Western Mail (1942) Director: Robert Emmett Tansey Studio: Monogram Pictures Starring: Tom Keene, Fred Kohler Jr., Frank Yaconelli, LeRoy Mason, Jean Trent, Glenn Strange Release Date: February 13, 1942 Runtime: 54 minutes Format: Black-and-white, sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Western Summary: Lucky Webster, part of the Rivers gang, grows uneasy as their train robberies increasingly target U.S. mail shipments. Tom Allen, working undercover with Sheriff Big Bill Collins, collaborates to bring down the gang. Julia Webster worries about her brother’s welfare, while Lopez Mendoza provides comic relief as Tom’s trusty sidekick. Background: This low-budget Western was produced by Monogram Pictures, known for its prolific roster of B-movies during the 1930s and 1940s. Filmed in black-and-white, Western Mail runs just 54 minutes—typical of the era’s quick-paced genre flicks designed for double features. Robert Emmett Tansey, a frequent contributor to the Western B-film scene, not only directed but also contributed to the writing and production. Trivia: The film is in the public domain and is freely available to stream or download. It features a mix of drama and light humor, particularly through Frank Yaconelli’s character, who has been praised for bringing levity to the narrative. Hashtags: #WesternMail #TomKeene #RobertEmmettTansey #BWestern #MonogramPictures #PublicDomainWestern