Hopalong Cassidy, Vol. 5
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Movie Reviews of Hopalong Cassidy, Vol. 5
Movie Review: Excellence at an affordable price.
Summary: 5 Stars
Volume 5 marks the new set of the Hopalong Cassidy series from Platinum. Volumes 1-4 were released a couple of months earlier. The 40 episodes in volumes 1-8 (5 episodes per volume) of circa early to late 40's Hoppies and the 20 episodes from Image (2 episodes per set) from the 30's provide the Hoppy film buffs with the essential collection for the genre. Hoppy westerns are B westerns with high production values (especially the 30's episodes). That makes them very pleasing to watch. Hoppy westerns are westerns, with no time-warping distortions where you see planes, cars, telephones, Nazis, etc., in an environment of tough cowboys packing pistols. Such are common with the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers fare of later years. As a young kid then, I was already discerning enough to know that cars, planes and gun toting cowboys don't mix. I know westerns require a suspension of reality to be enjoyable but mixing them with modern day apparatus make whole deal unbelievable and preposterous. Happily that is not the way with Hoppy westerns.
My first introduction to Hoppy was the 30 minute show with specially made for TV episodes (40 new episodes and some 12 movies cannibalized to fit the 30 minute format). I was not hot on Hoppy then for the TV shows were somewhat tepid. Also, Boyd then was somewhat aged for an action cowboy hero. His white hair didn't help any. Boyd started the series in the mid 30's at forty years of age. Is it any wonder then that new episodes canned in the 1951-53 make him appear as a "granpa" cowboy hero? It was only later in my maturity when I discovered the 30's and 40's Hoppy to realize these earlier features were A-1 quality westerns. The films are categorized as B westerns because they were a continuing series and the actors are B players. Other than that, the films are well made. The fact that there are many of them (66 to be exact) makes watching NOT not a boring endeavor.
If Platinum (ARE YOU READING THIS?) comes up with the 52 Hoppy 1950 specially made for TV episodes, I will also CONSUME THEM and SAVOR THEM. Well Platinum, do it now!!!
Movie Review: Best of the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm only going to take the time to address one of the films from this great series. In his book "Hollywood Corral," author Don Miller refers to "Three Men From Texas" as possibly the best Hoppy ever made. I go one further and say that it is the best of the near perfect Hopalong Cassidy series. The story is solid and told in the style of a Victorian romance, in the truest sense of the word. There is also the sweeping grandeur of a great silent western about it. The outlaw gang is particularly vicious, led by one of the series' great interpreters of villainy Morris Ankrum. "Three Men From Texas" introduces Andy Clyde as series regular California Carlson. He's a perfect addition with the weight to carry his part the way George Hayes did with Windy Halliday. Aside from the richness of action, there is wonderful humor as well as very moving moments throughout the screenplay. With the usual superb Cassidy locations, "Three Men From Texas" also has a terrific musical score. The film reminds me very much of Zane Grey and can stand apart from the series as a single entry western classic.
I have all the Hoppies, restored and on dvd. This entry was from Platinum. Critics Choice and Image Entertainment are the other two labels
who put out the rest of the series on dvd. Between the 3 labels, there is no overlapping of titles. All are restored and from the same source, U.S. Television Office, Inc.
Movie Review: How did they do that?????
Summary: 5 Stars
The quality is so good that you will think you are watching brand new prints in the best theater on Main Street in the 1940s. Actually it's probably better than that. The intro says these digital re-masters were done by a company named "US Television Office, Inc.". For goodness sake, every person or studio who has old prints TAKE THEM TO "US TELEVISION OFFICE, INC." AND GET THEM RE-MASTERED. Platinum has released 8 volumes of these Hoppy feature films and I own all 8. But for some strange reason, probably only known to some "power lunch" executive, they did not number the volumes...so you will just have to tell the difference by the numbers Amazon gives them. They are worth twice or 3 times the price. There were 66 Hopalong Cassidy films made starring William Boyd, and you can own 40 of them with these 8 volumes at a slim price.
Movie Review: hopalong cassidy Vols 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Summary: 5 Stars
These discs contain the last 40 Hopalong Cassidy movies (5 films per disc)and are issued by Platinum Disc Co. A number of the earlier films were issued by Image Entertainment at two films per disc.
They are all official releases, have been remastered for sound and vision and are the full length uncut versions.Overall quality is excellent.
Although 'B'westerns the production values on the Cassidys was superior to most of the similar product of the time and it shows.
If you like Hoppy or 'B' westerns in general you will enjoy these and at the price is a real bargain.
Highly recommended
Movie Review: Hopalong Cassidy, vol. 5 and 6
Summary: 5 Stars
Clarity and sound are excellent. Was one of my favorites as a kid. The stories are good and many have different themes from most of your western movies. Hoppy was more of a detective than a cowboy. Enjoyed both greatly and am in the process of watching for a second time.
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