JohnHowardReid
Copyright 24 April 1936 by Paramount Productions, Inc. U.S. release: 14 April 1936. Australian release: 18 November 1936. 7 reels. 67 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A new schoolteacher offers an alibi for Johnny when he is accused of robbing a stagecoach.NOTES: Number 5 of the 66-picture Hopalong Cassidy series.
COMMENT: Paramount publicity claimed that the 48-year-old Hayes had planned to retire "and never act again" at the age of 45 so that he could "spend the rest of his life puttering around the garden of his little home just outside Hollywood. But then producer Harry Sherman came along and insisted Hayes go back to work. All Hayes' protests were unavailing..." What absolute rubbish! What impossible drivel! People will certainly believe anything! Admittedly, Paramount's publicity flacks did not mention Hayes' actual age at any stage, so it's a sure bet many fans would have assumed that Hayes was ten or twenty years older!COMMENT: Leisurely Hoppy entry, though there are some thrilling action spots, especially the climax in a burning saloon. Unfortunately, the lack of background music gives the movie a musty museum air, which certainly militates against its acceptance by today's audiences.
Byrdz
Thing about these old westerns is that they kinda grow on you after a while (no... NOT "like a fungus" !)The plot is rather typical with new schoolmarm endangered by the dastardly gambling hall owner, rustler, robber, kidnapper, politician corrupting (etc.) villain. Hoppy and young and romantic sidekick and woman-hating Windy/Gabby are the "three" of the title. The scenery looks familiar and it's rather nice being able to look up locations here on IMDb. Kernville, CA and the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA were used and films are still made in both locations. Great rocks for shoot-outs and hiding stolen animals. "Three on the Trail" is an early Cassidy film. Hoppy really looks a lot younger than usual. This has NOTHING to do with the film itself... just a side note. Read the biography page of the lady playing that nice "Rose Peters". Cool !If you like shooting and galloping horses and even some square-dancing, this 1936 Western is another one that is worth a look-see.
chipe
I really like this one. Nice to praise a Hoppy film for a change. Nothing untoward in the movie, and many things to praise: scenery, shoot-outs, acting, pleasant characters. Particularly enjoyable was the fussing about the new schoolmarm. She's helpless and friendless when she arrives in town by mistake. The saloon owner makes lecherous moves on her, but she is diverted to the Bar 20 ranch by Hoppy, who flirts with the bar girls in the saloon. Then Hoppy's pal Johnny has a go at her, going back and forth attracting her and then repelling her over some faux pas. Hoppy joins in too, as does Gaby Hayes.A few minor issues I have with this movie as well as most B-Westerns. (1) At the end of these films, the bad guys are usually routed by the hero by setting a fire or using dynamite. Here Hoppy threw some dynamite into the basement of the saloon where the bad guys were holed up. (2) The bad guys made the usual mistake of trying to frame some good guys for the crimes. It leads to their downfall. They should have let well enough alone. (3) The top bad guy usually leads a double life as an honest citizen in town. Meanwhile his identity and gang are sought by the law abiding citizens. He leads a large gang and has a secret hideout for his men and the rustled cattle. He is often cruel to some of his gang. There is usually a big reward on him. Thus, it is surprising that one of his men doesn't turn him in for the reward.
Mike-764
Hoppy and Johnny arrive in Mesquite to pick up supplies, while a stagecoach comes at the same time with a coach full of dance hall girls for the saloon owned by Pecos Kane, who also happens to organize a band of rustlers. Kane robs a stage with supplies for British rancher JP Ridley (who doesn't think all the robbing is abnormal for a western town) and kills the driver. Kane frames the crime on Johnny (through Sheriff Corwin, who is a stooge for Kane), primarily because Johnny became friendly with Mary Stevens, the new schoolmarm, whom Kane had his lustful eye on. Hoppy prevents Corwin from taking Johnny into jail, so Kane ambushes Johnny and Hoppy and takes them to an isolated spot in the desert so Kane can convince the townspeople of their guilt. Hoppy and Johnny escape and trek their way through the desert and back to the Bar 20 ranch where he convinces Corwin, the other ranchers and hands to apprehend Kane, who has barricaded himself in the saloon (with Mary) to engage in a shootout with the ranchers. Very good Hoppy film being most notable as the first appearance by Hayes in his Windy Halliday role. Stevens makes for a notable adversary for Hoppy, but the script really didn't make much use for his acting talents. Evans is cute, but all of her scenes are useless to the rest of the film. Bretherton made excellent use of the location scenery, making this one of the more visual Hoppy films. Excellent climax to the film. Rating, based on B westerns, 7.
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