646f9e108c In this 14th film of the 66-film series that is credited on the filmbeing based on Clarence E. Mulford&#39;s novel &quot;Tex&quot;… but isn&#39;t, other than some character names…the United States Army needs horses for the Spanish-American war but all attempts to get wild horses from the Western plains has failedthe gathered herds have been taken by rustlers. Colonel Whitely instructs Major McCready to secure the services of Hopalong Cassidy who, meanwhile, has been training his mena volunteer force. While disappointed at having to worka civilian, Cassidy answers the call to the flag and with the help of Lucky Jenkins, Windy Halliday, Smokey and the other cowhands, rounds up a herd of 500 wild horses. Black Jack Carson and his henchmen Hawks, Shorty and Brad steal the horses and capture Cassidy and his men. With the help of Boots, the Colonel&#39;s son, and Barbara Allen, Lucky&#39;s sweetheart, Cassidy manages to escape, regain the horses and capture Carson and his men. The Army needs 500 horses and Hoppy has been sent to round them up. After he and his men do all the work, Carson arrives and plants ten of his branded horses among the group. Then he and his men arrest Hoppy and his crew for rustling and make plans to hang all of them and then sell the horses. Texas Trail finds Bill BoydHopalong Cassidy ready to join the army, specifically the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War. But first his talentshorse wrangler are needed because Leonard Wood&#39;s and Theodore Roosevelt&#39;s volunteer cavalry need some mounts. So Hoppy and his two companions Russell Hayden and Gabby Hayes and the rest of Bar 20 hands are off to get some for the Army without being gouged.<br/><br/>The villains of Texas Trail, Alexander Carson and his gang, aren&#39;t too concerned about how they come by the horses they want to sell the Army. In fact of all things they frame Hoppya horse thief.<br/><br/>Fortunately Major Karl Hackett has a son played by Billy King who idolizes Hoppy and he saves everybody&#39;s bacon and horse flesh. <br/><br/>Ironicallyit were the mounts of the Rough Riders didn&#39;t make it over to Cuba. My guess they would have been of little use in the tropics in any event. No one other than Theodore Roosevelt rode into battle in their famous engagements at San Juan Hill and El Caney.<br/><br/>Come to think of it that would have included Hopalong Cassidy&#39;s trusty steed Topper.<br/><br/>Texas Trail is a pleasant fictionalized account of Clarence Mulford&#39;s cowboy hero and his little known contribution to the Spanish-American War. As with most Hopalong Cassidy films this one has good action and amazingly authentic feel for period setting and beautifully filmed locations, especially for Saturday morning features. This one moves more toward the kiddie audience with a youngster named Boots coming to Hoppy&#39;s rescue. Much to my surprise and delight Hoppy movies are starting to show up on TV again after a prolonged absence.
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377 weeks ago