THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI

Robert Bice and Keith Richards as Frank and Jesse James

THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI (12 chapter Republic serial/1949. Director: Fred C. Brannon. 

Frank and Jesse James (Robert Bice of Captive Women and Keith Richards) only want to forget their past, go straight, and live their lives in peace. They are befriended by Lon Royer (John Hamitlon), a former member of the James Gang, and his daughter, Peg (Noel Neill), who are running a freight business in the town of Rimrock. Unfortunately, Ace Marlin (Roy Barcroft of Manhunt of Mystery Island), who is running a rival business, wants to obliterate the competition and murders Lon. Marlin's silent partner, who pretends to befriend the grieving Peg, is Belle Calhoun (Patricia Knox), who owns the general store. Frank and Jesse, masquerading as Peg's cousins, John Howard and Carroll, do everything they can to help Peg and her business, and counteract the increasingly violent and sinister actions of Marlin. 

Roy Barcroft and Patricia Knox

The James Brothers of Missouri is the third and last of the three Jesse James serials produced by Republic Pictures. Clayton Moore was Jesse in the first two serials, and while Richards is fine as Jesse James, Moore is still missed. Neill appeared in the previous serial, The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, but she plays a different character this time. This is also true of Roy Barcroft, who is very adept in his villainy. Patricia Knox is also quite credible as a woman who seems to have a heart of gold but is really as nasty and manipulative as any hooker-hard gun moll. Lane Bradford [The Invisible Monster], Tom Steele, and Marshall Reed are familiar serial stalwarts who play various thugs in Marlin's employ. 

Keith Richards

The acting in this is fine, but Fred C. Brannon, who often co-directed these serials, proves that he has as assured a sole directorial hand as any other Republic fixture. The serial moves at a brisk pace and features some thrilling chase sequences, as well as cliffhangers in which Jesse is unconscious in the back of a runaway wagon, which blows up, and Peg is nearly scalded by acid. In this serial, Frank and Jesse are not anything like the real desperadoes, who were thugs, unrepentant criminals, and who even attacked and murdered civilian abolitionists. The story that they robbed the rich and gave to the poor like Robin Hood is also a load of crap. Keith Richards amassed nearly 200 credits, most of them on television or in bit parts in the movies. He played a drunken saloon patron in Jesse James Rides Again, then played Jesse himself -- a rare starring part -- two serials later. 

Verdict: The "heroes" in this weren't really heroes, but the serial is good and exciting western fun. ***. 

THE INVISIBLE MONSTER

Richard Webb

THE INVISIBLE MONSTER (12 chapter Republic serial/1950). Director: Fred C. Brannon.

A man who calls himself the Phantom Ruler (Stanley Price) is determined to take over the nation with an invisible army. He already wears a black cloak which makes him disappear under a certain kind of light. Now he has enlisted the often unwilling aid of illegal immigrants who work in various disciplines. PR and his thuggish helpmates -- who are almost constantly outwitted by handsome insurance agent Lane Carson (Richard Webb) -- try various means to get money and chemicals. Along the way Lane and his pretty assistant Carol (Aline Towne of Radar Men from the Moon) face danger at every turn. 

Stanley Price and Douglas Evans

There is no suspense over the identity of the Phantom Ruler because he is unmasked in chapter one, although his actual name or occupation is never revealed. However, the serial itself does work up some suspense over how Lane and Carol will finally capture the elusive mastermind. The couple are nearly immolated by a stream of gasoline and a fiery truck explosion in chapter two, and are trapped by a river of fire in a mine in chapter five. In chapter seven Lane is tied to a railroad hand-car loaded with explosives and sent hurtling toward an express train as Carol tries to prevent the collision with her automobile. In chapter eight Lane manages to free himself from a pit below a trapdoor when the house above is set on fire. 

Richard Webb takes aim

Lane has a condescending attitude when he first finds out that a woman is to be his partner. "Isn't this an unusual job for a woman?" he sniffs. However, he is eventually won over by Carol's courage and aptitude. Webb [Captain Midnight] makes the perfect serial hero, stalwart, strong, square-jawed, and both "dreamy" and heroic in bearing and appearance. Towne is also capable as a serial leading lady, although she is less colorful than others. Price underplays his role of despicable monster and manages to be convincing if unexciting. Lane Bradford [Zombies of the Stratosphere] is sneeringly effective as the chief thug in the Phantom Ruler's employ. John Crawford is his helpmate, and the "foreigners" forced to help them include John Hamilton, Douglas Evans [The Crimson Key], Dale Van Sickel and George Meeker. Tom Steele and Marshall Reed, both of whom were in very many serials, also make appearances on opposite sides. Stanley Wilson's excellent score expertly compliments the action -- and there is plenty of it in this exciting serial. 

Verdict: Despite the absence of an unknown archenemy and flying, costumed hero, this is still a fun cliffhanger serial. ***. 

G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON

Nino Pipitone as Haruchi

G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON (15 chapter Republic serial/1943). Director: William Witney.

Haruchi (Nino Pipitone), the head of a Japanese society called the Black Dragons, is smuggled into the U.S.A. in a mummy case. There, with his deadly black raven at his side, he orders his henchmen. including Ranga (Noel Cravat), to commit various acts of sabotage, including setting fire to ships at sea. Haruchi is fond of sending men through a trapdoor to their doom, which comes at the beak and claws of his poisonous raven. His mission is to destroy the Occidental fools and take over the world for his people.

Rod Cameron as Rex Bennett

Haruchi's mission is imperiled by the brave actions of G-Man Rex Bennett (Rod Cameron), who is assisted by the equally brave British agent Vivian Marsh (Constance Worth) and Chinese agent Chang Sing (Roland Got). Vivian is as rugged and courageous as any man, throwing herself into battle at the drop of a hat and blasting away with a machine gun at one point. She is locked in a cabinet and nearly immolated in a room set on fire, affixed to a log heading towards a buzz saw, and tied to a chair with a huge spear aimed at her! As for Rex, he falls out of a skyscraper window, saving himself with a fire hose, crashes in a stolen robot plane, and nearly goes over a dam in a speedboat (a cliffhanger used repeatedly by Republic ever after). 

Constance Worth and Roland Got

Stalwart Cameron, feisty Worth and energetic Got are all fine in their roles. Nino Pipitone betrays his Italian accent now and then but offers a restrained and dignified -- if unexciting -- portrait of the nasty leader of the Black Dragons, but he is nevertheless effective. There is some astounding "choreography" in this as good guys battle bad guys in furious fights and their whirling dervish-like fisticuffs result in tons of smashed furniture -- nothing is unscathed! Mort Glickman's music score backs up every bit of action -- and there is a lot of it -- in a way that increases the thrills. I am not comparing director William Witney to Hitchcock, but there is a similarity in the brisk tight cutting of the film and a judicious use of close-ups. 

Made during WW2, the film understandably makes the villains either Japanese or Caucasian traitors, but there was a certain courage in having a Chinese-American actor playing one of the good guys. Born in San Francisco, Got appeared in 19 films but died much too young at age 32. Constance Worth was an Australian actress, and this was probably her largest role. The same is true of Nino Pipitone, as most of his roles were uncredited bit parts. The first chapter of this serial is entitled "The Yellow Peril" while chapter six is amusingly called "Death and Destruction!" of which there is plenty. Rod Cameron also played Rex Bennett in the serial Secret Service in Darkest Africa, which is not as good as this. Stuntman Tom Steele is not listed in the credits but he has two small speaking parts in the movie. Other familiar faces are John Hamilton, George J. Lewis, and Ken Terrell [Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman]. 

Verdict: Fast and furious, this is one of the most exciting Republic serials ever. ***1/2.