User Reviews

When a crooked sheriff (Hugh Prosser) frames Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) for aiding a prisoner to escape jail, Hoppy gets suspended from the Texas Rangers and joins an outlaw gang. Holy moly, don't you believe it! Hoppy and Ranger Captain Jennings (Herbert Rawlinson) use the opportunity to infiltrate the bad guys and find out what they're up to. Seems Hoppy could have told partners California (Andy Clyde) and Jimmy Rogers, but he leaves them clueless, not that it would have made any difference in California's case. He's distraught enough to hang himself, but he can't even get that right!

I always get a kick out of Robert Mitchum (then known as Bob) in these stories. I've seen him in at least a dozen of these oaters, but this is probably his most visible role in a Cassidy flick. Not only that, but he gets involved in a fairly wild brawl with the hero cowboy, if you can overlook the wild punches and exaggerated knockdowns. Speaking of which, check it out when Drago (Mitchum) pistol whips Tim Mason (Richard Crane) off his horse in the early part of the picture. Mason brings his left leg over the saddle in a dismount instead of falling off his horse if he were knocked out. Probably could have used a better stuntman.

There's not too much to take seriously here, but if you're a Hopalong Cassidy fan it's entertaining enough. He makes a poignant observation when he gets 'suspended' by Captain Jennings, over the fact that Ranger pay was forty dollars a month with free 'Taps' when you die. I guess that wasn't so bad in the grand scheme of things because he was back on the force by the time the picture was over!

In the 1950s, many of Hopalong Cassidy's films were cut down to make them fit television time slots. This "Hopalong Cassidy Show" was a huge hit, and, fortunately, Cassidy thought to save the original prints. This means you can find full versions of most of his films on YouTube. This is not the case with some stars, such as Roy Rogers, where only the trimmed versions now exist.

While I love these Hopalong Cassidy films, I must admit that "Riders of the Deadline" is among the worst I have seen. This is because the plot isn't very believable to begin with AND it was used by every cowboy star! So this complete lack of originality is why this one only earns 4 stars for me.

Hoppy and his partners, California (Andy Clyde) and Jimmy (Jimmy Rogers), are all Texas Rangers. They are thrilled to see that Tim was also offered a job with the Rangers...though they don't know that Tim is in trouble. It seems he has a gambling problem and used a loan from the bank to try to win back what he'd lost. Not surprisingly, he only lost that and cannot pay off his loan. The 'nice' banker has a solution...now that Tim's a ranger, he can turn a blind eye when the banker's gang is smuggling stuff over the boarder. Tim agrees at first...but when he tries to stop the gang, he's knocked out...and the Rangers think he was in league with them. Tim is locked up...and the Sheriff let him out...only to shoot him!! And, Hoppy is somehow blamed for all this!!

What follows is one of the oldest plot ideas in westerns. Hoppy is drummed out of the Rangers and it looks like he's gone bad. Soon, the local gang recruits him...not knowing that it's all a big act and he's working under cover for the Rangers!! Who saw this coming? Well, practically everyone in the theater!!

The bottom line is that it was lazy filmmaking to have Hoppy pretend to go bad. Tim McCoy, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and just about every cowboy star of the day used this plot!! But the story is enjoyable....so it still manages a 4.

By the way, 1943 was the same year Robert Mitchum began working in films and he appeared in this film and at least one or two others...playing baddies each time.

Riders of the Deadline was originally released by United Artists, on 3 December 1943. The director was Lesley Selander.

CAST: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jimmy Rogers, Richard Crane, Frances Woodward, William Halligan, Tony Warde, Bob Mitchum, Jim Bannon, Hugh Prosser, Herbert Rawlinson, Monte Montana, Earle Hodgins, Bill Beckford, Pierce Lyden.

Running time: 70 minutes. (Available on Platinum Disc).

Comment: It's fortunate that this entry has Bob Mitchum in its cast, along with Harlan's usual fine actual location camera, plus at least one thrilling action sequence.

On the other hand it features Andy Clyde giving some of his worst "comedy" relief, including an extended scene in which he tries to hang himself.

All told, the film contrives at least ten parts talk to every one part action.