L'aventure en Eldorado

Hoppy and the Bar-20 boys ride out to protect a freight line from hijackers masquerading as soldiers. In the process, Hoppy meets Jane, Lucky meets Diana, while California un-meets an amorous Mexican lady.

Calling this an "affable" Western isn't much of a compliment given the genre's macho conventions. Nonetheless, there's more chemistry and general good humor among cast members than usual. Sure, there's some of the expected rough stuff and gunplay no one takes seriously, anyway. But even bad guy Morris Ankrum gets several personable scenes, while Trevor Bardette who could frighten a platoon of Marines, e.g. They Won't Forget (1937), has a few kind words. But most of all are Boyd and Gombell, whose chemistry comes across as genuinely charming. In fact, seeing Boyd as Hoppy in these features makes me think he truly enjoyed making them. Anyway, in my little book, he comes across as the most likable of the matinée heroes. And though he could do the hard-eye stare when necessary, those chuckles, guffaws, and friendly faces appear genuine. One thing to note about the movie—it's better produced than usual. Note the well-stocked teams of men on both sides of the law. Also, the ugly town and its muddy street appear more frontier-like than most A-Westerns.

(In passing—the girl Diana is played by Georgia Ellis. Old-time radio fans may recognize her as the radio voice of Gunsmoke's saloon girl Kitty Russell, a part Amanda Blake would later make famous on TV.)