False Colors: Hopalong Cassidy, foreman of the Bar-20 ranch, herds cattle with his friends, California Carlson, Jimmy Rogers and new ranch hand Bud Lawton, for delivery to the railroad. Bud is nearly ambushed by two unidentified gunmen, and  then learns that his father has died and  he has inherited the family ranch, The Diamond Hitch, which controls all the water for the valley. Bud asks Hoppy, California and Jimmy to help him start up the ranch, and when they agree, Bud drafts a partnership agreement with a lawyer.  Bud is then murdered by two gunmen. Hoppy, California and Jimmy sign the partnership contract and head for the Diamond Hitch because they suspect that Bud's death is linked tothe inheritance. Mark Foster, the executor of the  estate, has arranged for outlaw Kit Moyer to impersonate Bud.  Hoppy confides to Judge Stevens that Kit is an impostor, and informs him of his partnership in the ranch. California, looks for the left-handed gunslinger who killed Bud and gets in a fight with cowboy Rip Austin, who works for Foster. Hoppy finishes off the fight and, Foster orders him killed. Hoppy confronts Kit and Foster at a party and accuses Kit of being an impostor, and Foster of trying to steal the Lawton ranch. Hoppy, California and Jimmy try to escape. California is wounded in the chase, and he, Hoppy and Jimmy are arrested. When Buds sister comes to visit them in jail, Hoppy slips her the partnership agreement through his cell bars so she can thwart any attempts to sell the ranch. When the sheriff releases them under the pretense of saving them from a lynch mob, Hoppy sees two men waiting, and  forces the sheriff to lure the men inside. The men are Bud's killers and Hoppy imprisons them. Kit confronts Foster when he learns that Foster plans to betray him, and is killed by Foster. Hoppy then wrestles with Foster until he knocks the criminal unconscious. With the gang locked up, Hoppy, California and Jimmy turn the ranch over to Faith, and head back home to the Bar-20. Starring William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jimmy Rogers. Released 1943

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