HOPPY SERVES A WRIT (director George Archainbaud screenwriters based on the story by Clarence E. Mulford/Gerald Geraghty cinematographer Russell Harlan editor Sherman A. Rose cast: William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Andy Clyde (California Carlson), Jay Kirby (Johnny Travers), Victor Jory (Tom Jordan), George Reeves (Henchman Steve), Jan Christy (Jean Hollister), Bob Mitchum (Henchman), Forbes Murray (Ben Hollister), Roy Barcroft (Tom Colby); Runtime: 67 MPAA Rating: NR; producer: H Sherman; Cascadia Entertainment 1943)
“A little too strong than most of Hoppy’s uninspiring B Westerns.”
In the series of good Hopalong Cassidy films like Texas Trail and Bar 20 Justice, this one does not stand out however, it is somewhat stronger than Hoppy’s other dull B Westerns towards which they were never able to find a great leading lady. George Archainbaud (who directed ‘Strange Gamble ‘The Kansan and Texas Masquerade For the first time), does great with keeping the action-packed sequences going, and this time, he was in charge of a Hoppy western. I would give Gerald Geraghty credit for giving a screenplay that is above average in quality for this series. The reason the film stands out is because it has Bob Mitchum in it and it is his very first movie. His character is a miserable gang member who does not have a lot of screen time.
William Boyd plays Hopalong Cassidy, the sheriff at Twin Rocks, a small town in Texas. After the Wells Fargo box on the stagecoach is stolen and rancher Tom Colby (Roy Barcroft) complains about rustlers, Hoppy deduces that the same gang executed both crimes and escaped to Oklahoma Territory where there are no laws that he can enforce. Hoppy dresses up as Jones, a cattle buyer and gambler, and crosses the border. He finds Jordan’s gang, led by Tom Jordan (Victor Jory), at the local saloon. Hoppy disguises himself so that he can serve them a writ once they cross the border. He is accidentally aided by his deputy, Johnny Travers (Jay Kirby), and the comedic, but unhelpful, stagecoach driver, California Carlson (Andy Clyde). He is always present for comic relief, but sadly most of his jokes are terrible. There was also a love story between Johnny and rancher Jean Hollister (Jan Christy) that wasn’t developed. She bought the cattle knowing they were stolen from Jordan.
Here we have a decent barroom brawl, a couple of horse chases which raise some dust, and a shootout everything necessary to establish the drama of this uncomplicated tale.
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