Mystery Man

Hoppy, California & Jimmy Rogers set out to stop a gang of bank robbers led by a man pretending to be respectable citizen In this average Hoppy western that ticks the boxes and nothing more, though it's still dependable entertainment. The title is a little confusing as there's no one in the film resembling a mystery man. It can't refer to the main villain as he doesn't stay a mystery for long.

When the story begins, Hoppy and workers from the Bar 20 help a town in their fight against the notorious Trilling Gang. They subdue the gang and jail them. However, when Bud Trilling himself arrives in disguise, he helps the gang escape. Now you'd think the gang would run for the hills, but instead they hide in the desert and wait for the Bar 20 workers to take their herd to market...and then they jump them and steal the herd for revenge. But, eventually Hoppy and the workers escape...and retake the herd. Now you'd think that would be the end of it....but it isn't. Now Trilling, posing as Hoppy, has Hopalong and the workers arrested! And, the sheriff is apparently an idiot! What's next? See the film.

Like most of the Hopalong Cassidy films, this one is very good. So, instead of seeming like a B-western,...it's almost like a B+ western....if there was such a thing. Exciting, fun and full of action.

By the way, if you want to see this and any of the other Hopalong Cassidy films, check for them on YouTube. This is because they have the best possible copies...fully restored to their original length and in pristine condition. I've enjoyed them so much that this is the 65th one I've seen...and only have one more to go!

Although Mystery Man is no contender for the best Hopalong Cassidy movie ever made, it is definitely among the better movies in the series. The action moves from one city to the next as Hoppy drives a herd of Bar 20 cattle to its destination. This parallels the story as it moves steadily toward its climax.

The villain, Bud Trilling (Don Costello), is introduced to the viewer early on, but Hoppy and the law do not expose Trilling until the end. During the course of the movie Trilling is a faceless villain who is able to enter towns and encounter sheriffs without fear of recognition. During a bank holdup by Trilling's gang, Hoppy, California, and Jimmy join the fight against the bank robbers. Jimmy's life is saved by a visiting young lady named Diane Newhall (Eleanor Stewart). She explains that her father taught her how to shoot and that he is the sheriff in the same town where Jimmy will be at the end of his cattle drive. This brief meeting pays off later in the movie. Trilling works up a scheme to steal both the Bar 20 herd and the money at the end of the trail while leaving Hoppy and his men at the mercy of the law.

No one stays put in Mystery Man. As soon as there is enough action in the first town, the story moves on to the cattle drive. During the cattle drive there is one musical performance which is rare in a Hopalong Cassidy movie, but it fits the scene well. Events along the way keep the story interesting then move to the last destination. There is no tired feeling from too much action in one place.

With a bigger budget this could have been a great movie.

Set in Holbrook in the 1880s, Hoppy is dressed all in black (usually a good sign, but not always). On the positive side, there's lots of action & gunfights (four in all), & the heroine is especially helpful (she's a Sheriff's daughter). On the negative side, Jimmy Rogers is as wooden as always, the comedy is not too funny, the plot seems rushed between horse chases, & most of all, there's no real sense of toughness from Hoppy. Altogether one of the more minor Hopalong Cassidy entries.

I rate it 5/10.

This Hopalong Cassidy film Mystery Man has Hoppy dealing with the Bud Trilling gang. The title of the film comes from the fact that while we know that Trilling is actor Don Costello he's not known to anyone other than his gang. No wanted posters with likeness are circulated so consequently he can move around pretty freely.

Bill Boyd, Jimmy Rogers, and Andy Clyde at the beginning of the film happen to be in town when the gang pulls a holdup at the bank and in a very thrilling gun battle they're captured and hauled away to jail. Costello frees them however and the rest of the movie is a running battle between the Bar 20 crew and the Trilling gang. Costello is a resourceful foe, but you know comes out on top.

Costello certainly regretted he and the gang decided to diversify from holdups to cattle rustling.