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.

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.

helpless_dancer A cheap, lowdown, underhanded, thieving, whiskey and woman peddler tries to frame Hoppy and his sidekick for a stage robbery. He and his bought and paid for sheriff convince a local rancher to press charges and offer a reward of "dead or alive" for the pair. But they made a mistake messing with this steely eyed two gun buckaroo. Clouds of gunsmoke and barrels of lead were expended in this exciting tale.