ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE

Judd Holdren and Leonard Nimoy

ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE (12 chapter Republic serial/1952.) Director: Fred C. Brannon. 

Marex (Lane Bradford) has come from the dying planet Mars to plant bombs that will knock earth out of its orbit so that Mars can take its place. Marex has enlisted the help of two earth thugs -- Roth (John Crawford) and Shane (Ray Boyle) -- who somehow think it's not only okay that everyone on earth but them will die, but that they will spend the rest of their days on Mars. Marex also has a Martian helpmate on earth named Narab, who is played by a 21-year-old Leonard Nimoy, and there is a traitorous earth scientist named Dr. Harding (Stanley Waxman), who is helping him build a hydrogen bomb. Narab has a conscience, and Nimoy displays some ability in his unusual role. 

Judd Holdren

Battling Marex and his boys are Larry Martin (Judd Holdren), who wears the rocket man outfit from King of the Rocket Men, and his associates Bob Wilson (Wilson Wood), and Sue Davis (Aline Towne), as well as their rocketship pilot, Dick (Gayle Kellogg). Chapter four has a bunch of bad cowboys trying to get away with some uranium for Marex, while a large metal robot robs a bank in chapter five -- there are subsequent lively scenes with the robot. The following chapter has an underwater knife fight, and in one of the best cliffhangers Sue is pulled off a dock and into deep water when a rope with an anchor attached is wound around her ankle in chapter seven. Roy Barcroft and Tom Steele have smaller roles. 

Verdict: Zombies of the Stratosphere is another fun, fast-paced Republic serial. ***.