''The Lost Special'' is a 1932 American

Pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

movie serial A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...

based on the 1898 short story "

The Lost Special "The Story of the Lost Special", sometimes abbreviated to "The Lost Special", is a mystery short story by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in ''The Strand Magazine'' in August 1898. A minor character in the story is possibly implied to be Doyle ...

" by

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Ho ...

. This adaptation deleted all references to Doyle's

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

character, and moved events to the

American Old West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

. 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 eradicate 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. Cliff-hanger endings include a runaway car sailing off a cliff into a lake, the heroine's car crashing headlong into an oncoming train and our heroes being trapped by rising water in a dungeon.

Cast

Frank Albertson Francis Healey Albertson (February 2, 1909 – February 29, 1964) was an American actor who had supporting roles in films such as ''It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946) and '' Psycho'' (1960). Early life Albertson was a native of Fergus Falls ...

as Tom Hood, son of Potter Hood *

Ernie Nevers Ernest Alonzo Nevers (June 11, 1902 – May 3, 1976), sometimes known by the nickname "Big Dog", was an American football and baseball player and football coach. Widely regarded as one of the best football players in the first half of the 20th ...

as Bob Collins, Tom's friend. *

Cecilia Parker Cecilia Parker (April 26, 1914 – July 25, 1993) was a Canadian-born American film actress. She was best known for portraying Marian Hardy, the sister of Andy Hardy in eleven of the Andy Hardy film series. Early life and career Cecilia ...

as Betty Moore, Reporter and niece of Horace Moore * Francis Ford as Potter Hood, part owner of the Golconda gold mine *

J. Frank Glendon J. Frank Glendon (October 25, 1886 – March 17, 1937) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1915 and 1936. He was born in Choteau, Montana, and died in Hollywood, California. Selected filmography * '' Canni ...

as Sam Slater, part owner of the Golconda gold mine *

Frank Beal Frank Beal (September 11, 1862 – December 20, 1934) was an American actor and film director of the silent film era. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1862, Beal began acting in 1880 and gained fame as a director and an actor. In 1908, ...

as Horace Moore, owner of the

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

Caryl Lincoln Caryl Lincoln (November 16, 1903 – February 20, 1983) was an American film actress whose career spanned from 1927 to 1964. Biography The Oakland, California-born Lincoln started her acting career in silent films. In 1927, she signed a l ...

as Kate Bland, friend of Betty Moore *

Tom London Tom London (born Leonard T. Clapman; August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to ''The Guinness Book of Movie Records'', London is credited with appearing in the most films in ...

as Dirk/Detective Dane * Al Ferguson as Gavin * Jack Clifford as Doran *

Edmund Cobb Edmund Fessenden Cobb (June 23, 1892 – August 15, 1974) was an American actor who appeared in more than 620 films between 1912 and 1966. Biography Cobb was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of William Henry Cobb and Eddie (Edmundi ...

as Spike *

Joe Bonomo Joe Bonomo is an American essayist and music writer. Life Bonomo was born and raised in Wheaton, Maryland. He graduated from University of Maryland (BA) and Ohio University (MA and PhD). His books include ''No Place I Would Rather Be: Roger Ang ...

as Joe *

George Magrill George Magrill (January 5, 1900 – May 31, 1952) was an American film actor who appeared in more than 320 films between 1923 and 1952. Magrill performed on stage before he began to work in films. Besides his acting, Magrill worked as a s ...

as Lefty *

Reb Russell Ewell Albert "Reb" Russell (March 12, 1889 – September 30, 1973) was an American Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Career MLB Russell was drafted by the White Sox as a pitcher in 1912. In his ...

as one of Bob's college pals

Stunts

George DeNormand George DeNormand (1903 – 1976) was an American actor and stuntman. DeNormand was an amateur middleweight boxer in the 1920s. He was a prolific though often uncredited actor and stunt double in movies such as ''The Raven'' and ''Bride of Fran ...

Production

The advertising for the serial stated: ''The Lost Special'' was Universal's 84th serial. In terms of Universal's serials in the sound era, it was the 16th. The series was written by veteran Universal serial writers Ella O'Neill,

Basil Dickey Basil Dickey (November 23, 1880 – June 17, 1958) was an American screenwriter. He wrote for more than 140 films between 1916 and 1958. He was born in Illinois and died in Long Beach, California. His brother was playwright and screenwrite ...

, George Morgan, and

George H. Plympton George H. Plympton (September 2, 1889 – April 11, 1972) was an American screenwriter. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. A prolific screenwriter, Plympton collaborated in almost 300 films. His earliest known credits date back to 1912 a ...

. The director was Henry MacRae. By the time he directed ''The Lost Special'', MacRae had directed more than 100 short films and feature films.

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:

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lost Special, The 1932 films 1932 adventure films American mystery films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films based on short fiction Films based on works by Arthur Conan Doyle Universal Pictures film serials Films directed by Henry MacRae Films about train robbery 1930s mystery films American adventure films Films with screenplays by George H. Plympton 1930s American films