Customer Reviews

Border Vigilantes [VHS]

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Paramount Pictures presents "BORDER VIGILANTES" (18 April 1941) (63 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- One of the most outstanding series of westerns began in 1935 from Paramount Pictures "Hopalong Cassidy", under the guiding hand of producer Harry "Pop" Sherman --- continued well into the '40s proved to be the most successful 'B' Westerns ever made --- based on Clarence E. Mulford's stories, they strived in changing Cassidy's image, which was both original and influential --- the hero, played by William Lawrence Boyd, was mature and a man of his word --- the plots were solid with a sudden burst of climactic action in the last reel, usually a frantic chase backed by tension building music.

Under the production staff of:
Derwin M. Abrahams - Director
Harry Sherman - Producer
J. Benton Cheney - Screenwriter
Clarence E. Mulford - Screenwriter
Russell Harlan - Cinematographer
Carroll Lewis - Editor
Robert Warwick Jr. - Editor

Our story line and plot, Border Vigilantes was the 34th entry in the "Hopalong Cassidy" western series, with 32 more still on the way--- the series' assistant director Derwin Abrahams was promoted to the director's chair, with splendid results --- filmed in the picturesque Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, CA, a favorite location spot for this fine series --- This time our heroes Hoppy (William Boyd), California (Andy Clyde) and Lucky (Russell Hayden) ride into a town bedevilled by outlaw raids, despite the existence of a local vigilante committee. Sensing that something's wrong with this set-up, Hoppy does a bit of digging and discovers that the outlaw chieftan is actually the head of the vigilantes --- Wonderful supporting cast Morris Ankrum, Victory Jory and Frances Gifford --- Now to mention one time cowboy stars Tom Tyler and Hal Taliaferro (aka: Wally Wales, former star and stuntman) --- exciting final reel with chases and shootouts galore.

the cast includes:
William Boyd ... 'Hopalong' Cassidy
Russell Hayden ... 'Lucky' Jenkins
Andy Clyde ... 'California' Carlson
Frances Gifford ... Helen Forbes
Victor Jory ... Henry Logan
Ethel Wales ... Aunt Jennifer Forbes
Morris Ankrum ... Dan Forbes
Tom Tyler ... Henchman Yager
Wally Wales ... Henchman Big Ed Stone (as Hal Taliaferro)
Jack Rockwell ... Hank Weaver
Britt Wood ... Lafe Willis

BIOS:
1. William Boyd
Date of Birth: 5 June 1895 - Hendrysburg, Ohio
Date of Death: 12 September 1972 - Laguna Beach, California

2. Russell Hayden
Date of Birth: 12 June 1912 - Chico, California
Date of Death: 9 June 1981 - Palm Springs, California

3. Andy Clyde
Date of Birth: 25 March 1892 - Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, UK
Date of Death: 18 May 1967 - Los Angeles, California

Hoppy's interaction with California Carlson (Andy Clyde) is always a shot in the arm with his down-to-earth humor and sentimentality, theses scenes are pure Americana! Boyd, with his silver hair, black clothes and white horse (Topper) rode into our lives and we've never been the same since --- your children and grandchildren will enjoy this clean wholesome entertainment --- Hoppy always wore two silver white handle six shooters, never drank or smoked, when the good guys always won and the moral to the story was fair-play -- outstanding role model.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 63 min on VHS/DVD ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (2/16/1996)