial Reincarnation with a Steely-Stare and an Edge,

"Hoppy's" Entrance is a Thrilling Descent Down a Steep Decline Aboard "Topper".

Boyd's "Hoppy" Became More and More Docile as the Character and the Film-Series Aged.

This First Entry, was Re-Titled "Hopalong Cassidy Enters" in Re-Release to Point Fans to the Origin,

is a Visual-Treat with Wide-Open Spaces and Horses Always Moving, Bucking, and Galloping.

The Plot Has Mystery Elements and George "Gabby" Hayes as "Uncle Ben"

Makes for a Sentimental and Emotional Touch with One-Scene Unforgettable.

For B-Western Fans...A Must See.

"Hop-a-Long Cassidy" is the first appearance of this western hero. In all, William Boyd made 66 of these films and they tended to be among the better B-series films of the era.

When the story begins, there's some tension between two ranchers...to the point that you know sooner or later violence is going to break out and someone's going to get killed. Into this mess arrives Hopalong who has been summoned by one of the ranchers to help deal with this situation. What no one realizes is that one of the foremen is deliberately stoking fires on both sides...and while the ranches are fighting each other, the foreman and his henchmen are rustling their cattle! Fortunately, Hoppy is NOT a guy to jump headfirst into the problem and his slow, cautious approach is bound to bring answers.

This film is quite different from films from the likes of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. This is no singing cowboy picture and it also is a good bit more violent than most of them as well...with a hanging, plenty of shootings and more! It all makes for a very exciting and more realistic sort of B-western. And, like a B, it runs at about one hour and is relatively low-budgeted...though it does sport an amazingly good cast for such an effort.

Hoppy returns home only to get caught up in a rustlers' sceme that involves his friends Johnny (Ellison) and Uncle Ben (Hayes) and even Buck (Ming The Merciless!).

Aces all around, from great rocky locations, to better than usual acting, to a really surprising twist. From all this I can see why the Hoppy series became so popular following this first entry. Also, note that handsome youngster Ellison gets almost as much screentime as Boyd, maybe to entice younger viewers.

Then too, looks like the producers were intent on a big send-off since there's no stinting on the hard-riding gangs, cattle herds, or sustained outdoor locations.

Moreover, catch the imaginative camera set-ups that make good use of the rocky spire and action sequencess. The plot may be a bit worn, but happily it's imaginatively mounted. Also, catch the standing tree trunk that suddenly becomes a bed, along with cutie Mary's (Stone) jazzy dress that makes her stand out at the dance. All good touches.

Anyway, there's likely no better actor among matinee heroes than Hoppy's Bill Boyd as this flick abundantly shows. Ordinarily, I don't rate matinee westerns, but among them I'd give this one a "10". So, for front-row matinee fans like myself, don't miss it.