An Exercise In Nonsense

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Copyright 26 November 1937 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. No New York opening. U.S. release: 26 November 1937. Australian release: 26 May 1938. 5,281 feet. 58 minutes.SYNOPSIS: The united States Army needs horses for the Spanish-American War, but all attempts to get wild horses from the Western plains have failed. Herds which have been gathered have been hijacked by rustlers. Colonel Whitely instructs Major McCready to impress the services of Hopalong Cassidy, who, meanwhile, has been training his men as a volunteer force. Although disappointed at having to work as a civilian, Hopalong answers the call to the flag, and with loyal men rounds up a herd of 500 wild horses. Helping him are Lucky Jenkins, Windy Halliday and Smokey.([An excellent Platinum Disc DVD) .NOTES: Locations near and in the Little Tuba River, Arizona. Number 14 of the 66-picture series. The Cassidy films are usually numbered in release order (Zinman's numbering) rather than in the order in which they were actually made (Paramount's numbering). COMMENT: Picturesque Hopalong Cassidy, with fine location photography by Russell Harlan and a splendid climax. The screenplay by Jack O'Donnell, with additional dialogue by Harrison Jacobs, is routine but moderately interesting. Director Dave Selman has an eye for composition. Miss Allen is a disappointing actress, but the rest of the players are quite competent.

Hopalong and Windy and Lucky are off rounding up horses for the military. FANTASTIC Arizona canyon scenery during the horse roundup scenes that just cannot be beat.Lots of shooting and stampeding and general western carryings on but if you like that sort of thing and want a look back at simpler times in western film making, you might just like this one.Bill Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Hayden and a cast of competent character actors doing their villainous best make for a fun way to while away some time. Even squeaky voiced Billy King as the helpful "Boots" didn't wreck this one. The Girl is pretty too.

Texas Trail finds Bill Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy ready to join the army, specifically the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War. But first his talents as horse wrangler are needed because Leonard Wood's and Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry need some mounts. So Hoppy and his two companions Russell Hayden and Gabby Hayes and the rest of Bar 20 hands are off to get some for the Army without being gouged.The villains of Texas Trail, Alexander Carson and his gang, aren't too concerned about how they come by the horses they want to sell the Army. In fact of all things they frame Hoppy as a horse thief.Fortunately Major Karl Hackett has a son played by Billy King who idolizes Hoppy and he saves everybody's bacon and horse flesh. Ironically as it were the mounts of the Rough Riders didn't make it over to Cuba. My guess they would have been of little use in the tropics in any event. No one other than Theodore Roosevelt rode into battle in their famous engagements at San Juan Hill and El Caney.Come to think of it that would have included Hopalong Cassidy's trusty steed Topper.Texas Trail is a pleasant fictionalized account of Clarence Mulford's cowboy hero and his little known contribution to the Spanish-American War.

As with most Hopalong Cassidy films this one has good action and amazingly authentic feel for period setting and beautifully filmed locations, especially for Saturday morning features. This one moves more toward the kiddie audience with a youngster named Boots coming to Hoppy's rescue. Much to my surprise and delight Hoppy movies are starting to show up on TV again after a prolonged absence.