Nonureva Really Surprised!

SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

JohnHowardReid Copyright 23 June 1944 by United Artists Productions, Inc. A Harry A. Sherman Productions picture, released through United Artists. No New York showcase. U.S. release: 23 June 1944. Australian release: 7 December 1944. 5,441 feet. 60 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Hoppy runs for sheriff, but is defeated when all the rotten eggs in town vote for his rival. He decides to impeach the sheriff but gang boss Tad Hammond hires forty gunslingers to stop him! NOTES: Number 54 of the 66-picture series, and the last to be produced by Harry "Pop" Sherman. When the series resumed in 1946, Boyd himself financed and produced with art director Rachmil acting as his associate. In 1944, Boyd continued his grip on 2nd place in the U.S. money-making list of movie cowboys. Boyd had held this position since 1937, except for 1942 when he came in 3rd to Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Negative cost: $129,925.73. Initial domestic rentals gross: $114,891.40. The last of the Harry Sherman Productions. And no wonder! It was the first of the series to lose money. COMMENT: Some solid action sequences at the climax and an invigorating action montage start, fail to compensate for some very shallow comic relief. Another barrier to satisfactory entertainment in this offering is that what promised to be some lively action material around the halfway mark turns out pretty tame, partly because all this footage was shot without benefit of Boyd's presence. He was cut in later. Outside of a few nice photographic touches by Russell Harlan, some genuine stunt work by Jimmy Rogers, and the charming presence of Miss Currie, the rest of the film is a bit dull. Dumbrille is an oddly dispirited villain. Mort Glickman's music score is strictly "B" material. (Available on an excellent Platinum Disc DVD). The last of the Harry Sherman Productions.

narnia4 If you love action, this episode is for you. Hopalong Cassidy is of course played by William Boyd, who does an impeccable job as usual. Outside of a few nice appearances by a few regular bad guys and California, there's not much to say about the acting which is fairly standard. The appearance of Andy Clyde as California Carlson is always a plus, but unfortunately Jimmy Rogers as "Deputy Jimmy Rogers" isn't one of Hoppy's better sidekicks. The story is also pretty standard fare.In my mind, what sets this episode apart from many of the later Hoppy movies is the action. There are several gun and fistfights and Hoppy and company manage to dispatch of many of the "forty thieves" on camera. The final fight on the bridge scene is one of the better ones out of all 66 movies, and there's also a classic gunfight in the saloon along with other more standard gun play.Overall, its fairly standard in most respects except for lots of action. The other elements prevent this from being up there with the very best, but it stands out among some of the weaker later episodes.

zeppo-2 This episode of the series hits the ground running from the first scene as Hoppy cleans up the territory while newspaper proclaim this with banner headlines.It's a shoe-in that Hoppy will be re-elected town sheriff, that is until parolee, Tad Hammond rides into town. Still smarting from been sent up the river by Hoppy years earlier, he vows revenge and with the help of the local gangs, he rigs the election. Saloon owner, Doyle is installed as puppet sheriff and the crooks think they've won. Up to the point where Hoppy gives them an ultimatum to leave town and gives the warning of what will happen if they don't in the summary above.Hoppy has his black duds on and his steely gaze is full on too. Even California proves he isn't quite the bumbling comic relief when he saves Hoppy from a back-shooter. Sadly, Jimmy Rogers is useless and just gets tied up at any occasion.Good action all the way through with a big shoot out at the finale and a classic fight on a swaying rope bridge above the river. All of which may be clichés now but still entertaining just the same.

wrbtu Set in Buffalo Buttes, the opening is exciting as the film starts with a gunfight on horseback. Hoppy starts off dressed all in black, which usually indicates a hit more than a miss, but then changes to a gentleman's outfit before changing back to black near the end. On the positive side, Earle Hodgins has a (too short) role as a drunk, California is in two real (not comic) fistfights, & gets beat up in both, & there are four gunfights. On the negative side, Jimmy Rogers appears as Hoppy's young sidekick & as always, he can't act (unless you consider "slouching" to be "acting"), is not handsome (as many of the young sidekicks were), & gets beat up in the one fist fight he engages in. Great scene: Hoppy puts guns in the holsters of the baddies, but they're afraid to use them; as Hoppy walks away from them, they shoot. Another great scene: a dozen men in a saloon advance at Hoppy all shooting; as he hides behind the bar, he shoots the lights out, then surprises them from the side of the bar. Despite these highlights, this was disappointing for Sherman's last Hoppy film. I rate it 5/10.