Review

This was the first time in about twenty Hopalong Cassidy flicks that I've run across Brad King as one of Hoppy's sidekick pals. He makes up the good guy trio along with Andy Clyde in his usual role of California Carlson, though the Carlson tag isn't used here. There's probably a good reason King didn't appear as frequently as Russell Hayden or Rand Brooks, the guy just didn't have too much personality. Not a good thing if you're going to be the handsome looking cowboy going after the female lead, in this case Wanda McKay as Miss Lucy Brent. He does get to sing with the Jimmy Wakely Trio as part of a consolation prize though. He sounded decent enough.

Hoppy fans might groan a bit when this one starts out, as he and his pals arrive on scene dressed as British detectives, called in by rancher friend Jim Brent (Jack Rockwell) to investigate some cattle rustling. Oddly, it's Andy Clyde who fits the part best with his deerstalker cap, meerschaum pipe and magnifying glass a la Sherlock Holmes. Their attempts at a British accent provide first half comedy relief, until the bad guys blow their cover in a customary shootout. With that, the boys shed their English duds and go full blown Western cowboy.

The one interesting element brought into play in this picture is something I don't think I've seen before. The cattle rustlers, led by Nat Kervy (Norman Willis), employ a tricked out cabin that hides a tunnel into the outlaw hideout. There's a brief scare when Hoppy and California get captured by the bad guys, but if you've seen enough of these films, you know it won't be for long. The Bar-20 heroes make the save for Jim Brent, and the picture closes on a lighthearted note when California's magnifying glass discovers a huge, armed and dangerous horned lizard. It fit in the palm of Hoppy's hand!