The Lost Special (serial)

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.

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.

Cast

Stunts

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!"
"12 CHAPTERS OF TERRIFIC THRILLS and MYSTERY"

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, including Basil Dickey, George Morgan, and George Plympton. 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

1. The Lost Special
2. Racing Death
3. The Red Lantern
4. Devouring Flames
5. The Lighting Strikes
6. The House of Mystery
7. The Tank Room Terror
8. The Fatal Race
9. Into the Depths
10. The Jaws of Death
11. The Flaming Forest
12. Retribution

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Each of the 12 chapters ran 20 minutes, for a total series screen time of 240 minutes.