El correo de la muerte

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.

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.

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.

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

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.