Pride of the West features a lot less action and a lot more plot than is usual for a Hopalong Cassidy feature. In fact Hoppy doesn't even come on the scene until the story is underway.
While Hoppy's away, presumably tending to Bar 20 ranch business, his sidekicks, Windy and Lucky are making a few extra bucks driving a stagecoach. The film opens with them arriving in town after a holdup with Russell Hayden shot in the right arm. For the rest of the film Hayden has his arm in a sling. My guess is that Russell Hayden actually hurt himself and the wound was written in so production wouldn't slow down.
Banker Kenneth Caldwell and land agent James Craig are real unhappy with sheriff Earl Hodgins and bring in their own detective to solve the case. To save dad's reputation, Hodgins's two kids Billy King and Charlotte Field ride for Hoppy who as we know never turns down a request for help.
The rest of the film is a rather intricately plotted plan that Hopalong Cassidy devises to trap the real crooks who he has a pretty good idea who they are. Hayden and Hayes get involved and Billy King and Chinese cook Willie Fung also play a part. It almost doesn't come off, but in true B western tradition it all comes together in the end.
Even the Citadel Film book about the films of Hopalong Cassidy says this is slow moving. I like to think of it as having a better script and better plot than most films of this type. It's a thinking man's Hoppy we see in this and I rather liked him. There is however some gun play and a nice fist fight with Hoppy and henchman Glenn Strange to satisfy the action seekers in all of us.
I think even non-Hoppy fans might like this one.
While Hoppy's away, presumably tending to Bar 20 ranch business, his sidekicks, Windy and Lucky are making a few extra bucks driving a stagecoach. The film opens with them arriving in town after a holdup with Russell Hayden shot in the right arm. For the rest of the film Hayden has his arm in a sling. My guess is that Russell Hayden actually hurt himself and the wound was written in so production wouldn't slow down.
Banker Kenneth Caldwell and land agent James Craig are real unhappy with sheriff Earl Hodgins and bring in their own detective to solve the case. To save dad's reputation, Hodgins's two kids Billy King and Charlotte Field ride for Hoppy who as we know never turns down a request for help.
The rest of the film is a rather intricately plotted plan that Hopalong Cassidy devises to trap the real crooks who he has a pretty good idea who they are. Hayden and Hayes get involved and Billy King and Chinese cook Willie Fung also play a part. It almost doesn't come off, but in true B western tradition it all comes together in the end.
Even the Citadel Film book about the films of Hopalong Cassidy says this is slow moving. I like to think of it as having a better script and better plot than most films of this type. It's a thinking man's Hoppy we see in this and I rather liked him. There is however some gun play and a nice fist fight with Hoppy and henchman Glenn Strange to satisfy the action seekers in all of us.
I think even non-Hoppy fans might like this one.