Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

dougdoepke Looks like producer Sherman was aiming for a change of pace. He got it, but not very successfully. Shifting the action abruptly to the desert sands of Arabia and guys in long robes takes some getting used to. Then again, because of the costuming, it's sometimes hard to tell who's who among the natives. Worse, somebody was ill-advised to slip a robe over Hoppy and put his gun-belt over that. It does look silly compared with what we're used to. Of course, the locale may change, but the idea of good guys and bad guys remains the same. So does Clyde's comedy relief and King's romancing of the spunky girl (Phillips). Still, there are compensations. The abundant location shots from Lone Pine and nearby desert sands make for some fine eye candy. In fact, some of the horseback shots against the sky are almost striking. Too bad these are interspersed with clumsy studio exteriors that immediately shout 'movie'. Looks like Sherman popped for a lot of extras for the battle scenes and the crowded Arab bazaar. So it's likely the budget was bigger than usual for an oater. And shouldn't overlook slinky actress Deste (Marie). She's an eye-catching presence in an otherwise brief career. Too bad. All in all, the exotic package doesn't work out that well, but does remain a decent try.

JohnHowardReid William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Brad King (Johnny Nelson), Andy Clyde (California), Jean Phillips (Susan Grant),Forrest Stanley (Charles Grant), Nina Guilbert (Mrs Jane Grant), Luli Deste (Marie Karitza), Alberto Morin (Nickie Karitza), George Woolsley (major), Duncan Renaldo (Sheik Suleiman), Jean Del Val (Faran El Kalar), Mickey Eissa (Salim), Jamiel Hasson (Ali), George J. Lewis (Yussuf).Director: HOWARD BRETHERTON. Screenplay: J. Benton Cheney, Bernard McConville. Based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. Photography: Russell Harlan. Supervising film editor: Sherman A. Rose. Film editor: Carrol Lewis. Art director: Ralph Berger. Music composed by John Leipold, directed by Irvin Talbot. Assistant director: Glenn Cook. Associate producer: Lewis J. Rachmil. Producer: Harry Sherman.Copyright 3 December 1941 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 1 November 1941. Australian release: 9 April 1942. 7 reels. 6,014 feet. 66 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Journeying to Arabia to purchase horses, Hoppy and his pals thwart a kidnapping plot.NOTES: Number 40 of the 66-picture series.COMMENT: Beyond its curious setting — Arabia — this entry has little to commend it, outside of: (1) a few nice compositions on desert locations (thanks, Russell Harlan); (2) an appealing heroine (Jean Phillips); and (3) an interesting villain (Duncan Renaldo, of all people). Despite the promising setting, the script manages to work in little action, a scarcity made more noticeable by the plodding pace set by ho-hum director, Howard Bretherton.

freeheat While this is probably a poor picture relative to others made at the same time, it has a great deal of sociological and historical value. U.S. citizens at the time knew little more about Saudi Arabia than they do today, and the perspectives are demeaning and arrogant. Their tribal cultures are seen through the concept of native American tribes. However, there are some good comic moments.

TC-4 I used to enjoy Hopalog Cassidy on early fifties tv with the made for tv 30 min. shows. I had never seen any of his theatrical movies that were made from 1935 to 1948 as these were never shown on tv. Well now on the Westerns Channel they are showing a couple of the 66 movies a month. Most of them are very entertaining as the Hoppy character brings back memories plus it shows a somewhat tougher Hoppy than on tv. This movie however is awful. There is almost no western action and most of it takes place in Arabia (Cal. desert) and cheap backlots and studios made to look like outside desert locations. If this had been the first Hoppy movie I'd ever seen I would never bothered to watch any more. Luckily I have seen enough good ones to remember they are out there and to continue watching hoping to see some better ones than this.