Hop-a-long Cassidy (1935)

An evil ranch foreman tries to provoke a range war by playing two cattlemen against each other while helping a gang to rustle the cattle. Each cattleman blames the other for missing cattle.... See full summary »

Director:

Howard Bretherton

Writers:

Clarence E. Mulford (novel), Doris Schroeder (screenplay),

Stars:

William Boyd, James Ellison, Paula Stone

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Boyd	...	Bill Hop-Along Cassidy
James Ellison	...	Johnny Nelson (as Jimmy Ellison)
Paula Stone	...	Mary Meeker
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Uncle Ben (as George Hayes)
Kenneth Thomson	...	Pecos Jack Anthony
Frank McGlynn Jr.	...	Red Connors
Charles Middleton	...	Buck Peters
Robert Warwick	...	Jim Meeker
Willie Fung	...	Salem the Cook
Frank Campeau	...	Henchman Frisco
Jim Mason	...	Henchman Tom Shaw
Ted Adams	...	Henchman Hall
Franklyn Farnum	...	Doc Riley

Storyline

An evil ranch foreman tries to provoke a range war by playing two cattlemen against each other while helping a gang to rustle the cattle. Each cattleman blames the other for missing cattle. With the help of Bill Cassidy (Hop-along, because of an earlier bullet wound) and Johnny Nelson, the warring cattlemen join forces to do in the outlaws.

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | rustler | hopalong cassidy | murder | shootout | 

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Taglines:

Three Musketeers of the Mesas in a rough riding romance of the roaring West!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hopalong Cassidy Enters

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harry Sherman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

William Boyd was originally offered the role of Buck Peters, the Bar 20 ranch foreman, but chose the role of Cassidy.

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Connections

Followed by Trail Dust (1936)

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Soundtracks

"Followin' the Stars"
Music and lyrics by Sam H. Stept and Dave Franklin
Sung by James Ellison and Frank McGlynn Jr.
Played as background music often

User Reviews

Just because its the first, doesn't make it the best.

A range war is brewing between the Bar 20 and Meeker ranches, which is being caused by Meeker's foreman Anthony (who is in reality, an outlaw called the Pecos Kid), whose method is to have each ranch be accused at acts of rustling cattle or murder, then the two ranches will start a war against each other. In the meanwhile, Anthony's gang will round up all the cattle from the two ranches, change brands, and sell them at market. It's up to Hoppy, Red, Uncle Ben, and Johnny Nelson (who is a target for Meeker's hands since Johnny is sweet on Meeker's daughter Mary) to clear the Bar 20's name and round up the outlaws. The film is a very good entry in the opening film of the Hopalong series, but far from the best, since the action doesn't really begin past the halfway point of the film. Then on it's gets better building up to a great climax. Good performances by the cast (especially by Hayes as Uncle Ben, in a pre Windy Halliday role), but Thomson is miscast and ineffective as Anthony. Rating, based on B westerns, 6.