It was amusing to discover that the Director of this pleasant little diversion directed it apparently between two Joe Palooka movies. Now they are tough films to watch. However, although this story line is a bit weak,the film does have a couple of things going for it. Alexis Smith is an attractive heroine. Her character has a life changing decision to make and it works well. The film also attempts to flesh out the role of the Railroad in small communities in the west. The Railroad Club comes off as another saloon but the very fact that its a club is an interesting historical footnote. Much of the exterior scenery is beautifully presented, although the hideout left something to be desired. A good wet Sunday amusement.
12 Reviews
Enjoyable Technicolor Western
gordonl5628 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
WYOMING MAIL 1950
This Universal International production is set in 1869 just after the U.S. Postal Service started moving the mail by railway. These "post office on wheels," are being constantly robbed on a section or rail running through Wyoming Territory.
The Postmaster hires former Secret Service operative, Stephen McNally to work undercover. McNally is sent out to Wyoming to look into the robberies. The government figures it is the work of a well-organized gang with inside info. McNally is to contact another undercover man in Cheyenne. The undercover man is killed before McNally can reach Cheyenne.
McNally manages to trail some marked money to a man, Ed Begley. Begley happens to be the warden of the Territorial Prison. While digging around for info, McNally has time to romance attractive dance hall singer, Alexis Smith. With the help of a U.S. Marshall, McNally pretends to be a wanted bank hold-up man.
With the aid of the Marshall there is soon a posse after McNally. McNally is grabbed up and hauled off to the prison. His new contact is Armando Silvestre, who is playing a bounty hunter of Native Indian decent. Silvestre arranges to make periodic visits to check on McNally. Besides watching the warden, McNally is trying to meet up with inmate Whit Bissell. Bissell is a former bank robber whose money they believe was taken by the crooked warden, Begley.
Having collected the info he needs, McNally pulls a prison break with the aid of Silvestre. They take Bissell along to testify against Begley. Bissell however is fatally wounded during the getaway. Bissell does however put McNally onto who and where the train robbers are.
It does not take long and McNally is soon part of this gang, which includes, Gene Evans, James Arness, Felipe Turich and Richard Jaeckel. Much to McNally's surprise, it turns out that Alexis Smith is also part of the gang. To top that off, railway guard Howard Da Silva is also in the criminal mix.
The gang are up for another job and head off to hit the train. McNally manages to get a message to Silvestre to warn the railway of the job. The warning though is intercepted and Silvestre shot. The gang now knows that McNally is really with the law and he barely escapes by jumping off a cliff into a raging river.
The robbery goes sideways with most of the gang being killed. The viewer now learns that the real inside man was railway district superintendent, Roy Roberts. Roberts has been feeding the gang inside info on big cash deliveries by the post office.
Miss Smith by this time has decided that the criminal life is not to her liking. She is grabbed up and taken to the gang's cliff side hideout. There are a few quick horse chases, gun battles etc needed before the last of the nasty types is disposed of, and Miss Smith rescued. Of course McNally and Smith get married and ride off (by train) into the sunset.
This is a pretty entertaining B-western that moves along at a pretty good pace. There is the odd plot problem, but the pace covers these up nicely. The nice Technicolor is an added bonus for the watcher.
The director was long time B helmsman, Reginald LeBorg. LeBorg is best known for a string of Universal Studio horror films like, THE MUMMY'S GHOST, JUNGLE WOMAN, CALLING DR. DEATH and DEAD MAN'S EYES.
The cinematographer on this great looking duster was two-time Oscar nominated, one time winner, Russell Metty. Metty won his Oscar for his work on, SPARTACUS.
Look close and you will see future Hollywood leading man, Richard Egan in a small bit.
Well worth a look if you are fan of the genre.
This Universal International production is set in 1869 just after the U.S. Postal Service started moving the mail by railway. These "post office on wheels," are being constantly robbed on a section or rail running through Wyoming Territory.
The Postmaster hires former Secret Service operative, Stephen McNally to work undercover. McNally is sent out to Wyoming to look into the robberies. The government figures it is the work of a well-organized gang with inside info. McNally is to contact another undercover man in Cheyenne. The undercover man is killed before McNally can reach Cheyenne.
McNally manages to trail some marked money to a man, Ed Begley. Begley happens to be the warden of the Territorial Prison. While digging around for info, McNally has time to romance attractive dance hall singer, Alexis Smith. With the help of a U.S. Marshall, McNally pretends to be a wanted bank hold-up man.
With the aid of the Marshall there is soon a posse after McNally. McNally is grabbed up and hauled off to the prison. His new contact is Armando Silvestre, who is playing a bounty hunter of Native Indian decent. Silvestre arranges to make periodic visits to check on McNally. Besides watching the warden, McNally is trying to meet up with inmate Whit Bissell. Bissell is a former bank robber whose money they believe was taken by the crooked warden, Begley.
Having collected the info he needs, McNally pulls a prison break with the aid of Silvestre. They take Bissell along to testify against Begley. Bissell however is fatally wounded during the getaway. Bissell does however put McNally onto who and where the train robbers are.
It does not take long and McNally is soon part of this gang, which includes, Gene Evans, James Arness, Felipe Turich and Richard Jaeckel. Much to McNally's surprise, it turns out that Alexis Smith is also part of the gang. To top that off, railway guard Howard Da Silva is also in the criminal mix.
The gang are up for another job and head off to hit the train. McNally manages to get a message to Silvestre to warn the railway of the job. The warning though is intercepted and Silvestre shot. The gang now knows that McNally is really with the law and he barely escapes by jumping off a cliff into a raging river.
The robbery goes sideways with most of the gang being killed. The viewer now learns that the real inside man was railway district superintendent, Roy Roberts. Roberts has been feeding the gang inside info on big cash deliveries by the post office.
Miss Smith by this time has decided that the criminal life is not to her liking. She is grabbed up and taken to the gang's cliff side hideout. There are a few quick horse chases, gun battles etc needed before the last of the nasty types is disposed of, and Miss Smith rescued. Of course McNally and Smith get married and ride off (by train) into the sunset.
This is a pretty entertaining B-western that moves along at a pretty good pace. There is the odd plot problem, but the pace covers these up nicely. The nice Technicolor is an added bonus for the watcher.
The director was long time B helmsman, Reginald LeBorg. LeBorg is best known for a string of Universal Studio horror films like, THE MUMMY'S GHOST, JUNGLE WOMAN, CALLING DR. DEATH and DEAD MAN'S EYES.
The cinematographer on this great looking duster was two-time Oscar nominated, one time winner, Russell Metty. Metty won his Oscar for his work on, SPARTACUS.
Look close and you will see future Hollywood leading man, Richard Egan in a small bit.
Well worth a look if you are fan of the genre.
Thrilling Western about an agent goes undercover to infiltrate himself a band who is robbing trains of the territorial mail service
ma-cortes20 June 2020
Set in 1869 Wyoming , the railway mail service is being continuously assaulted by nasty thieves . Then , Steve Davis : Stephen MacNally , is assigned a dangerous mission : to chase and detain the band as well as protect the Territorial Mail Service . Steve poses an an inmate in territorial prison run by a corrupt warden : Ed Begley . There stands Steve with purport to get some clues , as he befriends a key member , Whit Bissell , of the criminal organization formed by illustrous secondaries as Howard Da Silva, James Arness , Gene Evans , Richard Jaeckel . After that , and helped by his colleague Indian Joe : Armando Silvestre , he breaks out of prison and joins the gang . Meanwhile , he falls in love for a beautiful saloon singer: Alexis Smith . The train robbery that shook the West ¡ The West's most daring train robbery ¡
A run-of-the-mill Western with thrills , go riding , shootouts , twists and turns . There is action enough , but it is paced in fits and starts , however , being entertaining thanks to its continuos surprises and plot twists . Here stands out the colorful cinematography by Russell Metty in brilliant Technicolor , shot on location in Sierra Railway , Jamestown , California and Universal Studios .The plot is plain and simple , an undercover government agent is hired in order to destroy a criminal group , as he infiltrates from inside , sustaining interest for quite a while with intrigue , tension and suspenseful, adding some songs and beautiful girls dancing at saloon. Well starred by Stephen MacNally and the attractive Alexis Smith as a dance hall singer who proves to have dark secrets . It displays a great and astonishing support cast plenty of familiar faces to play subsequently a number of Westerns as the usually nasty Howard Da Silva, the splendid character actor Ed Begley, Gene Evans who was Samuel Fuller's regular , the Mexican Armando Silvestre , Roy Roberts , Richard Jaeckel who had a long career , a curly-haired James Arness of Gunsmoke , the prolífic secondary Whit Bissell , Frank Fenton , Woodrow Parfrey, , and a brief appearance by Richard Egan who a bit later on to become himself a big star , among others .
The motion picture was professionally directed by Reginald Le Borg. He was an artisan who made several films in B style with not much success , such as The eyes of Annie Jones , The Black Sleep, Sins of Jezabel ,The Flanagan Boy , GI Jane , The Dalton Girls , War Drums , Troublemakers , Joe Palooka , Philo Vance , San Diego I love you, Destiny , Jungle woman, Port Said , being his biggest hit : Diary of a Madman , starred by Vincent Price . He went on directing TV episodes of known series as Bronco , Maverick, The Alaskans , Sugarfoot , Bourbon Street , Wire Service, among others. Rating 6/10 acceptable and passable oater western.
A run-of-the-mill Western with thrills , go riding , shootouts , twists and turns . There is action enough , but it is paced in fits and starts , however , being entertaining thanks to its continuos surprises and plot twists . Here stands out the colorful cinematography by Russell Metty in brilliant Technicolor , shot on location in Sierra Railway , Jamestown , California and Universal Studios .The plot is plain and simple , an undercover government agent is hired in order to destroy a criminal group , as he infiltrates from inside , sustaining interest for quite a while with intrigue , tension and suspenseful, adding some songs and beautiful girls dancing at saloon. Well starred by Stephen MacNally and the attractive Alexis Smith as a dance hall singer who proves to have dark secrets . It displays a great and astonishing support cast plenty of familiar faces to play subsequently a number of Westerns as the usually nasty Howard Da Silva, the splendid character actor Ed Begley, Gene Evans who was Samuel Fuller's regular , the Mexican Armando Silvestre , Roy Roberts , Richard Jaeckel who had a long career , a curly-haired James Arness of Gunsmoke , the prolífic secondary Whit Bissell , Frank Fenton , Woodrow Parfrey, , and a brief appearance by Richard Egan who a bit later on to become himself a big star , among others .
The motion picture was professionally directed by Reginald Le Borg. He was an artisan who made several films in B style with not much success , such as The eyes of Annie Jones , The Black Sleep, Sins of Jezabel ,The Flanagan Boy , GI Jane , The Dalton Girls , War Drums , Troublemakers , Joe Palooka , Philo Vance , San Diego I love you, Destiny , Jungle woman, Port Said , being his biggest hit : Diary of a Madman , starred by Vincent Price . He went on directing TV episodes of known series as Bronco , Maverick, The Alaskans , Sugarfoot , Bourbon Street , Wire Service, among others. Rating 6/10 acceptable and passable oater western.
The Universal western look overcomes limitations here.
Mozjoukine22 August 2002
The satisfactions of the Technicolor western register in this production line co feature, with Russell Metty's camerawork and the studio's wooden cowboy town, train station and saloon interiors always a pleasurable environment. The cast is good too so there's only the routine direction to take issue with and Le Borg has exerted himself a few times here - Smith's anguished walk back to the railworker club, knowing her lover is a government spy, is one.
Better work followed but this is enjoyable.
Better work followed but this is enjoyable.
Corruption goes a lot deeper than those doing the dirty deeds.
mark.waltz6 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There's got to be someone at the top barking out all the orders and this colorful Universal western exposes em'all. Stephen McNally is a government agent out to expose the ring responsible for mail bandits, and is surprised to find out who his immediate contact in this syndicate is. It's another slimy villain role for Howard da Silva who sneers out all his lines with acid coming out of his wrinkled nose. Alexis Smith is the tough saloon girl whom McNally falls in love with, unaware that she too is involved. Steven gets to perform a musical number with a bunch of dancing girls that's a lot of fun.
Predictable but fun, this fast moving Western also features Ed Begley, Whit Bissell and Frankie darro as well as a young James Arness. McNally, going undercover, lands in solitary confinement in a desert prisonwhere the to say the least are unsatisfactory. This is the type of film where you do not know throughout who really is on the side of the law and who will surprisingly turn out to be a crook. The opening credits are interesting because the background of the titles looks like an old postage stamp.
Predictable but fun, this fast moving Western also features Ed Begley, Whit Bissell and Frankie darro as well as a young James Arness. McNally, going undercover, lands in solitary confinement in a desert prisonwhere the to say the least are unsatisfactory. This is the type of film where you do not know throughout who really is on the side of the law and who will surprisingly turn out to be a crook. The opening credits are interesting because the background of the titles looks like an old postage stamp.
Routine But Not Uninteresting.
rmax3048233 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Stephen McNally is an ex Army officer now making a living by bare-fisted boxing. He's happy to get out of it when he's offered a job by the Post Office. There's a bandit gang out in Wyoming that is stealing the mail and making off with payrolls by robbing trains. McNally goes undercover as a bandido himself and worms his way into the gang, one of whose members, to McNally's dismay, is a café singer, Alexis Smith, with whom he develops a relationship. There's a shoot out at the end that reminds one of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" without the wisecracks. It ends happily.
It's a little unusual because it focuses not on cow punching or marshaling but on telegraphers -- the guys who click and clack at their telegraph keys and send messages along the wires. A dozen or so seem to have given up their respectable specialties and formed a gang of their own. McNally has to learn Morse code to be inducted into the club. I don't particularly like it when telegraphers are portrayed as gangsters. I was a wireless operator myself for a few years and I'm here to say that no more than one out of five of my colleagues was a gangster. Well, maybe one out of four.
Alexis Smith is wounded in the shoot out. That's a shame too. She's a beautiful red head with pale blue eyes of plumbless depths. True, the angle of her ascending ramus is marked but she's a Canadian and Canadians look a little odd. She shouldn't have gotten shot, despite her jawline. I can only say it's a darned good thing she recovered.
Steven McNally isn't usually the hero. His Thespian talents are mediocre but that has nothing to do with it. The operative feature of Steven McNally's screen presence is his ominous, menacing, almost maniacal glare. His best moments come when that stare softens into thoughtfulness, as when he looks down at the dead body of a prisoner who had been friendly towards him, and then arranges to have his own pay sent to the dead man's widow. He was allowed a similar soft spot for a wounded comrade in "Split Second." The moments don't last long.
There are a number of recognizable names among the supporting cast -- Howard Da Silva, Richard Jaekel, Roy Roberts, James Arness, Gene Evans -- but not of them gets much time. Ed Begley's stint as the corrupt warden of the Territorial Prison was probably shot in a day or two.
The territorial prison is probably supposed to be Yuma Territorial Prison. It's still there, at least its wrecked shell, and open to the public. The time there wasn't nearly as demanding as it is in popular thought, or so say the public guides.
It's a little unusual because it focuses not on cow punching or marshaling but on telegraphers -- the guys who click and clack at their telegraph keys and send messages along the wires. A dozen or so seem to have given up their respectable specialties and formed a gang of their own. McNally has to learn Morse code to be inducted into the club. I don't particularly like it when telegraphers are portrayed as gangsters. I was a wireless operator myself for a few years and I'm here to say that no more than one out of five of my colleagues was a gangster. Well, maybe one out of four.
Alexis Smith is wounded in the shoot out. That's a shame too. She's a beautiful red head with pale blue eyes of plumbless depths. True, the angle of her ascending ramus is marked but she's a Canadian and Canadians look a little odd. She shouldn't have gotten shot, despite her jawline. I can only say it's a darned good thing she recovered.
Steven McNally isn't usually the hero. His Thespian talents are mediocre but that has nothing to do with it. The operative feature of Steven McNally's screen presence is his ominous, menacing, almost maniacal glare. His best moments come when that stare softens into thoughtfulness, as when he looks down at the dead body of a prisoner who had been friendly towards him, and then arranges to have his own pay sent to the dead man's widow. He was allowed a similar soft spot for a wounded comrade in "Split Second." The moments don't last long.
There are a number of recognizable names among the supporting cast -- Howard Da Silva, Richard Jaekel, Roy Roberts, James Arness, Gene Evans -- but not of them gets much time. Ed Begley's stint as the corrupt warden of the Territorial Prison was probably shot in a day or two.
The territorial prison is probably supposed to be Yuma Territorial Prison. It's still there, at least its wrecked shell, and open to the public. The time there wasn't nearly as demanding as it is in popular thought, or so say the public guides.
a new one on me
sandcrab2771 November 2020
Usually stephen mcnally plays the surly bad guy so playing an undercover good guy is a twist but his attitude hasn't changed ... he's still a hard case and considers himself a lady's man ... and to prove it they have alexis smith play his gal pal ... the usual cast of bad guys are in this film, except jim arness who later becomes matt dillon on the long running series "gunsmoke" ... the problem with this plot is the railroads shipped money for express agents, hardly ever the us postal service .... howard silva never changes his spots
Seeing the production in real life filming and then the theatre.
pkoftino25 October 2010
I reviewed this movie and find it very strange, that after all these years this movie is still around. I was visiting my relatives in Sonora California when I was 16 years old and Universal International was filming the movie. Most of the movie crew ate at the El Nido Inn where I stayed. I was introduced to the producers and and directors and they took me into the production as a guest. Every morning I would tale the big limos to the locations. One location was the Sonora city dump transformed into a scene that didn't resemble the original location. I met actress Alexis Smith, although she was a very private person. I was introduced to her because she was from Penticton B.C. Canada only 50 miles from my home town. I recall many moments of the production. It was strange to see it later in the theatre, because most of the scenes became different than what I saw in real life. Memories still linger.
Nice Mix
dougdoepke17 May 2011
Pretty good Western that gets better as it goes along. Railroad agent Steve Davis (McNally) goes undercover to catch an elaborate gang of train robbers. Along the way, he meets lovely songstress Mary Williams (Smith), but much worse, has to go to prison to establish his outlaw cover. The gang, it turns out, has respectable confederates but we can't be sure who they are.
There're several good surprises, plus some nice touches from director LeBorg— e. g. a wounded Indian Joe trying to hook on the train, the final scene that hits the right notes, a frantic outlaw (Jaeckle) atop an exploding baggage car. Also, that rock formation of the gang's hideout is impressive as heck, with its spindly ladders to the caves at the top. Then there's a splash or two of great blue sky scenery.
The supporting cast is also notable—Begley, DaSilva, Evans and Jaeckle, plus a young, curly-haired James Arness and-- look quickly—Richard Egan as a prison guard. Universal Studio did a number of these Technicolor Westerns at the time, using solid performers and location filming. None that I've seen reach the first rank, but do remain solid entertainment for horse opera fans, including this one.
There're several good surprises, plus some nice touches from director LeBorg— e. g. a wounded Indian Joe trying to hook on the train, the final scene that hits the right notes, a frantic outlaw (Jaeckle) atop an exploding baggage car. Also, that rock formation of the gang's hideout is impressive as heck, with its spindly ladders to the caves at the top. Then there's a splash or two of great blue sky scenery.
The supporting cast is also notable—Begley, DaSilva, Evans and Jaeckle, plus a young, curly-haired James Arness and-- look quickly—Richard Egan as a prison guard. Universal Studio did a number of these Technicolor Westerns at the time, using solid performers and location filming. None that I've seen reach the first rank, but do remain solid entertainment for horse opera fans, including this one.
A top western in all departments!
JohnHowardReid24 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Stephen McNally (Steve Davis), Alexis Smith (Mary Williams), Howard da Silva (Cavanaugh), Ed Begley (Warden Haynes), Dan Riss (George Armstrong), Roy Roberts (Charles DeHaven), Whit Bissell (Sam Wallace), Armando Silvestre (Indian Joe), James Arness (Russell), Richard Jaeckel (Nate), Frankie Darro (Rufe), Felipe Turich (Pete), Gene Evans (Shep), Richard Egan (Beale), Frank Fenton (Gilson), Emerson Treacy (Ben), Harry Tyler (Pap), Charles Evans (senate committee chairman), Ed Cassidy (sheriff), Jay Barney Zed), Eric Alden, Ralph Brooks (mail clerks), John L. Cason (Red Monte), Wheaton Chambers, Howard M. Mitchell (conductors), Chick Chandler (waiter), John Cliff, John Indrisano, Herbert Naish (guards), Ed East (blacksmith), Roy Engel (ticket seller), Captain Garcia, Jennings Miles (prisoners), Harold Goodwin, Guy Wilkerson (cowboys), Charles McAvoy (spectator), Forrest Matthews (Edmund), Grandon Rhodes (Senator Dowell), Frank Richards (prison contact), Harry Wilson (losing bettor), Frankie Van (referee), Tony Roux (Mexican proprietor), and Forbes Murray, Edward Rickard, Sayre Dearing, Fred Aldrich.
Narrated by Gerald Mohr.
Director: REGINALD LeBORG. Screenplay: Harry Essex, Leonard Lee. Story: Robert Hardy Andrews. Photography in Color by Technicolor by Russell Metty. Film editor: Edward Curtiss. Music director: Joseph Gershenson. Art directors: Bernard Herzbrun, Hilyard Brown. Set decorators: Russell A. Gausman and John Austin. Costumes designed by Bill Thomas. Make- up: Bud Westmore, assisted by Gene Hibbs. Hair styles: Joan St Oegger, assisted by Helen Turpin. Technicolor color consultant: William Fritzsche. Songs: "Endlessly" (Smith) by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent; "Take Me To Town" (chorus) by Dan Shapiro and Lester Lee. Choreographer: Harold Belfer. Camera operator: Philip H. Lathrop. Still photographs: Max Nippell. Grip: Dean Paup. Continuity girl: Dorothy Hughes. Assistant director: Ronnie Rondell. Production manager: Jack Gertsman. Sound recording: Leslie I. Carey and Frank Moran. Western Electric Sound Recording. Producer: Aubrey Schenck.
Copyright 4 October 1950 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. A Universal-International Picture. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 21 October 1950. U.K. release: 20 November 1950. Australian release: 28 December 1950. 87 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Post office trains are threatened by well-organized outlaws.
NOTES: Switching from Warner Brothers, this film marked Alexis Smith's first venture under her Universal contract.
COMMENT: A top western in all departments. Most entertaining, richly produced, excitingly staged, reasonably suspenseful, handsomely photographed and gorgeously costumed, it also boasts a fascinating cast of interesting players.
Even Reginald LeBorg's direction ranks way above his usual level of so-so competence.
Naturally, train buffs will be in seventh heaven, but I also enjoyed all the telegraph lore, the awesome natural scenery, the lavish period props and interiors, the well-honed music score, not to mention the peppery dialogue and novel bits of business, plus the action, fights, hard riding and stunts.
Narrated by Gerald Mohr.
Director: REGINALD LeBORG. Screenplay: Harry Essex, Leonard Lee. Story: Robert Hardy Andrews. Photography in Color by Technicolor by Russell Metty. Film editor: Edward Curtiss. Music director: Joseph Gershenson. Art directors: Bernard Herzbrun, Hilyard Brown. Set decorators: Russell A. Gausman and John Austin. Costumes designed by Bill Thomas. Make- up: Bud Westmore, assisted by Gene Hibbs. Hair styles: Joan St Oegger, assisted by Helen Turpin. Technicolor color consultant: William Fritzsche. Songs: "Endlessly" (Smith) by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent; "Take Me To Town" (chorus) by Dan Shapiro and Lester Lee. Choreographer: Harold Belfer. Camera operator: Philip H. Lathrop. Still photographs: Max Nippell. Grip: Dean Paup. Continuity girl: Dorothy Hughes. Assistant director: Ronnie Rondell. Production manager: Jack Gertsman. Sound recording: Leslie I. Carey and Frank Moran. Western Electric Sound Recording. Producer: Aubrey Schenck.
Copyright 4 October 1950 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. A Universal-International Picture. New York opening at Loew's Criterion: 21 October 1950. U.K. release: 20 November 1950. Australian release: 28 December 1950. 87 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Post office trains are threatened by well-organized outlaws.
NOTES: Switching from Warner Brothers, this film marked Alexis Smith's first venture under her Universal contract.
COMMENT: A top western in all departments. Most entertaining, richly produced, excitingly staged, reasonably suspenseful, handsomely photographed and gorgeously costumed, it also boasts a fascinating cast of interesting players.
Even Reginald LeBorg's direction ranks way above his usual level of so-so competence.
Naturally, train buffs will be in seventh heaven, but I also enjoyed all the telegraph lore, the awesome natural scenery, the lavish period props and interiors, the well-honed music score, not to mention the peppery dialogue and novel bits of business, plus the action, fights, hard riding and stunts.
Excellent western-crime caper
coltras3526 May 2021
Stephen McNally plays Steve Davis, who's working undercover for the U. S. government, trying to infiltrate and bring down a gang robbing brand-new mail trains. Congress is threatening to cut off funding for the trains if the rampant theft cannot be stopped.
Alexis Smith is a glamorous saloon singer Steve falls for, but she isn't just a mere romantic addition; she has a major role in the film.
A thoroughly entertaining Universal western that successfully mixes western genre with a crime thriller, has fantastic scenery, and telegraphing, and leaping off the pole and into a river! (Great scene). The mystery big boss behind the fiendish gang is revealed at the end, and though you would probably guess who it is, the suspense and the breakneck pace just sucks you in. There's a fantastic bad guy hideout. And there's the fantastic looking trains, all captured in gorgeous technicolour.
And Alexis sings a nice song, and looks fetching in her gowns (No wonder Errol married her).
Alexis Smith is a glamorous saloon singer Steve falls for, but she isn't just a mere romantic addition; she has a major role in the film.
A thoroughly entertaining Universal western that successfully mixes western genre with a crime thriller, has fantastic scenery, and telegraphing, and leaping off the pole and into a river! (Great scene). The mystery big boss behind the fiendish gang is revealed at the end, and though you would probably guess who it is, the suspense and the breakneck pace just sucks you in. There's a fantastic bad guy hideout. And there's the fantastic looking trains, all captured in gorgeous technicolour.
And Alexis sings a nice song, and looks fetching in her gowns (No wonder Errol married her).
Undercover agent
searchanddestroy-123 July 2023
I watched it because it was from Universal studios and also directed by Reginald LeBorg, whom I did not comment so many films from him so far. It is a good effective western starring Stephen McNally for once in a good guy character, an undrcover agent to nail a gang of outlaws. As you see, nothing exceptional here. No surprise at all. I would have prefered Mc Nally as a gang leader, but Howard De Silva could not be an undercover agent. It would not have matched at all. I don't even speak of Ed Begley. Good sequences though, good production design, this western was a small budget one, OK, but not PRC or Monogram either, so the lack of budget did not justify some flaws explained by a lack of care from the director and not the production.
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