Thing about these old westerns is that they kinda grow on you after a while (no... NOT "like a fungus" !)The plot is rather typical with new schoolmarm endangered by the dastardly gambling hall owner, rustler, robber, kidnapper, politician corrupting (etc.) villain. Hoppy and young and romantic sidekick and woman-hating Windy/Gabby are the "three" of the title. The scenery looks familiar and it's rather nice being able to look up locations here on IMDb. Kernville, CA and the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA were used and films are still made in both locations. Great rocks for shoot-outs and hiding stolen animals. "Three on the Trail" is an early Cassidy film. Hoppy really looks a lot younger than usual. This has NOTHING to do with the film itself... just a side note. Read the biography page of the lady playing that nice "Rose Peters". Cool !If you like shooting and galloping horses and even some square-dancing, this 1936 Western is another one that is worth a look-see.

I really like this one. Nice to praise a Hoppy film for a change. Nothing untoward in the movie, and many things to praise: scenery, shoot-outs, acting, pleasant characters. Particularly enjoyable was the fussing about the new schoolmarm. She's helpless and friendless when she arrives in town by mistake. The saloon owner makes lecherous moves on her, but she is diverted to the Bar 20 ranch by Hoppy, who flirts with the bar girls in the saloon. Then Hoppy's pal Johnny has a go at her, going back and forth attracting her and then repelling her over some faux pas. Hoppy joins in too, as does Gaby Hayes.A few minor issues I have with this movie as well as most B-Westerns. (1) At the end of these films, the bad guys are usually routed by the hero by setting a fire or using dynamite. Here Hoppy threw some dynamite into the basement of the saloon where the bad guys were holed up. (2) The bad guys made the usual mistake of trying to frame some good guys for the crimes. It leads to their downfall. They should have let well enough alone. (3) The top bad guy usually leads a double life as an honest citizen in town. Meanwhile his identity and gang are sought by the law abiding citizens. He leads a large gang and has a secret hideout for his men and the rustled cattle. He is often cruel to some of his gang. There is usually a big reward on him. Thus, it is surprising that one of his men doesn't turn him in for the reward.

Hopalong Cassidy and his Bar 20 sidekicks Jimmy Ellison and Gabby Hayes have their hands full in Three On The Trail. In one of my favorite John Wayne episodes Gabby had a line in there about how he believes in law and order, but 'depend on who's dishing it out'. That question could well be asked by Gabby in this film.If anything Hoppy's always on the side of law and order, but not when it's bought and paid for by Onslow Stevens who's the local saloon owner and head of the local outlaws. He's got sheriff John St. Polis on his payroll through bribe and intimidation. He's also got another cattle owner, an Englishman played by Claude King thoroughly convinced he's the good guy here. King's a decent soul, but a bit thick.That's what Bill Boyd has to deal with and in the end of course the riders of the Bar 20 ranch set law and order on a righteous path. Great shootout in the end.

A cheap, lowdown, underhanded, thieving, whiskey and woman peddler tries to frame Hoppy and his sidekick for a stage robbery. He and his bought and paid for sheriff convince a local rancher to press charges and offer a reward of "dead or alive" for the pair. But they made a mistake messing with this steely eyed two gun buckaroo. Clouds of gunsmoke and barrels of lead were expended in this exciting tale.