Shortly after completing "Eyes of the Underworld," Lon Chaney was hard at work throughout April 1942 on "Overland Mail," the last of his 7 serials, coming full circle from his first, 1932's "The Last Frontier," in that he again plays the heroic lead. His previous Universal serial, "Riders of Death Valley," found him cast as a white clad villain, while here he's the black clad Jim Lane, battling against villainous Noah Beery Sr., who is trying to put the Overland Mail company out of business so he can score a huge payday. Chaney was again working with old friend Noah Beery Jr. (their third serial together), with the added stature of Beery Sr., plus leading lady Helen Parrish, fresh faced ingénue of RKO's "You'll Find Out," one of Lon's most appealing co-stars (Noah Jr. would also play a part in "Frontier Badmen" and "The Daltons Ride Again"). 15 chapters may seem a bit much perhaps, but Chaney is finally the star of a Western, not the main villain or some secondary henchman, and it's a shame that no future Westerns saw fit to have him play the lead. This was also a rare instance where Universal restored the 'Jr.' to Chaney's name, repeated only one other time for the one reel short "Keeping Fit."
Review of Overland Mail
