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From Universal pictures came this exciting,rousing action-packed western serial featuring a really likable and easy-going Lon Chaney Jr. as the tough hero.

Chaney plays a western lawman who is commissioned by military officials to discover the reasons behind the delay of frontier mails,the destruction of pony-express equipment, and the killings of express riders and stage-men. With his two pals,amiably portrayed by Noah Beery Jr. and Don Terry,Chaney heads to the frontier express company and quickly finds out outlaws disguised as Indian braves are the cause of the trouble. The mystery (made apparent to viewers) is to find out who is behind the destruction and why.

Action fans will not be disappointed as the story unfolds through 15 cliff-hanging chapters with plenty of gun play,fistfights,stampedes,prairie fires,double-dealing,betrayal and everything else one could want in a western serial.

Both Chaney and Beery Jr. seem like natural horsemen and seem very comfortable with their roles. And Noah Beery Sr. has a wonderful role opposite his son. Viewers will also enjoy substantial roles played by longtime veterans Charles Stevens (as the wiley Puma)and veteran heavy Harry Cording.

True,historical officianadoes may balk at the prescence of the pony express still in operation at a later date but, it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the film.

Directors Ford Beebe and John Rawlins film some of their best work here and the musical title themes are worth remembering.

Directed by veteran film-maker Crane Wilbur this rousing prison story is based on actual events that occurred at the Canon City penitentiary in Colorado in 1947.Newcomer Scott Brady is excellent as a convict who,caught up in events, must join in with eleven other escapees.As the fast-paced film-noir unfolds,each event is chronicled by that wonderful narrator Reed Hadley in semi-documentary fashion.A fine cast of character actors round out the cast; Jeff Corey as the ruthless convict leader,Stanley Clements,Robert Bice,and ( against type) Whit Bissell as a nervous killer.Actress Mabel Paige is particularly good as a very brave housewife.This film is another great example of Eagle-Lion pictures during that corporation's short run.

In another of John Barrymore's bizarre characterizations the great actor portrays a club-footed itinerant puppeteer who rescues an abused boy from vile existence,recognizes the lad's incredible of agility and footwork and begins to train the youngster to be a "new" Nijinsky.Years go by,the boy reaches manhood,and Barrymore the impresario of a successful ballet company.But when the ballet dancer begins to have ideas of his own,falls in love with pretty Marian Marsh,Barrymore,consumed with madness and jealousy attempts to manipulate their lives leading to shocking results. This extraordinary film oscillates between intriguing drama and moments of near horror with Barrymore in masterly control of his human puppets. Boris Karloff is the boy's monstrous father and Luis Alberni stands out as the drug-addicted ballet director.Magnificent direction by Michael Curtiz