Rustlers' Valley

Pleasant Hopalong Cassidy outing. The basic story is about Cal Howard (played by Lee J Cobb), who has learned that Congress has approved an irrigation project in the area, a key part of which is the Randall ranch. To acquire the ranch, first he gets engaged to the owner's daughter, then when that falls through he convinces the local banker to call in a Randall note on some prize cattle, and finally he has his men rustle the cattle further trying to ruin Randall. In between all this, Howard also has the local bank robbed.

What I liked about the movie is it's mysterious leisurely start. The first thing we see in the movie is about a dozen horsemen chasing someone through nice usual Hoppy movie scenery. We don't know who or why. Then we see that the horseman being chased is Lucky Jenkins, Hoppy's sidekick, who is forced to leap off a cliff into the river below, perhaps to his death. Back in town Hoppy learns that Lucky is accused of robbing the bank. Then we meet the other characters at a square dance party. Finally the plot develops bit by bit.

Things I noticed:

I was satisfied with the action, mainly the chase at the start and a wonderful shootout at the end at the outlaws' hideout, highlighted by Lucky and Windy dislodging huge boulders to roll down on the bad guys' cabin.

I am always annoyed by this staple of Hoppy movies: some weird, persistent, obnoxious woman is always romantically pursuing Hoppy's old comic sidekick.

It seemed so unlikely that the heroine (Randall's daughter) would ever become engaged to rude Lee J Cobb.

A minor complaint: it seemed silly and unrealistic to me that the posse on horseback chasing Lucky would be holding onto their pistols as they were riding, when they were so far from Lucky they could never successfully fire a shot.