Hills of Old Wyoming (1937) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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In the 10th film of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy movies, Russell Hayden makes his first (of 27 consecutive) appearances as Cassidy's sidekick/protege "Lucky" Jenkins. The character's actual name in the many Clarence E. Mulford books that featured him was "Mesquite" Jenkins, and Hayden's role was billed in this film as Mesquite "Lucky" Jenkins, and this film was the first and last mention of Mesquite Jenkins. This initial pairing of the trio of William Boyd,Russell Hayden and George Hayes(who only became known as "Gabby" when he wasn't allowed by Paramount to carry his "Windy" moniker to Republic when he departed the Cassidy series, which makes any pre-1939 cast listing showing a credit listing for a George "Gabby" Hayes a misnomer and in error for those who don't care for revisionist film history) is the one that many western-film and/or Cassidy devotees consider the best of all the trio pairings in the series. This one finds the ranchers near a Wyoming Indian reservation suffering heavy losses because of cattle rustlers that leave signs that the Indians are the culprits. Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) and his pals, Mesquite "Lucky" Jenkins (Russell Hayden) and "Windy" Halliday (George Hayes) buy the Bar Three ranch in the territory, and Cassidy suspects Andrews (Morris Ankrum as Stephen Morris), the deputy government agent in charge of the reservation, of being the head of the rustlers. When Lone Eagle (Steve Clemente), a half-breed secretly working with the gang, is found murdered, Andrews incites the Indians to make war on the white men. Cassidy, as the leader of the ranchers, gains the confidence of the Indian chief (Chief John Big Tree, in a role not unsimilar to his later one pow-wowing with John Wayne in "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon") by pointing out that Lone Eagle was "half-bad because he was half-white", and with the help of an Indian scout proves that Andrews killed Lone Eagle. The Indians then join forces with the ranchers in a Cassidy-led mounted charge against the rustler's stronghold, with the effective agitato score written by Lee Zahler for the earlier "Borderland" as the stirring background music.

Cast & Crew

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Nate Watt

William Boyd

Hopalong Cassidy

George Hayes

Stephen Morris

Russell Hayden

[Mesquite] Lucky Jenkins

Gail Sheridan

Film Details

Also Known As

Clarence E. Mulford's Hills of Old Wyoming

Genre

Musical

Western

Release Date

Apr 16, 1937

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Harry Sherman Productions, Inc.

Distribution Company

Paramount Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Location

Kernville, California, United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Round-Up by Clarence E. Mulford (New York, 1933).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 19m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

8 reels

Synopsis

Hopalong Cassidy, owner of the Bar Three ranch in Wyoming, and his neighboring ranchers around an Indian reservation, are suffering from cattle losses due to rustlers. Indians are suspected to be the culprits, but after several encounters with Andrews, the agent in charge of the reservation, Hoppy and his friends Windy and Lucky Jenkins suspect Andrews. Andrews, with the help of his Indian cohort Lone Eagle, frames Hoppy, but he evades arrest. Lone Eagle is found dead, and Andrews hopes the Indians will blame Hoppy for the murder. Hoppy brings Lone Eagle's body to the Indians and promises to return with the real killer. They allow him to leave accompanied by Indians, but keep Windy and Lucky hostage. Hoppy steals Andrews' rifle, which uses unusual bullets and proves to the Indian Chief Big Tree that the bullets in the rifle match those that killed Lone Eagle. The Indians release Windy and Lucky, and they all join together to get the rustlers. Andrews knocks out his superior officer Thompson, and escapes, but is caught by Hoppy. With the rustlers arrested, the Indians and Hoppy thank one another, and Windy and Lucky return to their romances with the general store owner and her daughter.

Director

Nate Watt

Cast

William Boyd

Hopalong Cassidy

George Hayes

Stephen Morris

Russell Hayden

[Mesquite] Lucky Jenkins

Gail Sheridan

John Beach

Clara Kimball Young

Earl Hodgins

Steve Clemente

Chief Big Tree

George Chesboro

Paul Gustine

Leo Mcmahon

John Powers

Crew

D. M. Abrahams

Assistant Director

Maurice Geraghty

Screenplay and dial

Al Kennedy

Harry Knight

Production Manager

Lewis Rachmil

Ralph Rainger

Leo Robin

Earl Sitar

Archie Stout

Robert Warwick

Mel Wolf

Special Effects

Adolph Zukor

Film Details

Also Known As

Clarence E. Mulford's Hills of Old Wyoming

Genre

Musical

Western

Release Date

Apr 16, 1937

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Harry Sherman Productions, Inc.

Distribution Company

Paramount Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Location

Kernville, California, United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Round-Up by Clarence E. Mulford (New York, 1933).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 19m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Clarence E. Mulford's story first appeared as a serial in West Magazine (6 July-17 August 1932). The title card of the film read "Clarence E. Mulford's Hills of Old Wyoming." This picture marks Russell Hayden's screen debut. Publicity records note that the film is based on both Mulford's story and the song. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Harry Sherman was hospitalized due to injuries sustained while shooting at Kernville, CA. For more information on the series, see entry for Hop-Along Cassidy in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.1990 and consult the Series Index.

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