HOPALONG CASSIDY: RENEGADE TRAIL (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic western series about the adventures of cowboy hero Bill “Hopalong” Cassidy, based on the series of books by Clarence E. Mulford. This episode is an edited version of the 1939 feature film of the same name. In this episode, two men named Smoky and Traynor meet up and Smoky reveals that he recently escaped from jail. He mentions a local widow named Joyce and they decide to rob her together, planning to include another criminal called Stiff-Hat Bailey. At her home, Mary Joyce tucks in her young son, Joey, who asks to hear about his brave, deceased father yet again. Smoky lurks outside and listens, and he soon enters the house and is revealed to be Mary’s estranged husband. He tells her that he broke out of jail and intends to stay in the home, but she refuses to let him spoil the positive ideal that Joey has of his father. Smoky says that he will pretend to be her recently deceased brother, whom no one else knows to be dead. The next day, Stiff-Hat and Traynor meet up in town, and Stiff-Hat rudely kicks Joey’s dog, much to the boy’s fury. Cassidy and Lucky intervene and send the criminals away, and Windy arrives as well, revealing that he has recently been made marshal, although Lucky is dubious about the position’s validity. Mary arrives on the scene and reprimands Cassidy for causing a fuss, demanding that he pay her for her goods damaged in the scuffle, and Windy and Lucky look on in amusement, although they worry privately that Mary may end up trying to marry Cassidy. Back in his office, Cassidy and Lucky present Windy with a new holster, and he is touched, at least until they begin to poke fun at his less-than-secure safe.
Elsewhere, Smoky, Stiff-Hat and Traynor make plans to steal Mary’s cattle, although they worry that Cassidy could interfere. Smoky resolves to find out how much Mary knows and then signal the others when he needs them. Windy hears of Stiff-Hat’s involvement and recruits another man, Slim Baker, to help keep an eye on the herd. Joey arrives and offers to help, and Cassidy is charmed to hear that his dog is named “Hoppy” after the boy’s idol, although he does not admit that he himself is the famous Hopalong. Joey suddenly falls into the cattle pen and breaks his leg, and Cassidy hurries to rescue him. Learning that the doctor is out of town, Cassidy tends to the boy himself, despite Mary’s protests, and Joey is thrilled to learn the true identity of his savior. Later, Mary expresses her gratitude to Cassidy, but they are interrupted by Smoky, who claims to be Mary’s brother. Cassidy quickly sees through his lies, however, and disarms him, but Mary begs him not to arrest him, as it would be upsetting for Joey to learn the truth about his father. Cassidy grudgingly agrees, but orders Smoky to leave and not return. Joey then suggests that Mary should wed Cassidy, but she gently disagrees. She soon finds Traynor on her property and orders him away, but Smoky ambushes her, and she realizes that he is in with Bailey’s gang as they force her back into her home.
Lucky and Windy continue their banter as Lucky decides to ride back to Mary’s ranch with Red. On the way, however, they are attacked and Lucky is shot and taken back to the camp. Cassidy and Baker organize a guard duty and head to Mary’s home, but Traynor appears and claims that she is not there. They shoot him dead, and Mary escapes with Joey, stealing the carriage in which Lucky is resting and driving away. Bailey and Smoky catch up with her, and Smoky stays with them as Bailey leaves to steal the cattle. Cassidy, however, hides the cattle in a pass, planning to trap the robbers. Windy recruits some new men and Cassidy tells them to pretend to give themselves up. When Bailey and the others arrive, they tell them that Cassidy ran away, but he then sneaks up behind and disarms them. Smoky, however, is still with Mary and Joey, and is telling Joey unpleasant stories about his own misdeeds. Before he can reveal their true relationship, however, an injured Lucky overpowers him and Mary gets away again. As Cassidy ties up Bailey and the others, he sees Mary’s carriage hurtling out of control, and rushes to assist her. Lucky soon arrives on the scene and says that Smoky met with an “accident” and will no longer bother them. Mary, relieved, asks Cassidy to stay at the ranch for a short time, and he agrees, although Lucky and Windy are pleased to hear that he does not intend to make it his permanent residence. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE:
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:16
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:02039
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1949-1954
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harry Sherman … Producer
- John Rathmell … Writer
- Harrison Jacobs … Writer
- Clarence E. Mulford … Based on characters created by
- Lesley Salander … Director
- Phil Ohman … Music by
- William Boyd … Cast, Hopalong Cassidy
- Russell Hayden … Cast, Lucky Jenkins
- George Hayes … Cast, Windy Halliday
- Charlotte Wynters … Cast, Mary Joyce
- Russell Hopton … Cast, Smoky Joslin
- Roy Barcroft … Cast, Stiff-Hat Bailey
- John Merton … Cast, Traynor
- Sonny Bupp … Cast, Joey Joyce
- Eddie Dean … Cast, Red