FEDERAL OPERATOR 99

Lorna Gray and George J. Lewis

FEDERAL OPERATOR 99 (12-chapter Republic serial/1945). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Richard Cherwin; Yakima Canutt. Colorized. 

Two determined men are out to get one another. On on side is crime lord Jim Belmont (George J. Lewis of Radar Patrol vs. Spy King) -- with his female partner Rita Parker (Lorna Gray of Flying G-Men) -- and on the other is Jerry Blake (Marten Lamont), aka Federal Operator 99, who is out to stymie everyone of his schemes with the help of feisty "secretary" Joyce Kingston (Helen Talbot). Jim is supposedly a great lover of classical music, but the only piece he ever plays is "Moonlight Sonata." In addition to Rita, he's got Farrell (Hal Taliaferro) and other gunsels working for him, while Jerry has agent Fred Martin (William Stevens). 

Jerry (Marten Lamont) in disguise

Federal Operator 99 is practically a textbook case of how a cliffhanger serial should be handled. The actors play with enthusiasm, the stunt work and fight scenes (with virtually every stick of furniture being smashed) are excellent, there are several outstanding cliffhangers, and the exciting pace never flags. Poor Joyce is nearly cremated at one point, and has a huge propeller heading in her direction at another. Jerry is caught in a room with bars and fiery flame jets and engages in lively fisticuffs with Tom Steele (who plays several roles). There's a highly suspenseful business involving a bomb at a barn door. Joyce and Rita have a "catfight" in the cab of a speeding truck, with the former throwing the latter out on her keister. And there's a thrilling climax in an abandoned theater where our villains come to their richly-deserved fates. This version is colorized and eliminates the opening and closing credits of each chapter. Sometimes we see our heroes escaping a doom trap before we see the trap itself, but this is a minor problem.  

Verdict: Outstanding serial is great fun and even better in color. ***1/2.  

FEDERAL OPERATOR 99

Marten  Lamont and Helen Talbot

FEDERAL OPERATOR 99 (12 chapter Republic serial/1945). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Wallace Grissell; Yakima Canutt.

Master criminal Jim Belmont (George J. Lewis) who loves classical music but only seems to play "Moonlight Sonata," has a number of decidedly anti-social money-making schemes in which people are kidnapped, threatened, and even tortured for information. (The owner of a Stradivarius is told he'll have his fingers crushed if he doesn't hand it over!)  Fortunately special federal operative 99, Jerry Blake (Marten Lamont), is out to stop Belmont any way he can. In this he is assisted by the gun-carrying Joyce Kingston (Helen Talbot,) who is far more than a mere "secretary." Belmont also has a female helpmate, a sadistic creature named Rita (Lorna Gray of Exposed), not to mention a chief assistant named Matt Farrell (Hal Taliaferro). Jay Novello [Atlantis the Lost Continent], "Mr. Versatile," plays a crooked jeweler.

Joyce and Rita have at each other! 

In addition to some great fight scenes, the serial boasts some splendid cliffhangers: Joyce is nearly incinerated when she is locked in a cabinet; a car crashes through a high floor with Jerry out on a ledge; Joyce goes over a cliff in a runaway laundry basket etc. The best and most horrifying cliffhanger has Joyce tied up in an aircraft factory while a huge propeller moves inexorably down a track directly towards her. Rita is broken out of jail in a clever fashion, and has a cat-fight with Joyce, who simply throws her out of a truck! At one point nasty Rita even threatens a countess by holding a cigarette lighter near her face. What a witch! Of the players, British Lamont is appealing and plays well with the feisty Talbot. George J. Lewis plays with restraint but there are times you wish he was a little over-the-top; Lorna Gray is more on the mark. 

Verdict: Federal Operator 99 is a remarkably entertaining serial with lots of action and interesting incidents throughout. ***1/2.