Wide Open Town

A superior B-Western in every way, this Hopalong Cassidy series entry features an especially compelling performance by former silent screen star Evelyn Brent. Along with his sidekicks, Lucky (Russell Hayden) and California (Andy Clyde), Hoppy (William Boyd) is searching for the gang that killed a couple of Bar-20 cowboys and rustled their steers. The trail leads to Gunsight, a lawless city lorded over by the proprietress of the Paradise Saloon, Belle Langtry (Brent). Although she falls in love with Hoppy, Belle, who has at least one murder on her conscience, refuses to mend her evil ways. Steadfastly refusing to fall for the lady's undoubted charms, Hoppy instead has a trick or two up his sleeve, and the villains are soon fighting among themselves with the mayor's teenage daughter (Bernice Kay) caught in the crossfire.