Mystery Man
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
George Archainbaud
William Boyd
Andy Clyde
Jimmy Rogers
Don Costello
Eleanor Stewart
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Although a gang of desperadoes has been terrorizing the territory by looting trains and robbing banks, no one can identify their leader, Bud Trilling. While on a cattle drive to the Circle J ranch in Texas, Hopalong Cassidy, California Carlson, Jimmy Rogers and the other ranch hands of the Bar 20, stop at a small trail town and unwittingly foil a bank robbery being committed by the Trilling gang. In the hail of gunfire, Diane Newhall, a passenger on the Texas-bound stage, saves Jimmy from an outlaw's bullet. When Jimmy thanks her for saving his life, Diane tells him that her father is the sheriff of a town nearby the Circle J. After jailing the outlaws, the town marshal questions them about their leader, but they refuse to cooperate. The elusive Trilling, posing as a dude, congratulates the sheriff on his conquest and then sneaks a gun through the cell bars, allowing his gang to escape. After breaking his men out of jail, Trilling decides exact revenge on Hoppy by stealing the Bar 20 herd. That evening, as Hoppy and the cowhands make camp, Trilling's men spook their horses. After the horses run away, Trilling's gang swoops down from the hills and rides off with the Bar 20 cattle. Hoppy and the men of the Bar 20 soon recapture their steeds and track down the rustlers and reclaim their cattle. Undaunted, Trilling dons a sheriff's badge and, posing as a lawman, rides to Hoppy's camp under the pretense of questioning him about the outlaws. Once inside the camp, Trilling pulls his gun, ties up Hoppy and the others and steals his papers, planning to pose as Hoppy and sell the herd to the Bar J. After Trilling and his gang ride off with the cattle, Hoppy cuts his bonds on a sharp rock, overpowers his guard and frees his men. Red, one of Trilling's gang, observes the escape and hurries to warn his boss. As Hoppy follows Trilling's trail to the Bar J, California's horse goes lame, causing him to lag behind. Upon arriving in town, Trilling, posing as Hoppy, informs Sheriff Sam Newhall that Trilling's gang is following him, and the sheriff instructs Trilling to continue to the Bar J while he and his posse intercept the outlaws. When Hoppy arrives in town, the sheriff arrests him as Trilling and jails him. Soon after, Diane comes to her father's office, and although she vouches for Jimmy, her father refuses to believe Hoppy's story. When California and his lame horse arrive in town, California tries to free his friends, but is captured by the sheriff's deputies and jailed, too. After the sheriff leaves his office, Diane sends his deputies on a wild goose chase, frees Hoppy and the others and shows them a shortcut to the Circle J. Trilling is completing the transaction for the sale of the cattle with the owner of the Circle J, when Hoppy and his boys gallop up and drive the outlaws into Fox Canyon. In a blistering shootout, Trilling is killed and his gang captured. After the sheriff apologizes to Hoppy for misjudging him, Jimmy promises to return to Texas to see Diane again.
Director
George Archainbaud
Cast
William Boyd
Andy Clyde
Jimmy Rogers
Don Costello
Eleanor Stewart
Francis Mcdonald
Forrest Taylor
Jack Rockwell
John Merton
Pierce Lyden
Bob Burns
Ozie Waters
Crew
Fred W. Berger
Ralph Berger
J. Benton Cheney
Glenn Cook
Russell Harlan
Forrest Johnson
Emile Kuri
Carrol Lewis
Earl Moser
Jack Noyes
Lewis J. Rachmil
Harry Sherman
Irving Talbot
Ozie Waters
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Thundering Hoofs. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, locations were filmed at Lone Pine and Kernville, CA. Modern sources add Bill Hunter, Art Mix, Hank Bell, Bob Baker and George Morrell to the cast. For additional information on the series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry for Hop-Along Cassidy in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.1990.
