El correo de la muerte

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.

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.

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.

I have never heard of Director Reginald LeBorg but from a quick glance at his IMDB bio, I surmise that he did not do anything particularly memorable.

Exactly the same description for the screenplay by Essex and Lee: no dialogue to remember for too long.

The things that stayed on my mind: Stephen McNally, a very fine supporting thespian, here a lead who delivers credibly, especially in the company of lovely Alexis Smith; and Armando Silvestre as Indian Joe, wearing moccasins that change from white to near black and back to white all in the same run on the mountain.

Howard da Silva also stands out as one of the baddies, though not the kingpin, and James Arness for once plays a villain instead of goody two shoes Dillon.

Competent cinematography by Russell Metty, unobtrusive landscapes here and there, some gripping bits of action in between slower stretches. Not a waste of time, though - as indicated at the start - nothing to remember for long. 7/10.

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).