Western Wednesdays: Bar 20 Rides Again (1935)

     Released on December 6th, 1935, Bar 20 Rides Again is the third film in the Hopalong Cassidy series. Like all the Hoppy films it is produced by Harry Sherman and stars William Boyd as the eponymous hero. It is directed by Howard Bretherton from a script by Gerald Geraghty and Doris Schroeder. In it Hoppy must go undercover to help friend and fellow rancher Jim Arnold, who's ranch is being put out of business by a gang of rustlers.

     As in most of the Hopalong Cassidy films, Bar 20 Rides Again feautures a romantic subplot involving Hoppy's young protege, here played by James Ellison. Ellison's Johnny Nelson had been going steady with Arnold's daughter Margaret (Jean Rouverol) but in his absence she has fallen for a slick easterner played by Harry J. Worth. Despite Hoppy's directions to the contrary, Johnny follows him to the Arnold ranch in order to win Margaret back. It turns out (of course!) that the easterner, a wealthy, sophisticated man named George Perdue, is actually a criminal mastermind. Under the pseudonym Nevada, Perdue has been organizing the rustling of Arnold's cattle in order to take the ranch for himself.

      Meanwhile, Hoppy, disguised as a gambler named Tex Riley, infiltrates the gang. He also befriends an old gold miner named Windy (played by Gabby Hayes) who is captured by the rustlers. Together Hoppy and Windy they smoke out Perdue and lead the Bar 20 boys to the gang's hideout, culminating in the usual shoot-out, which is thrilling as always.

      Bar 20 Rides Again is notable for it's memorable villain. Harry J. Worth's chess playing, Napoleon admiring Nevada makes for a thoroughly despicable yet very capable villain, not the least for the fact that he almost steals Johnny's girl right under the nose of her unsuspecting father. Though Gabby Haye's had appeared in the first two Hoppy pictures, this is the first time his character was called Windy, a moniker he would keep through the rest of his tenure in the series. Ellison is his usual temperamental self and he and Frank McGlynn Jr. (reprising his role as Red Connors) play off each other well. Jean Rouverol also has good chemistry with Ellison and their relationship is quite charming without becoming too mawkish. The always reliable Ethel Wales is also featured in a small but memorable role as Clarissa Peters, the cantankerous sister of Buck, owner of the Bar 20 ranch.

      Bretherton (who also helmed the first two entries in the series) directs with an assured hand and cinematographer Archie Stout wonderfully captures the picturesque Lone Pine locations. The film is largely without a musical score but it does feature one song, "When the Moon Hangs High." Written by Sam H Stept and Dave Franklin, the rather generic ballad is sung by Johnny in his attempts to woo Margaret while a studio recording by Chill Wills and his Avalon Boys is heard in the films opening and closing credits.

     Featuring the series typical high standards of production (at least for a film of this type), a fast moving plot and a really unique and memorable villain, Bar 20 Rides Again is a solid entry in the Hopalong Cassidy series.

Score: 8/10