The Frontiersmen

Lots of light comedy, most of it funny. Lots of choral singing (5 songs are far too much for this to be an effective western). Hoppy uses a stereoscope. Little action, lots of talk. There is one great exchange between Hoppy & Windy involving Windy's feelings towards women. Hoppy's good natured charm & philosophy towards raising children "properly" is much in evidence here, something that would become a regular feature on his late 1940s TV show. But overall, too little plot, too little action. I give it 5/10.

Rather tame Hoppy western. Action doesn't pick up til the end. It's more a personality plot than the usual hard riding, fast shooting. Seems the kids need a new teacher at their frontier school. Of all things, the boys war-danced around and hog-tied their old teacher, a mean old biddy. That scene alone may be worth tuning in. And leading the kids is young Artie (Jones), a little hellion that Hoppy knows needs civilizing. So who comes in from the East to take over the classroom and Artie but the delicately winsome June (Venable). She's like Cinderella taking over from the wicked witch of the east. Right away all the guys go nuts over her girlish good looks including Lucky and Windy. Meanwhile throw in a rustler sub-plot led by town baddie Raleigh (Hughes). So, who will June end up with, and will little Artie get civilized, then too, will the rustlers succeed (fat chance).

The boys choir that makes up the schoolroom class is excellent with an iconic song selection, while Hoppy's winning as usual, and bow-legged Gabby gets the laughs. All in all, the 73-minutes is a matter of taste for fans of matinee westerns. It's a decided departure from the norm, but with entertaining features of its own.

Taking time away from battling rustlers ever trying to steal Bar 20 stock, Hoppy, Lucky, and Windy have to do some juvenile disciplining because hatchet faced Emily Fitzroy has the kids running wild on her.

The group is led by Dickie Jones as Artie Peters, nephew and eventual heir to the Bar 20 ranch. The rest of the kids is made up of the Robert Mitchell Boy's Choir who you might remember were a similar discipline problem for Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way.

Well Barry got Bing Crosby and Hoppy gets a pretty new school teacher in Evelyn Venable. She's got all the Bar 20 hands in heat, especially Windy and Lucky. Even old Gabby Hayes. She'd like to corral Hoppy though and this film is closest Hopalong Cassidy ever got to romance.

Sad to say though the whole business really did interfere with the main plot about tracking the rustlers down. I will say though the head of the gang will be something of a surprise though with the limited running time, cast of characters, and the general familiarity with B westerns, fans should figure it out.

Now if Hoppy had gotten Father O'Malley..........................

William Boyd had no use for singing cowboys and tried to minimize the music in the Hopalong Cassidy movies every chance he got. He lost the battle in this flick. The Brendan Boys choir sing their little hearts out.

I am in perfect agreement with Mr. Boyd. But after you get passed the singing, this movie is a rollicking adventure even if the rustler plot has been done to death. There is a even slight twist to the proceedings that is somewhat of a surprise.

However, it isn't the fate of the Bar 20 cattle that holds your attention here. It's the fun that the three heroes (Hoppy, Windy, and Lucky) have competing for the affections of the new schoolmarm that steal the show. Don't pass up the chance to see Hoppy in an apron and Windy slicked up to go a courtin'.

Everyone is after Evelyn Venable is this flick and who can blame them. Even the cattle rustlers led by Charles Anthony Hughes have to take a back seat. William Boyd as 'Hoppy' has to chase rustlers, keep the kids in line and keep more than one eye on Venable. Great to see the Hopalong Cassidy regulars William Duncan, Clara Kimball Young, and Russell Hayden at our favorite Bar 20 Ranch. Of course the forever beloved George Hayes (Windy) before his 'Gabby' days is in rare form with his wit and wisdom. Dickie Jones as Artie Peters is great as every teacher's worst nightmare. With all this this the singing by the Robert Mitchell Boy Choir is superb as always.