alan-pratt
Villainous Ransome (Kenneth MacDonald) doesn't want the railroad to be built - at least, not until he wins the contract - and employs a formidable army of B western baddies (Ingram, King, Jolley, Chesebro, Osborne etc.)to carry out his wicked wiles.Standing in his way is resolute mountie, Sergeant Mack MacLane (Robert Stevens): he is shot, crushed, blown up (at least twice), set on fire, tipped over a cliff and subjected to just about every form of near death happening known to serialdom but, of course, emerges triumphant! This is not, it must be said, a classic serial but it is lively and fast moving. Stevens looks the part but is no great shakes as an actor - he tends to bellow his lines in a monotone - but there is a neat performance from pretty Nell O'Day as the factor's daughter and a wonderfully hammy one from Forrest Taylor as the whining Preacher Hinsdale.There's also a nice visual effect with the off/on waterfall which covers the entrance to the bad guys' secret hideout!
