False Colors (1943) Reviews

A young Bar 20 cowboy is killed in this fine Hopalong Cassidy Western directed by the efficient George Archainbaud. Having signed an agreement making Hoppy (William Boyd), California Carlson (Andy Clyde), and Jimmy Rogers part owners of his ranch, young Bud Lawton (Tom Seidel) is promptly killed by a couple of strangers, Sonora (Glenn Strange) and Lefty (Pierce Lyden). The killers, it turns out, are working for crooked banker Mark Foster (Douglass Dumbrille), who has a look-a-like, Kit Moyer (also Seidel), waiting in the wings. To the consternation of Bud's sister, Faith (Claudia Drake), the imposter immediately plans to sell their valuable property to Foster, whose men are scaring the help away. When Hoppy attempts to halt the sale, the entire Bar 20 crew lands in jail, accused of being imposters themselves. To get rid of the opposition without appearing to be doing so, Foster plans to have the crooked sheriff (Roy Barcroft) release the men to the enraged townspeople, but Hoppy manages to force a confession from Kit and the villain is defeated in a final struggle. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi