Hoppy Serves a Writ (1943) William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jay Kirby, George Reeves, Robert Mitchum Movie Review

Hoppy Serves a Writ (1943)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Hoppy Serves a Writ (1943)

Bob's All Hoppy

Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) along with California (Andy Clyde) and Johnny (Jay Kirby) are on the trail of Tom (Victor Jory) and Steve Jordan (George Reeves) and their gang of outlaws. Trouble is that the Jordan brothers and their gang are in Oklahoma which is out of their jurisdiction so after posing as a cattle buyer Hoppy, California and Johnny plan to rustle the Jordan's cattle back across the river in to Texas where they will be able to serve a writ on them.

"Hoppy Serves a Writ" is in truth an entertaining little escapade from the Hopalong Cassidy portfolio with him masquerading as a cattle buyer in order to lure the men he is after back across the border. It has some nice to-ing and fro-ing when it comes to the story as well as some typical humorous touches thanks to Andy Clyde as California. But whilst well made it is very much a typical Hopalong Cassidy movie although you will either smile or groan when a scene comes along where Hoppy intentionally ricochets a few shots off of a trio of rocks, that is one sharp shooter.

But what for me and many others makes "Hoppy Serves a Writ" of interest is not only that it features future Superman actor George Reeves in a bad guy role but it also marks the first credited appearance of Bob Mitchum, better known as Robert Mitchum these days. Now it is only a small part for Mitchum one of around 20 he made in movies during 1943 alone but the handsome devil doesn't shy away from making his presence felt.

What this all boils down to is that maybe for movie historians "Hoppy Serves a Writ" is of interest but for the most it is a pretty typical little escapade for William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy.


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