Its been a long time since I watched a Hopalong feature film. This one kind of surprised me. The plot was more complex than the average horse opera. The acting is what you would expect of this type genre and funding. There were some surprisingly well-done shots by the camera as well. All in all, much higher rated than those who said it lacked this and that. Not a great movie, but one I would submit is about as good as it gets for this type movie. Hoppy actually has a serious interest in the girl ... but still rides off into the sunset with his buddies and his horse.

Attractively photographed (Russell Harlan) but lifeless Hopalong Cassidy. All the action occurs in the space of two or three minutes at the finale. Not that it's over-exciting anyway! The rest of the film is very, very dull. At least Cassidy of Bar 20, unimpressive as the feature itself might be, made a fine trailer. Running a mere 137 feet (that's exactly 1½ minutes), this preview is much the usual "thriller", containing plenty of action - fast-riding cowboys, gun-play, comedy and romance. To quote Paramount publicity: "Opens with thrilling scene of cowboys riding across the range... amusing scene as Cassidy and Darien are held up by Margaret Marquis... dramatic scene between Nora Lane and Boyd... thrilling interlude as Boyd threatens men in store... cowboys riding to the round-up of killers... introduction of all players in characteristic poses... and many other exciting scenes."Oh, yeah? Well where are these "many exciting scenes"! On the cutting-room floor or simply in the press book editor's imagination?

Cassidy Of Bar 20 has two things unique in the series. I only recall one other time that actual personality from the old west is in a Hoppy movie as a character. One was a later Belle Starr story and in this one Clay Allison makes an appearance. However the real Allison assuredly no boy scout was not anything like the rat we see in this film.The other is that Frank Darien makes his one and only appearance as the old timer sidekick for Hoppy. There were a few before producer Harry Sherman settled on Andy Clyde after Gabby Hayes left. He was just simply Pappy and he rode a mule. He never really took and I can see why Sherman just used him once and that was that.Allison is making trouble for small ranchers like John Elliott and his wife who had some history with Hoppy sends for him. Allison is played by Robert Fiske and he's not got much in the way of character. He does a couple of cold blooded murders in Cassidy Of Bar 20 and pays in the end.Hoppy fans should like this. Belle Starr made out better in a Hoppy movie, Clay Allison far worse.

Not the greatest Hopalong Cassidy movie, but not a bad effort. After a hard roundup the men of the Bar 20 head into town for some fun. That is all except "Hoppy" (he tells the rest of the boys "I'll see you back here in two weeks, and be practically sober!") and "Pappy" (enjoyingly played by Frank Darien in his only appearance in the Cassidy series). Later joined by "Lucky" the trio have a series of adventures which commence with their being arrested by a crooked landowner. Also prominent is an unusual love story, a curmudgeonly storekeeper, and of course the usual romance involving "Lucky" (Charles Hayden) which ends in plenty of action. Light-hearted and fast-moving throughout.