Colt Comrades

Hoppy, California and Johnny cross paths with town bad guy Jeb Hardin and his hired thug Joe Brass (Victor Jory, Douglas Fowley) after they beat Hardin and Brass out of a $5000.00 reward for the capture of wanted outlaw Dirk Mason (Robert Mitchum). In order to collect Hoppy and the boys are forced to 're-invest' the reward money back into the community. With a limited numbers of choices they become partners with Lin And Lucy Whitlock (Teddi Sherman, George Reeves) in their ranch which is nearing foreclosure. Like the rest of the ranchers in the area they have been unable to sell their beef because Hardin who owns the upstream property has been extorting payments by withholding water. Things change abruptly when California is suckered into a hair-brained oil drilling scam by local con man Wildcat Willie (Earle Hodgins).

This entry into the Hoppy series is the last in a handful of appearances by Jay Kirby as the Johnny Travers character. With the departure of Russell Hayden as Lucky Jenkins from the series, the studio never quite found the same chemistry with the third member of the trio. The Jay Kirby episodes, though largely forgotten, are by in large a pretty solid lot.

If not memorable, Colt Comrades makes for acceptable viewing. An average chapter in the Hoppy string.

Of all the 66 Hopalong Cassidy films made, this one is probably the most common & easily available, especially before the US Television Office bought the rights to the films. You could find this one at K-Mart, drugstores, Amazon.com, everywhere. Why was this one so much more common that the other 65? Was it the best? Certainly not, it's probably around the middle of the group. The reason was undoubtedly its cast. Robert Mitchum (who got his start in Hoppy films & made seven of them, all in 1943) had probably his meatiest role here as a baddie. In addition, TV's Superman, George Reeves, also had a significant role in this film; he made four Hoppy films, all also in 1943). Then, for a little icing on the cake, you get Victor Jory (coming off his starring role as the title characters in the serials "The Green Archer" & "The Shadow") as a villain. The female "love interest" in this film, Lois Sherman (AKA "Teddi"), was not as pretty as most, & what acting ability she had was overshadowed by her squeaky voice (kind of like today's Rosie Perez). But it didn't matter, because she was producer Harry "Pop" Sherman's daughter. There's enough action to keep it interesting, & a plot that turns a couple of times. Jay Kirby, while not the best of the "Johnny/Lucky" sidekicks, could certainly act circles around Jimmy Rogers, who was to follow him in that sidekick role. Andy Clyde, as California, actually has a more significant role than usual, & his comedy doesn't get in the way of the plot (his character's actions actually fit in quite nicely). For readers who've followed my other Hoppy reviews on this website, the wardrobe forecast: good! (Hoppy wears his black outfit throughout this film). I rate it 7/10.

From the beginning the film starts out with a chase. Hoppy and co. Chase Robert Mitchum, and they soon they are battling victor jory over the land. Really nifty western that keeps one's interest throughout - William Boyd exudes style and charisma. As for Robert Mitchum in a small role has star quality.

It starts with Robert Mitchum on the run from Hopalong and his sidekicks Andy Clyde and Jay Kirby. He tells cattle baron Victor Jory he's at the end of his rope. Jory shows no mercy and retorts, "that's where you belong." Next comes the other future star George Reeves with his sister writer/actress Teddi Sherman. I only wish Gabby Hayes was in this one but the fantastic cast held their own without him. It's always great to see Earle Hodgins. This time as Wildcat Willie tricking Clyde into buying the mineral rights.

I rented this installment in the Hopalong Cassidy 63-film franchise because Robert Mitchum got his start with bit parts in a few of the 1943 flicks. He has a very, very small part in this film. If you're looking to see him in his "Bob Mitchum" days in a cowboy costume, rent Riders of the Deadline, because he miraculously comes back to life and has a bigger part.

In the first scene, Robert Mitchum is virtually the only one on the screen; most of his companions are Wanted posters with his face and a matching reward. And, wanted outlaws don't last long in one-hour western flicks. After five minutes, there's no more Bob, and William Boyd as the memorable Hopalong Cassidy collects his reward to help buy a ranch. Before long, they discover oil on the property, and the gang is in for a whole new set of problems!

If you like this western serial, you've got 60 films to go through, all with William Boyd in the lead. Each has a little obstacle, a little action, and a simple little ending to tie things up at the end of the hour. And, if you pick the ones made in 1943, you could catch a glimpse of Bob Mitchum!