WasAnnon
Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
Catherina
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
JohnHowardReid
A United Artists picture. USA release: 1 October 1943. Directed by Lesley Selander.
CAST: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, George Reeves, Dustin Farnum, Victor Jory, Douglas Fowley, Betty Blythe, Bob Mitchum, Francis McDonald, Earle Hodgins. Running time : 54 minutes. (The DVD was formerly available from VintageFilmBuff). COMMENT: Alas, this entry is well below standard, not only in running time (a mere 54 minutes), but in excitement. Here is a picture that almost all patrons will find below standard. Not only is the plot dull, affording little in the way of action, but the acting is decidedly hammy, and the direction indifferent. Even Russell Harlan's photography, normally a high point in the series, seems flat and uninspired.
bkoganbing
Robert Mitchum who got his start in movies in the Hopalong Cassidy series usually played outlaws in his appearances. But in Bar 20 Mitchum plays an earnest but rather thickheaded and proud young bridegroom who just cannot believe the obvious. The obvious being that his best friend and best man Victory Jory is trying to rob and swindle him.Bar 20 finds Hoppy and his sidekicks George Reeves and Andy Clyde on a trip to Betty Blythe's ranch to buy some cattle and Hoppy's carrying a wad of cash. Our heroes as it happens rescue Blythe and her daughter Dustine Farnum from a stagecoach holdup though the outlaws get away with her expensive engagement ring.Later on Hoppy and the sidekicks are robbed of the cash. It's a rather complex series of events that convinces Hoppy that Jory is the one behind it. But no one can convince Mitchum that Hoppy and his sidekicks aren't the bad guys. Apparently the reputation that Hopalong Cassidy has in the west counts for nothing. I'm sure the kids in 1943 who saw this on Saturday afternoon thought Mitchum was the stupidest guy alive.George Reeves did many Cassidy features himself, but this was his one and only shot at being a regular sidekick. I wonder why Harry Sherman didn't use him further in that role.A bit more plot than usual distinguishes Bar 20 from the usual Cassidy films. But I'm sure the kids liked it as will you.
chipe
This is one of the better Hoppy movies, with a clever, intricate plot. It is also unusual in that Steve Reeves (TV's Superman) and Robert Mitchum (who went on to super star status), both of whom had minor (mainly outlaw) parts in earlier Hoppy movies, have meaty co-starring roles here.***Some spoilers. *** The plot revolves around Mitchum's stolen jewels that are worth about $10,000, but the thieves, led by Victor Jory, will take a $3000 ransom for them. Both good-guy Hoppy and bad-guy Jory have an interest in helping Mitchum raise the $3000 to get the jewels back. Hoppy has $4000 cash to buy 100 head of cattle for the Bar 20 Ranch. The cattle are owned by Mitchum's fiancé' who will end up with the jewels as a wedding gift, so $3000 could be used to ransom the jewels. On the other hand, Jory wants to buy some of Mitchum's land, the proceeds of which would ransom the jewels.Hoppy's $4000 is stolen by Jory's gang, and $3000 of it is given to Mitchum by Jory as part of the land deal mentioned above. Mitchum then takes the $3000 to meet the outlaws and ransom the jewels back. In some complicated maneuvers, Hoppy goes along to help, and he recovers both the money and the jewels. But Jory has poisoned Mitchum's mind into believing that Hoppy is the jewel thief. You'll have to see the movie to see how Hoppy convinces Mitchum that Jory is the bad guy and how Hoppy captures the bad guys.
marmel4
Excellent chapter in the Hopalong Cassidy Series. With a cast of William Boyd, George "Superman" Reeves and Robert Mitchum and first class story you will enjoy the 54 minutes of suspense and action this film delivers. Victor Jory who in real life is the US Coast Guard wrestling and boxing champion plays the stereo-typical bad guy. This film has Robberies, Dry Gulching and shoot outs...everything a good family hour program should have :-)
