THE PURPLE MONSTER STRIKES

Dennis Moore and Linda Stirling

THE PURPLE MONSTER STRIKES (15-chapter Republic serial/1945). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Fred C. Brannon. Colorized. 

A malevolent visitor from Mars who is inexplicably called the "Purple Monster" (Roy Barcroft) kills scientist Cyrus Layton (James Craven), and inhabits his corpse -- when he isn't in his own body -- as he goes about his deadly business. His main goal is to steal an interplanetary jet plane that will get him back to Mars so he can lead a major invasion force. Working against him are Layton's niece, Sheila (Linda Stirling, and agent Craig Foster (Dennis Moore). Working with the Purple Monster are would-be extortionist Hodge Garrett (Bud Geary) and -- briefly -- the Martian witch Marcia (Mary Moore), who tries to throw Sheila off of a cliff. 

Dennis Moore in a death trap

The Purple Monster Strikes is another lively Republic cliffhanger that moves at a breakneck pace, has an exciting musical score that bolsters every scene, action-packed fisticuffs in which every bit of furniture is broken as the antagonists literally hurl themselves at each other, and some memorable cliffhangers. Foster nearly falls to his death when a ladder is toppled in chapter one; a car in a garage plummets down onto the hero in chapter eight; and a clever phone trap has Foster nearly punctured by sharp rods when iron bars come down from the ceiling. Meanwhile Sheila nearly drowns when she falls into a room through a trapdoor, a room that rapidly fills with rushing water. 

Roy Barcroft and Bud Geary

However, if you're expecting logic be warned that it is not in great supply in this serial. For instance, in the aforementioned sequence there is simply no reason why a kindly professor would have such a secret room under the floor in his laboratory. The whole business with Tony (Anthony Warde), a supposedly blind associate of Garrett's, doesn't make much sense. The actors go through their paces with professionalism, although Stirling mostly seems bored. Handsome Moore is a stalwart hero, however. Craven and Barcroft show why they were both much in demand for serial action. John Davidson appears a couple of times as the Emperor of Mars, as does Ken Terrell as another bad guy. Stuntman and actor Bud Geary had nearly 300 credits in serials, westerns, and other types of movies, generally playing nasty gunsels. 

Verdict: Fun cliffhanger from Republic! ***. 

SON OF ZORRO

Zorro in action!

SON OF ZORRO (13-chapter Republic serial/1947). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Fred C. Brannon. Colorized version. 

In a post-Civil War period rancher Jeffrey Stewart (George Turner) returns to Box County and discovers that crooked politicians and their cronies have taken over. These include Judge Hyde (Ernie Adams), Sheriff Moody (Ed Cassidy), a desperado named Boyd (Roy Barcroft of Manhunt of Mystery Island), and others, all of whom report to a mysterious "Chief" behind the scenes. Jeff has two main allies: his foreman Pancho (Stanley Price of The Invisible Monster), and the post-mistress, Kate Wells (Peggy Stewart of When the Clock Strikes). These and others who are opposed to the plans of the Chief will have a tough time fighting off his sinister schemes. Pancho gives Jeff the idea of dressing up as his ancestor, the famous Zorro!

George Turner as Jeff Stewart

Son of Zorro is an exciting, well-made Republic serial with lots of action, lively well-choreographed fist fights, and a snappy musical score. George Turner is fine and appealing in the actor's only starring role, and the other cast members add some zest as well.  Memorable cliffhangers include a huge ore crusher that threatens to smush Kate; an avalanche caused by dynamite; our hero and Kate trapped by rushing water inside a cave; a wagon that hurtles off a cliff during a landslide; an inferno in the jail where Kate and Jeff are trapped; and others. Other familiar players in the serial include Ken Terrell and Tom Steele as bad guys. Price isn't entirely convincing as the Hispanic foreman, and the identity of the Chief comes as no great surprise. 

Verdict: Highly entertaining and fast-paced western serial. ***. 

DAUGHTER OF DON Q

Delores hangs on for dear life!

DAUGHTER OF DON Q (12-chapter Republic serial/1946). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Fred C. Brannon.

Delores Quantero (Lorna Gray appearing as Adrian Booth) is one of the descendants of the wealthy Don Quantero. She is unaware that a greedy and sociopathic cousin named Carlos Manning (LeRoy Mason) has learned that Quantero's heirs may be in for millions due to certain land grants. Manning wants all the money for himself and hires Mel Donovan (Roy Barcroft) to kill Delores and all of the others! With the aid of reporter Cliff Roberts (Kirk Alyn), Delores tries to warn her scattered relatives and keep herself alive during repeated attacks. 

Roy Barcroft corners Kirk Alyn

Daughter of Don Q is another exciting and snappy Republic serial with plenty of action, bone-crushing fist fights and some terrific cliffhangers, including Delores hanging onto a curtain for dear life, a huge pane of glass that threatens to become a guillotine, and a rail car loaded with explosives that is heading directly for a racing train. The climax on a bridge with Delores trapped inside a crate and dangling on the railing is absolutely thrilling! 

Verdict: Nifty Republic serial! ***. 

BATMAN AND ROBIN

The dynamic duo!

BATMAN AND ROBIN (15 chapter Columbia serial/1949). Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet. Colorized. 

Commissioner Gordon (Lyle Talbot) calls in Batman and Robin to help him with a sinister foe called the Wizard who uses a remote control device and can even turn himself invisible at times. Also investigating is reporter Vicki Vale (Jane Adams), who hangs out at the estate of always-tired Bruce Wayne (Robert Lowery) and his ward Dick (Johnny Duncan), and whose brother Jimmy (George Offerman Jr.) is a member of the Wizard's gang. Suspects as to the true identity of the Wizard include dyspeptic Professor Hammil (William Fawcett); radio announcer Barry Brown (Rick Vallin); private eye Dunne (Michael Whalen); and Hammil's valet, Carter (Leonard Penn). 

WHO is The Wizard? 

Batman and Robin is one of the best of Columbia's chapterplays, building up real suspense in the final chapters, and featuring exciting fight scenes, chases, and cliffhangers. Lowery and Duncan make a good pair of stalwart heroes, Adams is plucky and pretty, and even Lyle Talbot scores as the commissioner, with Offerman also effective as the ill-fated Jimmy. The Wizard is voiced quite well by Gerald Mohr (of Angry Red Planet). 

Verdict: Despite its obvious absurdities, this chapterplay really plays. ***1/4. 

THE MASKED MARVEL

The Masked Marvel (Tom Steele) drives into action!

THE MASKED MARVEL (12-chapter Republic serial/1943). Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet. Colorized. 

The Worldwide Insurance Company is being particularly hit hard by acts of sabotage committed by Mura Sakima (Johnny Arthur of The Ghost Walks) and his treasonous underling, "Killer" Mace (Anthony Warde) and others. When the head of Worldwide is murdered, his daughter, Alice (Louise Currie of The Crimson Key), is unaware that her late father's associate, Martin Crane (William Forrest of Spy Ship), is secretly working with Sakima. Four investigators come forward to help in the battle against Sakima: Jeffers (Richard Clarke); Morton (Bill Healy); Arnold (Rod Bacon); and Barton (David Bacon, no relation to Rod). One of these four is revealed to be the Masked Marvel at the very end, but throughout the serial the Marvel is actually played by stuntman Tom Steele. (Without the mask, Steele also plays one of Sakima's underlings, especially an assassin who stabs a cohort in the hospital before he can talk.)

Forrest, Currie and the 4 investigators

The Masked Marvel is one of the best Republic serials. Although there was at least one character in the comic books called the Masked Marvel, this one was invented by Republic studios. The business of hiding which of four men is the actual hero was borrowed from The Lone Ranger, as otherwise it seems a bit pointless. What matters is that Masked Marvel moves at a breathless pace, has one great action sequence after another, and features some highly entertaining cliffhangers: Alice placed beneath a freight elevator and about to be crushed; a truck that crashes through a warehouse wall; a bomb inside a briefcase that threatens everyone in the boardroom; the Masked Marvel using his wits and a clever rope trick to escape from another runaway truck; a thrilling business involving a hand car packed with explosives that is heading for a train carrying important war products. 

Bad guys: Forrest; Arthur; Warde

The furious, furniture-busting fisticuffs are fabulous, especially a fistfight between the Marvel and a gunsel in a warehouse. Louise Currie isn't much of an actress, but Johnny Arthur is a hoot as the nasty Japanese Sakima, spitting out his lines with an almost sublime contempt for everyone. Anthony Warde always scores as the cold-blooded chief hood who has no respect for human life or anything else. Other serial specialists who make appearances in this include Stanley Price of The Invisible Monster, Roy Barcroft of Manhunt of Mystery Island, and Ken Terrell of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and numerous cliffhangers. 

Verdict: Serial fans will love The Masked Marvel. ***1/4.