Hoppy Serves a Writ

1943 "WHAM! This is action!"
6.3| 1h7m| NR| en
Details

Posing as a cattle buyer, Hoppy crosses over into Oklahoma where the Jordan brother's and their outlaw gang operate outside the law. After receiving an unfriendly reception when he finds them, he, California, and Johnny rustle their cattle and drive across the river into Texas. He hopes they will cross over to retrieve their cattle and then he can arrest them.

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Reviews

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.
SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
classicsoncall Besides being a serviceable Hopalong Cassidy Western, this film is a bonanza for old time classic movie fans with the appearance of Victor Jory, Robert Mitchum, George Reeves, Byron Foulger and Earl Hodgins. Mitchum and Hodgins both appeared in a fair share of Hoppy's films; for Mitchum, this was his first credited screen role. You might not recognize him right off, with the stubble of beard and sideburns it's almost as if he's disguised, but he does get to speak a line and if you're familiar with the actor you'll recognize him well enough.This might be Andy Clyde's most painful outing as Hoppy's sidekick and partner. When the bad guys get hold of him in the latter part of the story he really gets a working over. But he's not the only one. Check out that scene when Johnny (Jay Kirby) rushes to save Jean Hollister (Jan Christy) on her runaway horse. As Johnny catches up, she takes a nasty spill to the ground and it actually looked pretty painful to me. It might go a long way to explain why she never made another movie - this was her only one! You know, you have to admit William Boyd is pretty good as Hopalong Cassidy, but in this flick he does the miraculous. In that scene where he's crossing the river on his horse, his lower body is completely submerged in the water, but upon arriving at the cabin where he meets Jean and Steve Jordan (Reeves), his clothes are completely dry! That is some kind of cowboy hero! Well this story deals with cattle rustlers and counterfeit money, and if anyone's going to solve the case it's Hoppy and his pals. A bit of intrigue is thrown into the story because there's the issue of crossing the state line between Texas and Oklahoma, but that doesn't stop Cassidy from coming up with a plan. And when all is said and done, Hoppy never did wind up serving a writ, he just used his trusty lasso!
bkoganbing In Hoppy Serves A Writ Hopalong Cassidy is a sheriff and serving writs is certainly part of those duties. But when you're a Texas lawman and the outlaws are fleeing to Oklahoma Territory that becomes a problem. The outlaws are not only are fleeing to Oklahoma, but they're taking a large amount of rustled cattle there.In real life this would have been a joint operation between the Texas sheriff and some federal marshals for the Territory. But this is a Hollywood western and a Hopalong Cassidy western and Hoppy settles his own problems albeit with a little incognito spy work. And these are all purpose outlaws that Victor Jory heads they don't specialize.Hoppy's sidekicks are a little more useless than usual Andy Clyde especially. Though when the outlaws capture he doesn't crack under their brutality. Eventually its California who serves the writ and he does make a botch of it in his inimitable fashion.Victor Jory is always a nasty and snarling villain and Jory did many a Hoppy film. So did future television Superman George Reeves who plays Jory's younger brother. Further down the cast list and making his film debut is Robert Mitchum definitely the most famous actor to ever appear in Hopalong Cassidy films. Mitchum is one of Jory's henchmen and he did several Cassidy films usually as an outlaw.Not one of the better Hoppy films, but the film is the birth of the a screen legend.
chesterbosco I find this an excellent departure from the usual Hoppy routine. The dialog when Hoppy is checking into the hotel is worth the price of admission. Maybe it's just me but I find it side splitting, and a tad more adult than you'd expect from either a Hoppy movie or any movie made in 1943. William Boyd's personality is as winning as ever. Seeing Robert Mitchum's first film appearance is a hoot and George Reeves inclusion is welcome, as always. Both Mitchum and Reeves would be regulars in the Hoppy films for several years, alternating between the bad guy and the good guy. That's all I've got to say on this subject. I have to add some lines to get this to be accepted by IMDb.
wrbtu Unlike the later Hoppy films, this one doesn't follow a mystery outline. We know who the baddie is from pretty near the beginning, & it's just a matter of catching him. Victor Jory (who had already starred in "The Shadow" & "The Green Archer" serials), is featured in this film. George Reeves (later TV's "Superman") has a small part. And Robert Mitchum has a short line. Jan Christy (the heroine) is prettier than most of the Hoppy heroines. Andy Clyde (as "California") gets a serious beating, & "Johnny" (Jay Kirby) doesn't act as silly as other Johnnies in this series. Sounds like it has a lot going for it, doesn't it? Not so, because there's little action aside from a couple of good fight scenes & about three gunfights. The plot is weak, & it's not helped by the fact that there's no mystery involved. Hoppy wears all black at the beginning & end of the film, & wears his rancher's outfit in the middle. It doesn't even have the usual dose of humor for a Hoppy film. I rate it only 5/10.