Watch Wide Open Town

Wide Open Town is a 1941 Western film that stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, and Andy Clyde. The movie is set in the old west and follows Hopalong Cassidy, portrayed by William Boyd, and his friends as they try to prevent a group of thugs from taking over the town of Mesa. The story begins with Cassidy arriving in Mesa to visit his friend Lucky Jenkins, played by Russell Hayden. Lucky is the town's sheriff and is in a tough spot because the town council is pressuring him to resign. They believe that he isn't capable of maintaining the law and order in Mesa, and they want to bring in a new sheriff who will be tougher on crime.

Lucky's problems start with a group of outlaws who are led by a man named Blakely. They are trying to take over the town by controlling all of the businesses and intimidating the townsfolk. Blakely and his gang's ultimate goal is to get their hands on the mine owned by Lucky's girlfriend, Jane Travers, played by Elisabeth Risdon.

When Cassidy arrives in town, he realizes that Lucky needs his help. Together, they start to investigate the outlaws and try to find a way to stop them. They soon realize that the town council is corrupt and is working with the outlaws. This makes their mission even more challenging because they have to find a way to get rid of Blakely's gang and corrupt town officials at the same time.

As the story progresses, we see Cassidy and Lucky work together to uncover the corrupt council's motives and expose Blakely's plans. Along the way, they encounter many challenges and obstacles, including the town's people's fear and reluctance to help them. However, they remain persistent, and with the help of some unexpected allies, they begin to turn things around.

The film features some excellent action sequences, including a thrilling chase scene, shootouts, and explosions. However, it is the well-developed characters that are the movie's real strength. William Boyd is excellent as Cassidy, the rugged cowboy who is also smart and resourceful. His interactions with Russell Hayden's Lucky are also a highlight of the movie. Andy Clyde's comedic performance as the bumbling but lovable sidekick is also noteworthy.

Overall, Wide Open Town is an entertaining western with a well-crafted story and memorable characters. The film's themes of friendship, loyalty, and perseverance still resonate with viewers today, nearly 80 years after the movie's release. The film is a great example of the western genre at its best, and it is easy to see why it was so popular with audiences in its time.

Wide Open Town is a 1941 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.