HOPALONG CASSIDY: NORTH OF THE RIO GRANDE (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 1937 feature film of the same name. In this episode, Cassidy makes a startling entrance into a saloon and chats with a woman, Annie, introducing himself as “Dynamite McGrew.” She tells him about a group of bandits that recently robbed a train, but he dismisses them as “amateurs,” saying that he doubts the reputation of the famed criminal known as the Lone Wolf. Windy plays “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” on the piano and Cassidy dances with Annie, afterwards giving her a gold piece. She begins to suspect that he was the train robber, but he does not confirm it. Annie’s boss, Crowder, calls her into his office and tells her to stay away from “McGrew,” as he too suspects him of the train robbery, but she dismisses him. At the same time, Cassidy is told that deputy sheriff Plunkett wants to meet him, but he resists. Cassidy and Crowder then talk and Crowder reveals himself to be crooked when he demands that Cassidy split his ill-gotten loot with him, saying that he is the “big chief’s right-hand man,” but Cassidy is unimpressed. Later, Cassidy goes home to his wife Mary and tells her that he was followed, and soon Plunkett sneaks into their house and threatens her. Cassidy shoots him dead and hurriedly leaves. When he rejoins Annie at the saloon, however, Crowder soon appears and tells them of Plunkett’s demise, implying that he knows that “McGrew” is the culprit.
At the train station, the president of the railroad, Goodwin, meets with an important man named Stoneham and they discuss the recent train holdups. They decide to seek out the famous Hopalong Cassidy to help them catch the bandits, noting that Cassidy’s brother was recently killed in a similar crime. Crowder meets with the mysterious “chief,” the Lone Wolf, who says that regardless of McGrew’s killing of Plunkett, they need his assistance, and orders Crowder to bring the man to their hideout. Cassidy is then taken to a remote cabin and meets with the Lone Wolf, who keeps his face hidden and tells him about a large shipment of gold that will soon come through the town, asking that he help steal it. Cassidy agrees on the condition that he is allowed to run things “his way,” and requests the “ten best bad men” for his crew. When he leaves, the Lone Wolf takes off his disguise and is revealed to be none other than Stoneham. Cassidy goes to Goodwin and explains that he did indeed rob the train, but only to facilitate his going undercover with the criminals, and he returns all the gold. He says that he has “personal reasons” to want to help clean up the town, and Goodwin unknowingly recommends that he work with Stoneham, as he is so influential in the community.
Cassidy tells Lucky about the scheme, adding that the Lone Wolf wears a distinctive ring. He then meets with Stoneham and explains his plan for rounding up the criminals, saying that he is determined to track down the Lone Wolf because it was he who gave the order for Plunkett to kill his brother. Stoneham realizes that McGrew is actually Cassidy, and Cassidy realizes that Stoneham is the Lone Wolf when he spots his ring. Stoneham overpowers him, however, and ties him up, saying that he will bring him along on the train and then throw him in the river. Annie finds Stoneham and realizes the truth, but he orders her to stay quiet and then forces a frightened Windy to be the train’s engineer. Lucky and a group of men feverishly pursue the train as Annie helps Cassidy to free himself, and Lucky tampers with the train tracks, although he becomes stuck and Cassidy arrives to help him just in time. The train derails and crashes with all the criminals aboard, but Lucky and Cassidy are saddened to realize that Windy was among them. However, they soon find him unhurt and in good spirits, having been thrown from the car. Back in town, Cassidy bids a fond farewell to Annie as he departs. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:36
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:02038
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1949-1953
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harry Sherman … Producer
- Jack O'Donnell … Writer
- Nate Watt … Director
- Clarence E. Mulford … Based on the story by
- William Boyd … Cast, Hopalong Cassidy
- George Hayes … Cast, Windy Holliday
- Russell Haydon … Cast, Lucky Jenkins
- Stephen Morris … Cast, Henry Stoneham
- Bernadene Hayes … Cast, Faro Annie
- John Rutherford … Cast, Crowder
- Lorraine Randall … Cast, Mary Cassidy
- Walter Long … Cast, Bull O'Hara
- Lee Cobb (see also: Lee J. Cobb) … Cast, Goodwin
- Al Ferguson … Cast, Plunkett
- John Beach … Cast, Clark