A STRANGE ADVENTURE

Marla English and Ben Cooper

A STRANGE ADVENTURE (1956). Director: William Witney. Colorized. 

Harold Norton (Ben Cooper) works in his mother's motel, where he falls under the spell of pretty alleged singer Lynn Novak (Marla English of Voodoo Woman). Two members of her combo arrive in town -- Al (Jan Merlin) and eternally sniffling Phil (Nick Adams) -- but they are actually there to pull off a robbery. Harold innocently winds up driving a getaway car, and the whole group hides out at a snowed-in mountain cabin where a brother and sister team (Joan Evans of The Walking Target and Peter Miller of The Delinquents) stay to do research for the electric company (?) Then it becomes a tense battle of wits between them and Harold on one side, the nasty Al and Phil on the other, with Lynn playing both sides against the middle. 

Nick Adams and Jan Merlin

The performances in A Strange Adventure help put the film over, with Merlin taking top honors as the sociopathic Al. Adams is also good, and Marla English does a more convincing job than usual. Cooper and Evans are reasonably appealing as the couple who seem to fall in love almost overnight. Director William Witney of serial fame keeps things moving, but can't quite overcome a minor-league script. The caper itself only takes a couple of minutes. Paul Smith of the perpetual hangdog expression plays the ill-fated Carl, who drives a payroll truck, and Ken Terrell shows up for a few seconds as a security guard. 

Verdict: Acceptable minor crime film from Republic. **1/4. 

CITY OF SHADOWS

Victor McLaglen and John Baer

CITY OF SHADOWS (1955). Director: William Witney. Colorized. 

Small-timer "Big Tim" Channing (Victor McLaglen) meets up with Dan Mason (John Baer of Guns Girls and Gangsters) when the latter is just 12-years-old and putting slugs in slot machines. The two form a bond and inspire each other until Tim becomes a big-time racketeer and Dan is about to graduate law school, using his and other's expertise to keep Tim out of jail. Dan changes his tune when he falls in love with Fern (Kathleen Crowley of The Flame Barrier), the daughter of a prominent lawyer whose brains Dan wanted to pick. He decides to help Tim go legit, but is unaware that Tim's associates are still playing it fast and loose. Before long Tim, Dan and Fern are all on the run from gangsters. 

Baer with Kathleen Crowley

City of Shadows tosses in a lot of over-familiar elements but the picture works because it's fast-paced and well-acted by all. McLaglen plays the usual Hollywood version of a gangster, all joviality and with a heart of gold, although this type is generally seen in comedies. Good-looking and adept, Baer displays leading man charisma and ability as Dan Mason, and Kathleen Crowley offers another one of her solid and effective portrayals. Others in the cast include Frank Ferguson [The Big Night] as the D.A., Anthony Caruso as another mobster, Richard Reeves as a bad-tempered gunsel, Richard Travis as an undercover agent, and June Vincent as a secretary to Mason when he starts his own insurance/security firm but who secretly reports to Caruso. The script for this could have come out of the thirties. Serial specialist William Witney keeps things moving, and there's an exciting climax and chase on a ski lift. 

Verdict: More than acceptable crime thriller with a good cast. ***. 

KING OF THE MOUNTIES

Allan Lane returns as Sgt. Dave King

KING OF THE MOUNTIES (12-chapter Republic serial/1942). Director: William Witney. Colorized version.

After the success of King of the Royal Mounted, Allan Lane was brought back as Sgt. Dave King of the RCMP in this new cliffhanger with even more formidable adversaries. A deadly triumvirate consisting of Japanese admiral Yamata (Abner Biberman); German Marshal Von Horst (Wilhelm von Brincken); and Italian Count Boroni (Nestor Paiva) are working behind the scenes to destroy Canada. Professor Brent (George Irving of Spy Ship) has invented a special device that can detect the activities of the Axis trio's "Falcon," a rocket-controlled aircraft which takes the group into their HQ inside an active volcano. Traitors working for the Axis include Blake (Bradley Page) and Harper (Douglass Dumbrille of The Catman of Paris), with Anthony Warde and Jay Novello on board for more nefarious activity. William Bakewell plays another Mountie and associate of King's, Peggy Drake is Brent's daughter, Carol, and Duncan Renaldo is Harper's right-hand Pierre. 

Axis trio: Paiva, Biberman and von Brincken

King of the Mounties is another exciting serial with Lane making the most of his role, and such memorable cliffhangers as a car exploding with Carol inside it; King being dropped right out of the bomb bay of the Falcon; planes colliding in mid-air; and a runaway car that smacks into King as he stands at the edge of a cliff. As usual, you can easily lose count of how many fist fights with broken furniture there are -- at least two in every chapter -- and there are plenty of chases and breathless escapes. The actors are all game as well. There's a splendid climax inside the exploding volcano where our villains come to a satisfying ending. 

Verdict: Fine follow-up to King of the Royal Mounted. ***. 

KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED

Allan Lane as Sgt. Dave King

KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED (12 chapter Republic serial/1940). Directors: John English; William Witney. Colorized version.

Tom Merritt (Stanley Andrews) has invented a serum, Compound X, that will help cure infantile paralysis, but he is unaware that his partner, Crandall (Bryant Washburn), is an enemy agent (of an unspecified nation) who wants to use the compound to make mines. Crandell, who watches as associate Garson (Harry Cording) murders Merritt, reports to a man named Kettler (Robert Strange). Tom Merritt's son, Tom Jr. (Robert Kellard) works with Sgt. Dave King (Allan Lane), whose father is Inspector King (Herbert Rawlinson) of the Canadian Royal Mounted. 

Kellard, Cording and Lane

Dave King and young Tom are unaware of Crandall's duplicity, but are perpetually endangered by the actions of Garson. Dave manages to survive a plane crash, and his father saves his life when he's tied to a buzzsaw and nearly dismembered, but unfortunately the elder King succumbs to a bullet. King of the Royal Mounted is based on a story (and subsequent comic strip) by Zane Grey. It is a fast-paced and entertaining serial, the first of two with Lane playing King, and the first of several serials about the Mounties. The climax takes place on an enemy submarine where Dave and Tom are to be blown out of the torpedo tubes, but one of them makes a heroic sacrifice to save the other. The entire cast give energetic and capable performances. 

Verdict: The Mounties get their man! ***. 

THE CRIMSON GHOST -- IN COLOR!

The Crimson Ghost in costume

THE CRIMSON GHOST (12 chapter Republic serial/1946). Directors: William Witney; Fred C. Brannon. Colorized. 

The Crimson Ghost, as he calls himself, is one of the members of a scientific committee and is employed by a foreign government. The Ghost is after a "cyclotrode," a device which can "instantly stop any electrically-controlled mechanism," which he uses more than once. His nasty helpmates include Ashe (Clayton Moore of G-Men Never Forget) and Bain (Rex Lease), and the Ghost also employs special collars that sap the will of victims, force them to commit criminal acts, and can even kill them from afar. Aiming to stop him are Duncan Richards (Charles Quigley of The Iron Claw) and his efficient assistant, Diana (Linda Stirling of The Purple Monster Strikes).  

Quigley and Stirling

The Crimson Ghost is a whirlwind Republic serial with a generally good musical score and reasonably adept performances. The true identity of the Ghost is kept secret until practically the final minute of the serial. There are some decent cliffhangers -- a room fills with poisoned gas; a rope is cut, causing Duncan to fall towards the street below; a car smashes into the wall of a boathouse etc. -- although virtually all of them are "cheats," with the characters always jumping out of the way in the last second. However, this doesn't matter as the furious fisticuffs, the extreme nastiness of the villain, and the sheer fun of the serial makes it a winner. As usual, the color adds a new, welcome dimension. 

Verdict: Can't keep that Ghost down! ***. 

UNDER CALIFORNIAN STARS

Roy Rogers 

UNDER CALIFORNIAN  STARS (1948). Director: William Witney. 

Roy Rogers is celebrating his tenth year in pictures and goes home to his ranch for a special radio broadcast. There he learns that his employee, Cookie (Andy Devine), has hired another of his relatives, Caroline (Jane Frazee) but at least this one is pretty. Roy also befriends a little lame boy, Ted (Michael Chapin), whose evil stepfather Lige (Wade Crosby), helps his employer, Pop (George Lloyd), kidnap Trigger for ransom. Ted doesn't tell Roy all that he knows for fear of reprisal, but helps save the day in the end. 

Rogers with Jane Frazee

This is an amiable Roy Rogers Western that benefits greatly from pleasing players and from a a score cobbled together from various sources and composers. Jane Frazee is appealing but perhaps not quite distinctive enough. Michael Chapin also went on to have a number of credits, mostly on television. The lovable Andy Devine gets a few laughs in this, and Trigger -- the only one billed above the title aside from Roy -- goes through his dramatic paces as well. Of course there are the Sons of the Pioneers and a few catchy songs, the best of which are "Dust" and the title tune.  

Verdict: Songs and sentiment plus the thrashing hooves of Trigger! **3/4. 

HELDORADO

A disheveled Roy Rogers after a fist fight 

HELDORADO (1946). Director: William Witney.

In this "modern" western, Nevada State Ranger Roy Rogers (Roy Rogers) nearly arrests Gabby Hayes (also playing himself) for putting up posters for the annual Las Vegas celebration and defacing government property. (Although the posters for the event all through the movie read "Helldorado" with two "l"s, the movie's title has only one "l" -- go figure!) Roy "meets cute" with heiress Carol Randall (Dale Evans), who is dating Alec Baxter (Brad Dexter) without knowing he's a crook helping to pass phony cash in the casinos. Carol has not only been made Queen of Helldorado -- or Heldorado -- but also an honorary deputy sheriff, and she annoys Roy by taking her duties too seriously, trying to find out who murdered Alec when his body is found with bullets in it. Which of them will get to the killer or killers first? And how many songs will Roy sing with or without the Sons of the Pioneers?

Brad Dexter as playboy Alec

Heldorado is certainly not an awful movie but I wish it had been more entertaining. Even serial specialist William Witney, who certainly knew how to pace a movie, can't do much with mediocre and over-familiar material. Like Rogers' voice, the songs are perfectly pleasant, although the title tune sounds as if it were ripped off from somewhere else. The best performance is probably from Brad Dexter as the amiable mountebank Alec. Paul Harvey (of Unmasked) is also effective as the deceptively friendly Driscoll, a bad guy who locks Dale in a refrigerator at one point. The Sons of the Pioneers, with Bob Nolan and Pat Brady, are along for the ride and sing as well. There's also a treasure hunt that doesn't have much to do with the rest of the story, but seems to function as padding.

Verdict: Nothing's too terrible if Roy Rogers is in it! **1/4. 

OLD OVERLAND TRAIL

One spiffy cowboy: Rex Allen 

OLD OVERLAND TRAIL (1953). Director: William Witney. 

Cowboy Rex Allen (Rex Allen) finds himself caught in a war between Indians, led by Black Hawk (Leonard Nimoy), and a pack of immigrants who travelled a long distance to settle in the area, Pouring fuel on the fire is slimy John Anchor (Roy Barcroft), who does his best to take advantage of everyone that he can, Indians and settlers alike. Rex' brother, Jim (Gil Herman), is Anchor's partner, and Rex and Jim come to blows when the former realizes that the latter is going along with Anchor's schemes. Then Jim is found dead, and Anchor sends Black Mask and his scouts out to bring back Rex -- as his brother's murderer!

Rex battles a pre-Star Trek Leonard Nimoy

Rex Allen was another handsome Republic Studios cowboy star -- along with Roy Rogers, Allan Lane, Monte Hale and others -- and he was at the time quite popular, and also had his own comic book series for several years. Attractive, competent and personable, Allen didn't quite have the charisma of Rogers, at least in this flick, but he could punch out the bad guys with the best of them. Slim Pickens, also playing himself, was Allen's comical partner in this and many other movies, and Allen had his own "not-so-wondrous" wonder horse in Koko. Gil Herman was another handsome dude who distinguished himself during WW2 service, while Virginia Hall (as Jim's gal pal, Mary) appeared only in this one western and had a few other minor credits.

Gil Herman, Rex Allen, Roy Barcroft

Rex Allen started out as a singer and had a rich baritone voice that reminds one a bit of Bing Crosby. In Old Overland Trail he gives splendid renditions of "Just a Wandrin' Buckeroo," "Cowboy's Dream of Heaven," and others. Rex is backed up by the Republic Rhythm Riders singing group. Directed by serial specialist William Witney, Old Overland Trail has plenty of exciting fisticuffs along with a sequence when Indians circle and attack a wagon train. The two brothers also have a rousing battle. Serial star Marshall Reed appears briefly as a sergeant. Reed and Barcroft both appeared in The James Brothers of Missouri. 

Verdict: With plenty of songs and punches, this is a good example of why Rex Allen became so popular. **3/4. 

FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS

Lee Powell and Herman Brix/Bruce Bennett

FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS (12 chapter Republic serial/1938). Directors: William Witney; John English. COLORIZED. 

Lt. Tom Grayson (Lee Powell) and Lt. Frank Corby (Bruce Bennett AKA Herman Brix) of the United States Marine Corps discover that their colleagues at a base in Linchuria have been completely wiped out by a mysterious weapon. This infernal machine, called the Thunderbolt, is an "aerial torpedo charged with massive amounts of electricity" and is aimed via a radio-controlled gyroscope. The villain of the piece, who calls himself the Lightning, and whose motives are rather obscure, operates from a flying craft called the Wing (which first appeared, I believe, in the first Dick Tracy serial). 

Did the Lightning's appearance influence Darth Vader?

Grayson, Corby and General White (Montagu Love) work with scientist Ben Warfield (Hugh Sothern) to come up with something that can stop the deadly Thunderbolt, which is being used to wipe out fighting ships at sea and entire villages. Characters suspected of being the Lightning include assistant Crenshaw (Perry Ivins), butler Benson (Forrest Taylor), and even Warfield's gardener, Sam (Henry Otho), but the truth might be much more startling. Most serial villains don't actually chew the scenery that much, but the actor playing the Lightning is initially very hokey until apparently someone told him to tone it down for the later chapters. 

Lee Powell

There is no love interest in the film, but Warfield's daughter, Janet, is played by the colorless Eleanor Stewart, who appeared mostly in B features. Lee Powell was the first actor to portray the Lone Ranger and also had a big part in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe. During WW2 after surviving a bloody Japanese attack on his unit, he ironically and tragically died from alcohol poisoning after celebrating with his buddies and some rotgut liquor. Herman Brix went on to play Joan Crawford's husband in Mildred Pierce as Bruce Bennett. He had a solid career as second lead in several features and also appeared in many television episodes. 

Colorized but colorless: Eleanor Stewart

Fighting Devil Dogs has several exciting and suspenseful sequences, chief of which is a bit when Grayson, Corby and others are trapped in a locked room into which cardon dioxide is slowly being pumped. A big iron bar hovers over Tom and falls, nearly crushing him, and he has a desperate battle aboard a careening plane. He and Corby aim their own plane towards one of the Thunderbolt missiles before it can smash into a dirigible, but first jump out via parachute. The serial has a mediocre score, but plenty of action.  

Verdict: The Lightning is a nasty bad guy with a formidable weapon. ***. 

 

G-MEN VS THE BLACK DRAGON (Second view) IN COLOR

Rod Cameron as agent Rex 

G-MEN VS THE BLACK DRAGON (15 chapter Republic serial/1943). Directed by William Witney and Spencer Gordon Bennett. COLORIZED.

Oyama Haruchi (Nino Pipitone), head of the Black Dragon Society, has come to the U.S. as a mummy in suspended animation. When he is revived, he embarks on a campaign of terror and sabotage. Fighting Haruchi are federal agent Rex Bennett (Rod Cameron), Chinese agent Chang Sing (Roland Got), and British agent Vivian Marsh (Constance Worth). Brave and adept as any man, Vivian handles a machine gun with aplomb and can also pilot an airplane. Haruchi's primary assistants are Ranga (Noel Cravat) and Lugo (George J. Lewis) and there is also a crow that attacks people on command after they are unwillingly deposited in an underground chamber via a trapdoor.

Nino Pipitone with pet

Well-directed, briskly-edited and action-packed, with those furious furniture-breaking fisticuffs that Republic serials were famous for, G Men vs the Black Dragon is a highly entertaining and often thrilling serial (and it benefits from being colorized even though the night time sequences are occasionally too dark). An Italian actor, Nino Pipitone played more than one Japanese role, and while you never quite believe he's a true Oriental, he is quite good and effective as Haruchi. The other cast members all play with heroic or villainous enthusiasm, as the case may be. And it's all backed by a rousing musical score by Mort Glickman. 

Vivian (Constance Worth) faces spear death

Highlights of the serial include Vivian tied to a log and nearly being buzz-sawed to death as well as being tied to a chair and almost punctured by a hurtling spear. Rex himself falls from a skyscraper window (saving himself by grabbing a firehose), has a fight in a cockpit and survives more than one plane crash, and is nearly crushed by toppling towers near the endangered Boulder Dam. Constance Worth was an Australian actress who first worked for RKO, then Columbia, then did free-lance work in a variety of B movies. She was married to George Brent for only a few months. In one silly sequence Vivian goes in disguise but doesn't bother to disguise her distinctive voice or accent, but no one is the wiser! 

NOTE: Okay, I already reviewed this serial on this blog about two and a half years ago -- not to mention on my brother blog Great Old Movies -- but discovering a colorized version on youtube made me watch it all over again. Here is my original BMN review, which is actually a little more detailed. 

Verdict: Snappy serial. ***1/2.  

DAREDEVILS OF THE RED CIRCLE

Bennett, Sharpe and Quigley

DAREDEVILS OF THE RED CIRCLE (1939/12-chapter  Republic serial). Directors: John English; William Witney. NOTE: This is a colorized version. 

Harry Crowel (Charles Middleton) has escaped from prison and disguised himself as industrialist Horace Granville (Miles Mander), who is kept prisoner in a cell in his own basement. Opposing Crowel are the three circus daredevils Tiny Dawson (Bruce Bennett of Mystery Street), Burt Knowles (David Sharpe) and Gene Townley (Charles Quigley of The Crimson Ghost). The fellows get involved when Gene's little brother Sammy, (Robert Winkler), is killed in a fire at an amusement pier started by Crowel's henchmen. With the assistance of Granville's granddaughter Blanche (Carole Landis), the Daredevils do their best to stop the nefarious plans of the sinister Crowel. 

Daredevils of the Red Circle is a good and exciting serial, even if the fisticuffs in this are perhaps not as lively as in other Republic cliffhangers. Still there are good sequences: a raging flood in a tunnel; a factory pool that catches fire; and especially a locked garage that fills with gas. As expected Charles Middleton offers the best performance as Crowel. 

Verdict: Some thrilling fun -- in color! ***. 

IN A DOOR, INTO A FIGHT, OUT A DOOR, INTO A CHASE

IN A DOOR, INTO A FIGHT, OUT A DOOR, INTO A CHASE: Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door. William Witney. McFarland; 1996.

This generally pleasant if unspectacular memoir of director William Witney looks back at the early days of filmmaking and also covers his output for Republic Pictures in the forties. Witney directed or co-directed such classic cliffhangers as Dick Tracy, Zorro's Fighting Legion, The Adventures of Captain Marvel, Drums of Fu Manchu, Spy Smasher, and many, many others. He hit upon the idea of having the stunt men choreograph their fights instead of simply swinging at each other with no forethought, resulting in much more exciting fight sequences. Witney describes what it was like working on the serials, the fast pace, getting around a low budget, assorted mishaps and near-accidents, and his opinion -- generally favorable but not always -- of some of the actors who starred in these cliffhangers. The book ends when the U.S. entered WW2, so there is no discussion of later projects Witney worked on, such as The Bonnie Parker Story, which in my opinion was better than the more famous Bonnie and Clyde. 

Verdict: Worth a read if a bit disappointing. **3/4. 

JUNGLE GIRL

Acuff, Gifford, Neal

JUNGLE GIRL (15 chapter Republic serial/1941). Directed by William Witney and John English. 

Nyoka (Frances Gifford) lives in the jungle with her father, Dr. John Meredith (Trevor Bardette). Nyoka has never been told that her faher has an evil twin brother, Bradley, who shamed the family with his criminal actions and jail time. With the help of an associate, Latimer (Gerald Mohr of The Catman of Paris), Bradley traps his brother, murders him, and takes his place. The two men are after diamonds that belong to John and are hidden in caves guarded by natives. Then there's the problem of the wicked witch doctor, Shamba (Frank Lackteen), who wants to get rid of Nyoka and her pals -- including pilot Jack Stanton (Tom Neal) and his buddy Curly (Eddie Acuff) -- so he can be the most powerful man in the place. For this reason he also covets a sacred lion amulet.

Trevor Bardette and Gerald Mohr

Jungle Girl is an excellent serial that particularly percolates in the second half when the stakes are raised and the good guys -- and gal -- seem in increasingly frightening danger.  While one certainly can't rave about Ms. Gifford's acting skills, the character she plays is admirably strong, brave, and resourceful; the same can be said of little Kimbu, (Tommy Cook), the jungle boy who comes to everyone's assistance on several occasions, along with his adorable monkey. The other cast members are all satisfactory, and Gerald Mohr as the slimy Latimer easily takes the acting honors. In addition to some exciting cliffhangers, there are other thrilling moments throughout the serial. 

Don't buy a used car from this man: Frank Lackteen

Nyoka and her buddies wind up trapped in a pit with a hungry lion; on a rope bridge overhanging a stream full of gators; dealing with an outraged and very strong gorilla, and caught in a fire-spear trap, among others. The best sequences have to do with Nyoka trying to pull Jack out of quicksand while natives lob arrows at Curly; a scene when the trio are trapped inside a stone chamber as the floor slides into the wall to reveal a very deep and deadly drop; and especially a classic bit when Jack is placed on a conveyor belt with his body being pulled towards a huge, crushing block of stone that may crash down on top of him at any moment. The climax features Jack hanging to the bottom of his plane as Latimer takes off, but one of them comes to a pretty grim ending. 

Little Kimbu (Tommy Cook) and his pet monkey

Ken Terrell [Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman] who appeared in many of these serials, has a larger part than usual as the native, Mananga. Things get confusing at times because Mananga seems to switch sides in each chapter, and more than one extra looks an awful lot like the actor, as if he put his relatives to work. Little Tommy Cook, who gives a boyishly earnest performance, grew up to appear in such films as Missile to the Moon. The African natives are all played by Caucasian actors. Briskly edited and directed, Jungle Girl is one of the best serials ever made by Republic or any other studio. 

Verdict: How do you think Indiana Jones and James Bond got up to their own stunts? ***1/2. 

ZORRO RIDES AGAIN

Zorro about to spring into action

ZORRO RIDES AGAIN (12 chapter Republic serial/1937). Directors: John English; William Witney. 

An evil man named Marsden (Noah Beery) wants to take over the Califronia-Yucatan Railroad and doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. He is opposed by minority stockholders Phillip Andrews (Reed Howes) and his sister, Joyce (Helen Christian). The principal stockholder in the Railroad is James Vega (John Carroll), who seems utterly disinterested in the railroad or much of anything else. Only his friend, Renaldo (Duncan Renaldo), knows that Vega is actually the new Zorro, the great-grandson of the original. Using his whip and other skills, and riding his horse "El Rey," Zorro mounts a one-man campaign against Marsden and his nasty lieutenant, Brad Dace, also known as "El Lobo" (Richard Alexander).

John Carroll as Zorro/James Vega

Zorro Rides Again is an early Republic chapterplay and the first of several to feature the Zorro character and his descendants. This serial takes place in "modern" times. There are plenty of horses and cowboys, but also cars, trucks, planes and skyscrapers, one of which Zorro nearly falls off after he raids Marsden's Manhattan office. In other cliffhangers, Zorro and pals are on a train that is bombed by El Lobo's pilot; has to deal with a ticking time bomb in the railroad supply warehouse; and is sent hurtling down a mine track toward imminent destruction. In the best cliffhanger, Zorro winds up with his foot caught by a derailing switch just as an express train comes barreling towards him!

Helen Christian and Reed Howes

The villains in this are especially ruthless. In the first chapter they murder both the father trying to protect his little boy but the child as well. A surprising bit shows blood coming out of the mouth of a cowboy who's been shot -- you rarely if ever saw blood in one of these old serials or westerns. Zorro hangs out in a kind of "bat cave" which can be accessed by a secret tunnel behind a painting. Frankly it doesn't make much sense that Vega wouldn't simply tell Phillip and Joyce that he was Zorro, and it seems incredible that they were fooled even for an instant. One of the most satisfying scenes shows Zorro literally whipping El Lobo onto his ass in a nightclub, although the deaths of the bad guys in this are not nearly terrible enough. There are some good chases and fight scenes in this serial, but the kind of incredible choreographed fisticuffs that Republic could boast did not quite develop until a later period. John Carroll makes a likable hero and looks the part. 

Verdict:  Entertaining early Republic cliffhanger with some exciting and suspenseful sequences. ***. 

THE CRIMSON GHOST

The Crimson Ghost played by ?

THE CRIMSON GHOST (12 chapter Republic serial/1946). Directed by William Witney and Fred C. Brannon. 

A masked figure called the Crimson Ghost is secretly one of the board members of a scientific society. Professor Chambers (Kenne Duncan) has invented the cyclotrode, the "most powerful offensive weapon in the world" and the Ghost can't wait to get his hands on it. The cyclotrode can neutralize virtually all forms of energy. The Ghost and his associates Ashe (Clayton Moore) and Bain (Rex Lease) enact various schemes to either steal the cyclotrode or make a duplicate, doing their best to loot armored cars and purloin some heavy water. Their efforts are stymied by Duncan Richards (Charles Quigley), who is not only a physicist himself but a security man. His associate Diana (Linda Stirling) proves an able helping hand on more than one occasion.  

Linda Stirling and Charles Quigley 

The Crimson Ghost is an exciting and briskly-paced serial, with lots of Republic's trademark furious fisticuffs and furniture-smashing battles. Our hero falls from a wire he's traversing in chapter three, almost succumbs to poison gas pumped into a locked room in chapter four, and apparently falls from a high window into an alley with a thud in chapter eleven. Chapter six is especially action-packed, featuring a plane crash, a battle by cliff side, and the explosion of a bridge. The Ghost is, as usual, an  utterly ruthless, amoral and sociopathic criminal and his henchmen are little better. Quigley makes a stalwart hero in this; Linda Stirling had more to do in earlier serials such as Zorro's Black Whip and The Tiger Woman, when she was the leading lady.  Quigley was in a number of serials and B movies. 

Verdict: Punches and thrills galore. ***. 

DICK TRACY VS. CRIME INC.

Ralph Byrd and Ralph Morgan

DICK TRACY VS. CRIME INC. (15 chapter Republic serial/1941). Directed by William Witney and John English.

"New York must be evacuated at once. Proceed in an orderly manner."

Some years before the story begins, a special "secret council" was able to get the goods on a crook named "Rackets" Reagan, who received the death penalty. It develops that one of the members of the council (who was apparently unable to stop the others from convicting Reagan) is, unbeknownst to them, Rackets' brother, and now he's out for revenge. In his masked identity of the Ghost, he sets out to kill off the other members of the council, as well as to begin a wave of robbery and terror as the head of Crime Inc. His first dastardly deed is to try to destroy New York City with a deluge.

The Ghost prepares to give orders

The Ghost has two main underlings: a nasty gunsel named Corey (Anthony Warde); and a scientist named Lucifer (John Davidson), who has developed a machine that the Ghost can use to turn invisible. Sometimes the machine kicks out at inopportune moments, meaning that the Ghost has almost as many close calls as Dick Tracy has. Tracy is assisted by his associate, Billy Carr (Michael Owen), and his secretary, June Chandler (a colorless Jan Wiley), who just happens to be an "expert in sound research," which comes in handy when they need to trace the sound generated by the invisibility machine and even negate its effects. The council members are played by Ralph Morgan, John Dilson and Hooper Atchley, among others.

Tracy and Billy rush into action

Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc is one of the very best Republic serials, with a pace that never flags, furious fisticuffs, cliffhangers both within each chapter as well as at the end of each, excellent photography (Reggie Lanning), slick editing, and an exciting musical score by Cy Feuer. In addition to the suspense worked up over the true identity of the Ghost, there are lots of memorable moments: Tracy and Billy racing across a field as a plane lobs bombs at them below; Tracy falling unconscious on a conveyor belt that rushes him toward an inferno where he'll be cremated; Billy chained to the roof of a train with explosives aboard; June and Tracy trapped in a raging conflagration. In one great scene Tracy gets out of a boat speeding towards destruction by grabbing the rung of Billy's low-flying plane and soaring off to safety! The fight scenes in this are numerous and beautifully-handled: Tracy battling a supposed butler in a manor house; a rooftop battle between Tracy and the Ghost in which the latter manages to throw Tracy to his apparent doom. Unlike most Republic serials, this one doesn't have a "catch-up" chapter where previous scenes are replayed.

Verdict: Tremendous fun and flair in this lightning-fast classic cliffhanger. ***1/2.