Cassidy of Bar 20 (1938)

Cassidy of Bar 20 (1938). 56m | Approved

“I picked up a few of the Image Entertainment u0026quot;Hopalong Cassidyu0026quot; DVDs owing to a friendu0026#39;s research for a magazine article…I had seen numerous examples of Boydu0026#39;s excellent acting and wanted to see if watching whole u0026quot;Hopalongu0026quot; features would be rewarding. As I had hoped, the features are very good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne expects a certain level of acting in B movies…better than a high-school stage play, but less depth than major movie characters. B movie performances usually have enough personality to explain what a character is doing at the time…but not enough to account for what the character is like, off-screen. Itu0026#39;s one of the excellences of Boydu0026#39;s acting; you feel that he is just as honest and competent and well-meaning before the movie starts, and in scenes where he does not appear. Most of the other characters are not so well-written or well-played, that one considers their backstory.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe exception in this movie is Gertrude Hoffman as Ma Caffrey, a crusty old general-store manager. At first she appears to be a typical comic-relief gun-totinu0026#39; old lady, who thinks one of Hoppyu0026#39;s partners looks like her dead husband. Later she talks to that partner, whou0026#39;s been ordered by the court to help around the store. She says:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Jeffu0026#39;s a good boy. Ainu0026#39;t scared to stand behind a gun and shoot for whatu0026#39;s right. Jeffu0026#39;s pa was a Federal Marshal; got killed fightinu0026#39; for the govu0026#39;ment. Yep, fell dead right where youu0026#39;re standing. Iu0026#39;ve tried to learn Jeff right from wrong. Clay Allison wouldnu0026#39;t be where he is today if it werenu0026#39;t for my Jeff. Allisonu0026#39;s round-up crewu0026#39;ll be here today. Fightinu0026#39; men from the border; theyu0026#39;re a bad lot; alu0026#39;s bring trouble.u0026quot; …and in that brief minute or so you COMPLETELY believe her and her grief for her husband and her disappointment in her son, working for Mr. Allison (whou0026#39;s the villain of the film). Itu0026#39;s an A-picture performance…the sort of thing that wins u0026quot;Best Supporting Actressu0026quot; nominations if the movie is u0026quot;respectableu0026quot; enough. Itu0026#39;s plain the actress thought the part through; her every line implies her past and her ongoing relationship with her townspeople and her son.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIs this worthwhile if a person doesnu0026#39;t care for the Western genre? Not really. Is it worth showing to young actors as an example of doing a lot with a small part? Yes, certainly! Does it demonstrate once again that not all low-budget movies have second-rate casts? Sure!”