5.0 out of 5 stars
"Hopalong Cassidy Series ... Hoppy Serves a Writ (1942) ... William Boyd as Hoppy", October 29, 2006
This review is from: Hoppy Serves a Writ [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The most outstanding series of westerns began in 1935 from Paramount Pictures 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 generally rather inactive, and the plots also tended to inactivity until a sudden burst of climactic action in the last reel, usually a frantic chase backed by tension-building music.
In all, Boyd made sixty-six Hopalong Cassidy Westerns, early films included Uncle Ben and Windy Halliday, both played by veteran actor George "Gabby" Hayes...was a steady favorite as a hitchrack, was chosen five years in succession as one of the 10 best money-making Western sidekick stars...like most western comics, had his share of narrow escapes being thrown from his horse, burned by blanks...but that was all in a days work...his one-liners will never be forgotten..."You're dern tootin'"..."Never trust a female, they're pure poyzin"...or my all-time favorite ~ "Persnickgordy Women"...this crusty old-timer stole many a scene from John Wayne, Randolph Scott and yes even William Boyd.
In this Volume 6 we have five films of the following:
SECRETS OF THE WASTELAND (1941/66 mins/B&W)
Boyd (Hoppy), Andy Clyde (California), Brad King (Johnny Nelson),
Hoppy leads a scientific expedition and the Chinese who have a hidden settlement nearby are trying to stop them...a goldmine is in the picture and our three heroes from the Bar 20 are out to make it right.
HOPPY SERVES A WRIT (1942/70 mins/B&W)
Boyd (Hoppy), Andy Clyde (California), Jay Kirby (Johnny Travers), Victor Jory, George Reeves, Robert Mitchum, Roy Barcroft, Wally Wales, Earle Hodgins.
Hoppy crosses over into Oklahoma posing as a cattle buyer...the Jordan brother's are the rustlers he seeks... California and Johnny rustle the cattle and head them into Texas...if the Jordan's cross over to get back the cattle Hoppy can arrest them.
THE SILENT CONFLICT (1948/60 mins/B&W)
Boyd (Hoppy), Andy Clyde (California Carlson), Rand Brooks (Lucky Jenkins)
A mysterious concoctions has put Lucky under a spell and Hoppy and California set out to find him.
MYSTERY MAN (1944/60 mins/B&W)
Boyd (Hoppy), Andy Clyde (California), Jimmy Rogers (Himself), Don Costello, Francis McDonald, Forrest Taylor.
Hoppy does battle with the Trilling Gang...jail break, rustling cattle and outlaw leader posing as a Marshal keeps the Bar 20 in plenty of action.
HOPPY'S HOLIDAY (1947/59 mins/B&W)
Boyd (Hoppy), Andy Clyde (California), Rand Brooks (Lucky Jenkins), Andrew Tombes, Leonard Penn, Jeff Corey.
Hoppy, California and Lucky are on a short vacation...Hoppy must find the real robbers so that he can clear California who is now in jail for innocently switching suitcases that contained the stolen money instead of his belonging...the Bar 20 boys will prevail, that you can count on.
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...gotta love it!
William Boyd was my hero, this collection of five films are perfect, clear and give me hope for the future. Our youth should have such a hero to look up to today. Must mention the fact that I still miss one of my all-time-favorite sidekicks though, George "Gabby" Hayes, you're durn tootin'!
Paramount and Clarence E. Mulford's fictional western character Hopalong Cassidy comes to life through William Boyd as Hoppy and Andy Clyde as California with films from the '40s...horse operas directed by Lesley Selander and George Archainbaud...some of the best hard riding and smokin' gunplay that ever came across the big screen from the Bar 20 boys...just the way we like 'em.
Total Time: 316 mins (5 films) DVD ~ Platinum 21149 ~ (8/31/2004)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
