I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

A United Artists picture, released 23 May 1947, directed by George Archainbaud.CAST: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Rand Brooks, Fritz Leiber, Douglas Evans, Harry Cording, Betty Alexander, Francis McDonald, Neyle Morrow, Patricia Tate, Bob Faust, Ken Tobey, Jack Quinn, Bill Nestell. 59 minutes. (Available on an excellent Platinum Disc or Echo Bridge DVD). COMMENT: Probably the best of the dozen Boyd-produced entries, thanks to an interest-capturing script by Doris Schroeder (who manages to cram two major and reasonably exciting plot-threads into 59 minutes) and some splendid acting by Betty Alexander (in the first and largest of only two credited roles), well-spoken Douglas Evans (it was no surprise to discover he was a radio announcer before turning to Hollywood and playing bit parts in more than a hundred films), Neyle Morrow as the Indian youth (well, he looked no more than 18 to me, although he was actually 32), Harry Cording as the villain's villain, the lovely Patricia Tate as the Indian princess (this one and the previous Hoppy are her only movies), and even our old friend, Ken Tobey, as one of Cording's henchmen. Great scenic vistas of the Alabama Hills are used most effectively by photographer Mack Stengler. David Chudnow's music score is a cut above the average too.

The Hopalong Cassidy series came a cropper with Dangerous Venture where Hoppy, Lucky, and California serve as security for an archaeological expedition. There have been artifacts showing up and rumors of a secret Indian tribe up in the hills that the white folks call Ghost Indians.It's Betty Alexander's expedition her dad was a good friend of Hoppy's but his health won't permit him to make the trip. She's got a colleague in Douglas Evans who's more interested in looting the treasures the Indians have as it is reputed they are remnants of Aztecs. The chief's son has the Indian name of Jose.This story was more silly than anything else and you know that as soon as Hopalong Cassidy was not on the scene this tribe would have been reduced to peonage. As it is some outlaw gang is using their territory to hide stolen cattle and the leader of the rustlers and the greedy archaeologist form an alliance of convenience.This was not one of the better entries in the series.

Hoppy protects a young Indian boy who is being chased and unjustly accused of being the lookout for a band of rustlers since carved amulets are found after each rustling raid. As it happens, the young boy works for the archaeologist Dr. Sue Harmon (Betty Alexander). Doc Harmon and Hoppy are old friends and she persuades him and sidekicks California and Lucky to join in the archaeological dig. Unfortunately, a colleague of hers is no good and joins forces with the head of the rustling gang in a scheme to steal and then sell the Indian artifacts. The scenery in this movie is stunning and having an archaeology expedition as part of the story is refreshing – as is having a woman archaeologist. I was reminded again in seeing this movie how good Hoppy was in fist fights – they are so realistic (unlike fights in some B Westerns).

I just saw this flick today on the Westerns Channel. It is my first look at William Boyd aka Hopalong Cassidy. I have seen several other Western stars like Tom Mix, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry and I must saw from an early examination, Hoppy seems to be slightly more engaging than the others in his company. This B-movie is also helped by a supporting cast, which seems to remind one of the cast of "Stagecoach" with the likes of Andy Devine which to me made the movie as memorable as John Wayne's performance as Ringo. This is one of the best B-Westerns I've seen so far. Don't expect the intellectual depths of "Red River" or "The Searchers," but for a good time and a nice glimpse into what it must have been like to be a kid watching a serial in the 40s (long before my time), check this one out!