The Lost Special (serial)
| The Lost Special | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Henry MacRae |
| Produced by | Henry MacRae |
| Written by |
Ella O'Neill George Morgan George H. Plympton Basil Dickey Arthur Conan Doyle (original story) |
| Starring |
Frank Albertson Ernie Nevers Cecilia Parker Caryl Lincoln |
| Cinematography | John Hickson |
| Edited by |
Alvin Todd Edward Todd |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
 5 December 1932 |
Running time | 12 chapters (240 min) |
| Country |
United States |
| Language | English |
The Lost Special (1932) is a Universal movie serial based on the story The Lost Special by Arthur Conan Doyle. This adaptation does not include Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes, and moves events to the American West.
This was the 84th serial (and the 16th serial with sound) to be released by Universal.
Plot overview
A special train carrying gold bullion is hijacked on its way from the Golconda Mine. Laying down portable tracks, the bandits take the train off the main line, hide it in an abandoned mine shaft, steal the gold, and pick up their makeshift tracks, leaving a mystery in their wake. Part owner of the mine, Potter Hood, and the railroad president, Horace Moore, search for the mysteriously disappeared train and gold. They are unaware, however, that the criminals are working secretly for Sam Slater, the other partner in the gold mine, who wants to sabotage mine operations enough that he can take over completely. Potter's son, Tom Hood, arrives home from college and determines to solve the mystery with the aid of his pal Bob Collins. They board the gold-shipment special train on its next run. Meanwhile, newspaper reporter Betty Moore – who is niece to the railroad president – and her friend Kate Bland begin their own investigation. After the four youths foil an attempt at a second heist, they join forces. The next 11 chapters show the characters' attempts to locate the "Lost Special" train and identify the ringleader.[1]
As is typical in serial films, each episode ends on a cliff-hanger. For example: the two girls are driving in a car along a road that parallels the speeding train, when a henchman's revolver shatters the windshield of Betty's car, blinding her and sending her car toward the on-rushing train. Other cliff-hanger endings include a runaway car sailing off the cliff into a lake and our heroes being trapped by rising water in a dungeon.[1]
Cast
- Frank Albertson as Tom Hood, son of Potter Hood
- Ernie Nevers as Bob Collins, Tom's friend.
- Cecilia Parker as Betty Moore, Reporter and niece of Horace Moore
- Francis Ford as Potter Hood, part owner of the Golconda gold mine
- J. Frank Glendon as Sam Slater, part owner of the Golconda gold mine
- Frank Beal as Horace Moore, owner of the railroad
- Caryl Lincoln as Kate Bland, friend of Betty Moore
- Tom London as Dirk/Detective Dane
- Al Ferguson as Gavin
- Jack Clifford as Doran
- Edmund Cobb as Spike
- Joe Bonomo as Joe
- George Magrill as Lefty
- Harold Nelson as Professor Wilson
One of the leading man, Ernie Nevers, was an American Football star.[2] Another sports star, Reb Russell, was cast in the role of "One of Bob's College Pals."
Stunts
- George DeNormand
- George Magrill
Production
The advertising for the serial stated:
"Another BIG-AUTHOR serial from the same studios that gave you Peter B. Kyne's Heroes of the West and Talbot Mundy's Jungle Mystery""Terrifically fast, tremendously thrilling, and packed right with the sort of mystery that only the touch of a master writer can give!"[2]
"12 CHAPTERS OF TERRIFIC THRILLS and MYSTERY"[3]
The Lost Special was Universal's 84th serial. In terms of Universal's serials in the sound era, it was the 16th.[4][5]
The series was written by veteran Universal serial writers Basil Dickey, Ella O'Neill, George Morgan, and George Plympton. These scenarists specialized in believable, likable characters and snappy dialogue that enhances the story.[1]
The director was Henry MacRae. By the time he directed The Lost Special, MacRae had directed more than 100 short films and feature films.[6]
Chapter titles
- The Lost Special
- Racing Death
- The Red Lantern
- Devouring Flames
- The Lighting Strikes
- The House of Mystery
- The Tank Room Terror
- The Fatal Race
- Into the Depths
- The Jaws of Death
- The Flaming Forest
- Retribution
Source:[7]
Each of the 12 chapters ran 20 minutes, for a total series screen time of 240 minutes.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blake, Jerry. "The Lost Special". The Files of Jerry Blake, Operator 99. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "5. Real Life Heroes "Just Strangle the Lion in Your Usual Way"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ↑ "Taglines for The Lost Special (1932)". the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). IMDb.com. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ "Watch The Lost Special Free Online". Online Video Guide. OVGuide. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Lost Special (1932)". the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). IMDb.com. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ "Henry MacRae (1876–1944)". the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). IMDb.com. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 207. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
External links
| Preceded by The Jungle Mystery (1932) |
Universal Serial The Lost Special (1932) |
Succeeded by Clancy of the Mounted (1933) |