This is probably Robert Mitchum's most visible role in a Hopalong Cassidy film, and he's only on screen for about six minutes! In that time, he gets to shoot a mail clerk, gets the brush off from his boss Jeb Hardin (Victor Jory), gets arrested by Hoppy (William Boyd), and gets shot by Hardin's henchman Joe Brass (Douglas Fowley). Whew! I guess it all worked out for Mitchum, he wound up being one of my favorite actors.
Jory and Mitchum aren't the only Hollywood heavyweights to appear in this Western flick. Future TV Superman George Reeves shows up as ranch owner Lin Whitlock, as he and sister Lucy (Lois Sherman) have just about gone bust on their cattle spread. They and other local ranchers are at the mercy of Hardin who owns the only available water supply, with the intention of forcing them out if they can't pay his price for the necessary commodity.
Andy Clyde has a more leisurely role as California Carlson this time out. He spends most of his time in a hammock after getting scammed out of five hundred dollars by a schemer named by Wildcat Willie (Earle Hodgins). California has Willie drilling for oil at the point of a gun as punishment for tricking him with a phony oil deal. Those scenes of Willie operating a pump and maneuvering pipe by hand is something you don't think about regarding the early history of well drilling. That must have been awful hard work.
It wasn't surprising that the oil well ruse was going to be a bust, but the good news is that the well wound up producing a welcome gusher of water that would wind up saving the Whitlocks and the other local ranchers. Having to think quick on his feet, villain Hardin decided to frame Hoppy for cattle rustling, but you had to know that that idea wasn't going anywhere. Recalling the stolen mail pouch that opened the story, Hoppy, California and Johnny Travers (Jay Kirby) raided Hardin's office to retrieve the incriminating evidence against him. Following your standard shootout between the good guys and the bad guys, Hardin and his gang are finally put out of commission.
As for Hoppy and the boys, well you really didn't think they'd stick around, did you? Even though they had a monetary interest in the Whitlock ranch, there's no doubt they would ride into the sunset at the end of this story. They didn't even seem to care about getting any of their money back!
Jory and Mitchum aren't the only Hollywood heavyweights to appear in this Western flick. Future TV Superman George Reeves shows up as ranch owner Lin Whitlock, as he and sister Lucy (Lois Sherman) have just about gone bust on their cattle spread. They and other local ranchers are at the mercy of Hardin who owns the only available water supply, with the intention of forcing them out if they can't pay his price for the necessary commodity.
Andy Clyde has a more leisurely role as California Carlson this time out. He spends most of his time in a hammock after getting scammed out of five hundred dollars by a schemer named by Wildcat Willie (Earle Hodgins). California has Willie drilling for oil at the point of a gun as punishment for tricking him with a phony oil deal. Those scenes of Willie operating a pump and maneuvering pipe by hand is something you don't think about regarding the early history of well drilling. That must have been awful hard work.
It wasn't surprising that the oil well ruse was going to be a bust, but the good news is that the well wound up producing a welcome gusher of water that would wind up saving the Whitlocks and the other local ranchers. Having to think quick on his feet, villain Hardin decided to frame Hoppy for cattle rustling, but you had to know that that idea wasn't going anywhere. Recalling the stolen mail pouch that opened the story, Hoppy, California and Johnny Travers (Jay Kirby) raided Hardin's office to retrieve the incriminating evidence against him. Following your standard shootout between the good guys and the bad guys, Hardin and his gang are finally put out of commission.
As for Hoppy and the boys, well you really didn't think they'd stick around, did you? Even though they had a monetary interest in the Whitlock ranch, there's no doubt they would ride into the sunset at the end of this story. They didn't even seem to care about getting any of their money back!