William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Russell Hayden (Lucky Jenkins), Andy Clyde (California Jack), Evelyn Brent (Belle Langtry), Victor Jory (Steve Fraser), Morris Ankrum (Jim Stuart), Kenneth Harlan (Tom Wilson), Cara Williams (aka Bernice Kay) (Joan Stuart), Roy Barcroft (Red), Glenn Strange (Ed Stark), Ed Cassidy (Brad Jackson), Jack Rockwell (rancher), Bob Kortman (Blackie), George Cleveland (Pete), Lee Shumway (bartender), Wen Wright (Spike), Chuck Morrison (man who reports sheriff coming), Ethan Laidlaw (waiter), Frank Darien (Pop), Hank Bell (man who reports herd coming), Frank Brady (man reading poster).
Director: LESLEY SELANDER. Screenplay: Harrison Jacobs and J. Benton Cheney. Based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. Photography: Russell Harlan. Film editor: Carroll Lewis. Supervising film editor: Sherman A. Rose. Art director: Ralph Berger. Set decorator: Emile Kuri. Music directors: Irvin Talbot, John Leipold. Property master: Henry Donovan. Assistant director: Frederick Spencer. Sound mixer: Charles Althouse. Producer: Harry Sherman. Copyright 15 August 1941 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. No New York opening. U.S. release: 8 August 1941. Australian release: 6 November 1942. 8 reels. 7,013 feet. 78 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Hopalong Cassidy and his saddle-mates, Lucky Jenkins and California, are on the trail looking for some cattle which had been rustled off their Bar 20 Ranch, when they come upon the town of Gunsight, a wide open frontier community. Centre of attraction in Gunsight, is the Paradise Saloon, presided over by Belle Langtry, a beautiful and cunning woman, who also happens to be the brains of a band of outlaws. Opposed to Belle is Jim Stuart, mayor of the town, and editor of its newspaper. After a meeting with a group of lawful citizens, Stuart and his young daughter, Joan, decide to write a Page One editorial condemning Belle and the Paradise.
In the Paradise, Belle is plying a prospector who had just made a strike and is on his way to file his claim, with drinks. He leaves drunk and is followed by Belle's henchmen, Steve Fraser and Ed Stark. When the two return, it is with the prospector's claim, which they hand to Belle. She dresses hastily, mounts her horse, and sets out for the country seat to file the claim at a mad gallop. On the outskirts of the town, Hoppy sees her and, believing her horse out of control, gallops after her and stops the animal. Belle pulls a gun on him, believing he knows about the murder of the prospector but when he explains, she apologizes and invites him to visit her at the Paradise.
The editorial is published. Fraser and Stark go to the office and proceed to wreck it just as Hoppy and his pals ride in. They succeed in chasing the men off. Stuart, grateful, tells Hoppy what had happened and why, and induces him to become the town marshal. Wearing the marshal's badge, Hoppy visits the Paradise to lay down the law. Fraser is for killing him but Belle prevails upon him to let her deal with him in her own way.
NOTES: Number 36 of the 66-picture series, this entry is actually a re-make of "Hopalong Cassidy Returns" (1936), with Evelyn Brent reprising her original role. Location scenes filmed in Lone Pine, California. Film debut of 15-year-old Bernice Kay (aka Cara Williams).
COMMENT: This entry is almost a re-shoot, not just a mere re-make of "Hopalong Cassidy Returns", on which screenwriter Harrison Jacobs worked for director Nate Watt and players Boyd, Brent and Ankrum.
The only trouble is that the scenes were much better handled in the Nate Watt version than they are here by director Lesley Selander.
Save for the cast, and a few nice exteriors by photographer Russell Harlan, this film has very little to recommend it. The comic relief rates as pitifully poor.
So make sure you don't see this film. See "Hopalong Cassidy Returns" instead!
Director: LESLEY SELANDER. Screenplay: Harrison Jacobs and J. Benton Cheney. Based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. Photography: Russell Harlan. Film editor: Carroll Lewis. Supervising film editor: Sherman A. Rose. Art director: Ralph Berger. Set decorator: Emile Kuri. Music directors: Irvin Talbot, John Leipold. Property master: Henry Donovan. Assistant director: Frederick Spencer. Sound mixer: Charles Althouse. Producer: Harry Sherman. Copyright 15 August 1941 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. No New York opening. U.S. release: 8 August 1941. Australian release: 6 November 1942. 8 reels. 7,013 feet. 78 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Hopalong Cassidy and his saddle-mates, Lucky Jenkins and California, are on the trail looking for some cattle which had been rustled off their Bar 20 Ranch, when they come upon the town of Gunsight, a wide open frontier community. Centre of attraction in Gunsight, is the Paradise Saloon, presided over by Belle Langtry, a beautiful and cunning woman, who also happens to be the brains of a band of outlaws. Opposed to Belle is Jim Stuart, mayor of the town, and editor of its newspaper. After a meeting with a group of lawful citizens, Stuart and his young daughter, Joan, decide to write a Page One editorial condemning Belle and the Paradise.
In the Paradise, Belle is plying a prospector who had just made a strike and is on his way to file his claim, with drinks. He leaves drunk and is followed by Belle's henchmen, Steve Fraser and Ed Stark. When the two return, it is with the prospector's claim, which they hand to Belle. She dresses hastily, mounts her horse, and sets out for the country seat to file the claim at a mad gallop. On the outskirts of the town, Hoppy sees her and, believing her horse out of control, gallops after her and stops the animal. Belle pulls a gun on him, believing he knows about the murder of the prospector but when he explains, she apologizes and invites him to visit her at the Paradise.
The editorial is published. Fraser and Stark go to the office and proceed to wreck it just as Hoppy and his pals ride in. They succeed in chasing the men off. Stuart, grateful, tells Hoppy what had happened and why, and induces him to become the town marshal. Wearing the marshal's badge, Hoppy visits the Paradise to lay down the law. Fraser is for killing him but Belle prevails upon him to let her deal with him in her own way.
NOTES: Number 36 of the 66-picture series, this entry is actually a re-make of "Hopalong Cassidy Returns" (1936), with Evelyn Brent reprising her original role. Location scenes filmed in Lone Pine, California. Film debut of 15-year-old Bernice Kay (aka Cara Williams).
COMMENT: This entry is almost a re-shoot, not just a mere re-make of "Hopalong Cassidy Returns", on which screenwriter Harrison Jacobs worked for director Nate Watt and players Boyd, Brent and Ankrum.
The only trouble is that the scenes were much better handled in the Nate Watt version than they are here by director Lesley Selander.
Save for the cast, and a few nice exteriors by photographer Russell Harlan, this film has very little to recommend it. The comic relief rates as pitifully poor.
So make sure you don't see this film. See "Hopalong Cassidy Returns" instead!