Movie Serials

A - D

 

Ace Drummond

Date of  Release : 19th October 1936

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring John King, Jean Rogers, Noah Beery Jr,, Guy Bates Post & Arthur Loft

Directed by Ford Bebe & Cliff Smith

13 Chapters and 260 mins - all chapters are about 20 mins each

Synopsis : Based on the comic strip character Ace Drummond created by Eddie Rickenbacker. Ace is a "G-Man of the Sky" working out of Washington D.C. He is sent to Mongolia to find out why a mysterious villain known only as 'The Dragon' is trying to prevent the newly formed International Airways from setting up an airport there. Ace meets Peggy Trainor who is searching for her archaeologist father who has disappeared. Together they search for answers to the puzzles.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Adventures of Captain Africa, The

Date of  Release : June 1955

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring John Hart, Rick Vallin, Ben Weldon, June Howard & Bud Osborne

Directed by Spencer G. Bennet

15 Chapters & 250 mins - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : Often seen as a "sort of" sequel to 1943's The Phantom, tells the story of Captain Africa and his friends as they help Caliph Hamid, whose prime minister has been kidnapped, regain his throne and vanquish the false caliph. Along the way Capt Africa (who is suited up to look very much like The Phantom) encounters a lost civilization, crocodiles, slaves and a gorilla.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Phantom : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Adventures of Captain Marvel

Date of  Release : 28th March, 1941

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Tom Tyler, Frank Coghlan Jr., William Benedict, Louise Currie & Harry Worth.

Directed by William Witney & John English

12 Chapters & 217 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize it could be the most powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it, distributing them among themselves so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to accumulate all five lenses, thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Captain America : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Adventures of Frank and Jesse James

Date of  Release : August, 1948

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clayton Moore, Steve Darrell, Noel Neill, George J. Lewis & John Crawford

Directed by Fred C. Bannon & Enos "Yakima" Canutt

13 Chapters & 176 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : The  James boys, under assumed names come to the aid of a helpless heroine as partners in her father's (who has been murdered by the villains) gold mine. The boys hope to reimburse victims of crimes that were committed in their name for which they are innocent. Trying to foil their efforts is a mining engineer and his gang of henchmen.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Jesse James Rides Again : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Jesse James Rides Again & The James Brothers of Missouri :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Adventures of Frank Merriwell, The

Date of Release : January 13th 1936

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Donald Briggs, John King, Jean Rogers, Carla Laemmle, Summer Getchell & William O. Carleton

Directed by Clifford Smith

12 chapters & 240 min

Synopsis : In which scholastic sports star Frank Merriwell leaves school to search for his missing father. His adventures involve a mysterious inscription on a ring, buried treasure, kidnapping and Indian raids. He saves his father and returns to school just in time to win a decisive baseball game with his remarkable pitching and hitting.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Adventures of Red Ryder

Date of  Release : 28th June, 1940

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Donald "Red" Barry, Noah Beery Sr, Tommy Cook & Robert Kortman

Directed by William Witney & John English

12 Chapters & 215 mins  - Chapter 1 is 28 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Mesquite banker Calvin Drake plans to profit from the Santa Fe Railroad's acquisition of right-of-way by gaining control of the land in the territory. In the ensuing war of intimidation against the ranchers, Red Ryder and his father, form an organization to drive the gunmen and outlaws out of the territory.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with King of the Texas Rangers: AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Adventures of Rex and Rinty, The

Date of  Release : 25th June, 1935

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Kane Richmond, Norma Taylor, Mischa Auer, Harry Woods, Rex & Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr

Directed by B. Reeves Eason & Ford Beebe

12 Chapters & 240 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are 19 mins each

Synopsis : Rex, the King of the Wild Horses, is brought from the island of Sujan, where he is worshiped as a God-Horse, to the U.S. to be trained as a polo pony. He escapes, meets Rinty (Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr) and with the help of a polo player is returned to Sujan. But the natives have been persuaded to turn against their God-Horse.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Adventures of Sir Galahad

Date of  Release : January 1949

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring George Reeves, Nelson Leigh, William Fawcett, Charles King & John Merton

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

15 Chapters & 252 mins

Synopsis : King Arthur refuses to make Galahad a Knight of the Round Table until he retrieves Excalibur. On his quest for the sword, Galahad (played pre-Superman George Reeves) encounters Merlin, Mordred, and the Black Knight. He also discovers and foils a Saxon plot to invade England.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Son of the Guardsman : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Adventures of Smilin' Jack, The

Date of  Release : January 1943

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Tom Brown, Marjorie Lord, Sidney Toler, Edgar Barrier & Keye Luke

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis Collins

13 Chapters & 260 mins  - Chapter 1 is 26 mins, the rest are about 20 mins

Synopsis : Set just before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jack Martin helps the Chinese to obtain the Mandon Secret, a secret route from China to India, lying in an isolated Chinese sector, which would aid the Chinese in the war effort or cause disaster if fallen into the hands of the Black Samurai, a Japanese espionage organization in partnership with the Nazis, and its leader the elusive Fraulein Von Teufel. Based on the popular comic-strip and radio show, this serial boasts a "Charlie Chan" supporting cast in Sidney Toler & Keye Luke

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Adventures of the Flying Cadets

Date of  Release : 7th September, 1943

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Johnny Downs, Bobby Jordan, Jennifer Holt, Ward Wood & Eduardo Ciannelli

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 260 mins

Synopsis : Flying students Danny Collins, Jinx Roberts, Scrapper Mackay and Zombie Parker are suspected of a series of murders perpetrated by a Nazi agent known as the Black Hangman. The latter is an engineer, Arthur Galt, who has disposed of several people who accompanied him on an expedition which located lost helium deposits in Africa. Galt has also imprisoned the remaining members of the expedition, Professor Mason and his daughter Andre. Galt plans to sell the helium to Germany through a Gestapo ring headed by Karl Von Heiger. The four cadets, thinking Galt is their friend, fly with him to Africa as they hope to track down Von Heiger, thinking he is the Black Hangman, and clear their own names of the murder charges. They are pursued to Africa by U.S. Army Intelligence officer Captain Ralph Carson.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Atom Man vs. Superman

Date of  Release : June 1950

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill, Lyle Talbot, Pierre Watkins & Tommy Bond

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

15 Chapters & 252 mins

Synopsis : Superman must battle the mysterious nuclear nemesis known as Atom Man (in reality, criminal genius Lex Luthor) whose weaponry includes a flying saucer and deadly Kryptonite. The sequel to Superman (1948).

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Superman : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Batman

Date of  Release : July 16th 1943

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Lewis Wilson, Douglas Croft, J. Carrol Naish & Shirley Patterson

Directed by Lambert Hillyer

15 Chapters & 265 mins

Synopsis : Gotham City millionaire Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson, whose secret identities are Batman & Robin, battle the forces of Dr. Daka, a special agent of Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, in America to help prepare for the conquest of the country by the New Order of the Axis. Daka has a ray gun which requires radium to operate. More radium will allow for increased range and greater devastation. Batman & Robin must stop Daka from getting it and bring him and his henchmen to justice.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Batman and Robin (1949): AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Batman and Robin

Date of  Release : June 1949

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Robert Lowery, Johnny Duncan, Jane Adams, Lyle Talbot & William Fawcett

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

15 Chapters & 263 mins

Synopsis : Professor Hammil's Remote Control device, which enables the user to take over any motor vehicle within 50 miles, is stolen by The Wizard, black-hooded mastermind, and his gang. Batman & Robin, ably assisted by magazine photographer Vicki Vale must prevent the Wizard from obtaining diamonds, needed as fuel for the device. Where is the Wizard's base, reached only by remote controlled submarine? Which of several suspicious characters hides beneath the Wizard's hood ?

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Batman (1943): AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Black Arrow

Date of  Release : 20th October, 1944

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Robert Scott, Adele Jergens, Kenneth MacDonald & Charles Middleton

Directed by Lew Landers

15 Chapters & 290 mins  - Chapter 1 is 27 mins, the rest are 19 mins each

Synopsis : Two carpetbaggers in search of gold stir up trouble on the Navajo reservation when they secretly kill the chief. Black Arrow, son of the chief is determined to find out who killed his father  and to bring the perpetrators  to justice

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Son of Geronimo : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Black Widow, The

Date of  Release : 28th July, 1947

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Bruce Edwards, Virginia Lindley, Carol Foreman, Anthony Warde & Ramsay Ames

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Fred C. Bannon

13 Chapters & 176 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : Madame Sombra, with the help of her Black Widow gang, embarks on a mission to steal America's top secret atomic weapons by eliminating her enemies with a deadly spider venom. Mystery writer Steve Colt & intrepid reporter Joyce Winters stand in her way.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Daughter of Don Q : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Blackhawk : Fearless Champion of Freedom

Date of  Release : July 1952

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Kirk Alyn, Carol Forman, John Crawford, Michael Fox, Don C. Harvey & Rick Vallin

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet  & Fred F. Sears

15 Chapters & 263 mins

Synopsis : Based on a successful comic book that began in 1941, the Blackhawks were seven flyers who banded together during WW II to fight the Nazis. After the war, they continued to fight evil where ever they find it. Here they are battling a group of spies and saboteurs bent on destroying democracy.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Brick Bradford : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Hop Harrigan & Bruce Gentry: AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Brick Bradford

Date of  Release : December 1947

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Kane Richmond, Rick Vallin, Charles Quigley, John Merton & Pierre Watkin

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

15 Chapters & 278 mins : Chapter 1 is 26 mins, the rest are 18 mins each

Synopsis : Scientist/adventurer Brick Bradford is enjoying a vacation at his ranch with guests Professor Salisbury. Salisbury's daughter June and good friend Sandy Sanderson.The rest and relaxation is cut short by a visit from a government agent. Brick's help is needed with Dr. Tymak. Tymak is working in seclusion on the Interceptor Ray, a devise that can destroy any guided missile while it is in the air. The problem is that with only a slight modification the Interceptor can be turned in a a weapon of mass destruction. Brick is asked to go to Tymak, help him perfect the ray, and also guard it from foreign agents who may try to steal it. Brick and his guests all gladly volunteer to help for the good of the country and world peace. They travel to the Moon via a matter transference devise called The Crystal Door and also travel back in time in a Time Top.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Blackhawk : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

2 DVD Set with Jungle Raiders : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Bruce Gentry : Daredevil of the Skies

Date of  Release : February 1949

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Tom Neal, Judy Clark, Ralph Hodges, Tristram Coffin & Forrest Taylor

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Thomas Carr

15 Chapters & 245 mins

Synopsis : The comic strip genre has enjoyed a happy relationship between itself and non costumed aviator heroes. The last adaptation of a high flying comic strip hero who didnÕt wear anything more distinctive than a leather jacket and a pilot cap was ColumbiaÕs ÒBruce GentryÓ (1949). The serial is an exciting blend of foreign intrigue, western action, and mystery.  This is a fun serial with a good cast of serial regulars, a fast moving plot, and plenty of fist slamming action.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Hop Harrigan : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Hop Harrigan & Blackhawk: AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Buck Rogers

Date of Release : February 1939

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Larry " Buster" Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran, Jack Mulhall & Anthony Warde

Directed by Ford Beebe & Saul A. Goodkind

12 chapters & 240 min

Synopsis : Buck Rogers and Buddy Wade are in the middle of a trans-polar dirigible flight when they are caught in a blizzard and crash. Buddy then releases a special gas to keep them in suspended animation until a rescue party can arrive. However, an avalanche covers the craft and the two are in suspended animation for 500 years. When they are found, they awake to find out that the world has been taken over by the outlaw army of Killer Kane. Along with Lieutenant Wilma Deering, Buck and Buddy join in the fight to overthrow Kane and with the help of Prince Tallen of Saturn and his forces, they eventually do and Earth is free of Kane's grip.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

4 DVD Set with Flash Gordon, Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars & Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe : AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Burn-'Em-Up Barnes

Date of  Release : 16th June 1934

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Jack Mulhall, Frankie Darro, Lola Lane, Julian Rivero & Edwin Maxwell 

Directed by Colbert Clark & Armand Schaefer

12 Chapters & 230 mins - Chapter 1 is 28 mins, the rest are about 18 mins each

Synopsis : Marjorie Temple, owner of a financially troubled bus line and a seemingly worthless piece of property is menaced by gangsters intent on getting the oil deposits they know to be on the property. Burn-'Em-Up Barnes, a racing driver, comes to her rescue and also adopts a homeless boy who develops into a top flight newsreel camerman.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders

Date of  Release : 8th June, 1953

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Bill Henry, Susan Morrow, Arthur Space, Dale Van Sickel & Pierre Watkin

Directed by Franklyn Adreon

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : A villain named Marlof attempts to set up secret missile bases inside Canada so he can launch missiles at the U.S. The Canadian Mounted Police dispatch agents to try to stop him.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Dangers of the Canadian Mounted : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Dangers of the Canadian Mounted & King of the Forest Rangers :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Captain America

Date of  Release : January, 1944

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Dick Purcell, Lorna Gray, Lionel Atwill, Charles Towbridge & George J. Lewis

Directed by John English & Elmer Clifton

15 Chapters & 250 mins  - Chapter 1 is 26 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : Superhero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillian called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Adventures of Captain Marvel : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Note : This serial is part of The Captain America Collection (includes also theatrical & TV movies) - see the Classic Movie Combination section of the website

 

Captain Midnight

Date of  Release : February 15th 1942

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Dave O'Brien, James Craven, Dorothy Short, Bryant Washburn & Guy Wilkerson

Directed by James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 270 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis : With a terror-stricken nation being blitzed by enemy bombing planes directed by the evil Ivan Shark, good guy Captain Albright becomes Captain Midnight and soars off into the big blue sky to head off the reign of terror and rescue a kidnapped scientist.

From the famed radio series and comic strip character of the same name

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Jack Armstrong : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

 

Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere

Date of  Release : December 1951

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Judd Holdren, Larry Stewart, George Eldredge, Gene Roth & William Fawcett

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace Grissell

15 Chapters & 255 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are about 16 mins each

Synopsis : This serial is an authorised adaptation of the DuMont teleseries of the 50's. Captain Video battles the evil Dr Tobor both on Earth and on the planet Atoma , assisted by the equally sinister Vultura. Well helmed sci-fi fun from an experienced directing team.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Lost Planet : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Chick Carter, Detective

Date of  Release : July 11th 1946

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Lyle Talbot, Douglas Fowley, Julie Gibson, Pamela Blake & Eddie Acuff

Directed by Derwin Abrahams

15 Chapters & 280 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are about 18 mins each

Synopsis : Chick Carter, Boy Detective did his sleuthing on radio before Columbia brought him to the screen in Chick Carter, Detective. The juvenile hero of the radio waves underwent certain changes in order for grown-up actor Lyle Talbot to portray him. Chick Carter, Detective has the master sleuth hunting for a missing pearl. The serial is unique in chapterplay lore in that it is a straightforward crime melodrama that eschews the usual ray guns, invisibility inventions, and other paraphernalia of the genre.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Holt of the Secret Service : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Clutching Hand, The

Date of  Release : 1936

Studio : Independent

Starring Jack Mulhall, Ruth Mix, Marion Shilling, Rex Lease, William Farnum & Yakima Canutt

Directed by Albert Herman

15 Chapters & 310 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are about 20 mins each

Synopsis : Dr Gironda discovers a formula for the manufacture of synthetic gold. Just before the board of directors of the International Research Foundation arrive at his laboratory to witness his achievement, he is heard screaming in his lab and disappears before help arrives. A newspaper reporter engaged by Gironda's daughter calls in Craig Kennedy to find the abducted scientist

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Cody of the Pony Express

Date of  Release : 6th April, 1950

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Jock Mahoney, Dickie Moore, Peggy Stewart, William Fawcett & Tom London

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

15 Chapters & 255 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis : Lieutenant John Archer, aided by young Bill Cody is assigned as an undercover investigator to bring to justice a band of outlaws secretly headed by attorney Mort Black. The outlaws are the minions of an Eastern syndicate that wants to control the territory by acquiring all of its transportation facilities

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Roar of the Iron Horse : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Roar of the Iron Horse & Gunfighters of the Northwest :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe

Date of  Release : 17th February, 1953

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, William Schallert, Richard Crane & Gregory Gay

Directed by Fred C. Bannon, Harry Keller & Franklyn Adreon

12 Chapters & 360 mins  - each chapter is 30 mins

Commando Cody had first appeared in the 1952 serial Radar Men From The Moon with George Wallace as Commando Cody, though his roots go back even further to 1949 when Republic released a serial called King Of The Rocket Men. This latter serial featured Jeff King (played by Tristram Coffin) as a flying hero named Rocket Man, wearing the familiar helmet and leather jacket that would be associated with Commando Cody in later years.

In 1952 and after the success of Radar Men From The Moon, Republic decided to produce a 12 chapter "pseudo-serial" based on the popular Commando Cody character and titled Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe. Each 30 minute episode/chapter would be self contained in that a Commando Cody adventure would be concluded although the continuing thread of Cody's fight with "The Ruler" would continue throughout the 12 episode run. Republic referred to each entry as a "Commando Cody Picture".

Initially 3 episodes were filmed using almost the entire production staff from the serials, however Republic stopped production at that point and went right into filming the serial Zombies From The Stratosphere. To avoid any confusion with the yet to be completed Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe, producer Franklin Adreon decided to change the name of the Judd Holdren role to Larry Martin for Zombies From The Stratosphere, and he is never called Commando Cody in that serial.

When the Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe went back into production, Republic was not able to continue with the services of Cody side-kick William Shallert, so Richard Crane was brought in to play the part of Dick Preston. There are several notable differences that begin with Chapter 4. Our hero's nemesis is still The Ruler (Gregory Gay with a thick "foreign" accent) supported by his Earth bound emissary Lyle Talbot but there are new sets, and the ray guns have been replaced by six guns. Finally, in most of the last nine episodes the show contains a light ending featuring a humorous moment with Dick Preston, not unlike the endings featuring Cadet Happy in Space Patrol.

The Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe pseudo-serial has plenty of the action typical of the serials of the day as Cody and his pals battle The Ruler on Earth, the Moon, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury. In episode 6 they even journey to planet M-27 "located in a Solar System just West of our own". Bye the way, at the end of Chapter 12, Cody finally gets his man!

 

Note : A very good quality Theatrical release print - each chapter (episode) runs for close to 30 minutes (unlike the edited TV version which is has chapter lengths of less than 25 minutes). As such this full 6 hour version has been mastered to 2 DVDs to allow for the best quality viewing experience of this interesting pseudo-serial

 

WANT MORE INFO? Then click on the link below:

 

CommandoCody/RocketmanInfo

 

Also available (on request): Commando Cody TV print (on 1 DVD)

 

See also The Rocketman Feature Trilogy

 

See also The Rocketman / Commando Cody 5 DVD & 6 DVD Sets

 

2 DVD : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Congo Bill

Date of  Release : October 1948

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Don Mcguire, Cleo Moore, Jack Ingram, I. Stanford Jolley & Leonard Penn

Directed by Spencer Bennet & Thomas Carr

15 Chapters & 260 mins  - Chapter 1 is 22 mins, the rest are about 16 mins each

Synopsis : A circus manager who administers a $500 00 trust fund tries to keep Congo Bill from finding Ruth Culver who disappeared as a baby in the African Jungles. Rumours of a young white queen Lureena, in the heart of the jungle lead Bill to lead an expedition to find out if it might be Ruth. A top-notch jungle adventure based on the comic-strip character Congo Bill, created by Whitney Ellsworth, producer of the 50's TV Adventures of Superman.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Crimson Ghost, The

Date of  Release : 2nd August, 1946

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Charles Quigley, Linda Stirling, Clayton Moore & I. Stanford Jolley

Directed by William Witney & Fred C. Bannon

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : A criminal mastermind known as The Crimson Ghost is out to steal a device called the Cyclotrode, which can short-circuit all electrical current on the planet. Two-fisted criminologist Duncan Richards stands in his path.

Bonus DVD : TV Feature (Cyclotrode X)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Also available The Colorized & Edited Serials:

                        The Crimson Ghost & Zombies of the Stratosphere - see below

 

The Crimson Ghost & Zombies of the Stratosphere - Colorized & Edited

In 1990, American Film Technologies (computer) colorized & edited two movie serials into 90 minute TV features. They had the same cliffhangers and resolutions as the original serials but each chapter was shortened to about 8 to 10 minutes (rather than the usual 13 mins). There were no opening or closing credits between chapters as well as no recap of the previous chapter.

 

Crimson Ghost, The (Colour - ColorImaged by American Film Technologies)

Date of  Release : 1990 - 93 mins

 

Zombies of The Stratosphere (Colour - ColorImaged by American Film Technologies)

Date of  Release : 1990   - 93 mins

 

2 DVD set : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Dangers of the Canadian Mounted

Date of  Release : 17th February, 1948

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Jim Bannon, Virginia Belmont, Anthony Warde, Dorothy Strange & Bill Van Sickel

Directed by Fred C. Bannon & Enos "Yakima" Canutt

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : Crooks discover a Genghis Khan treasure ship on the Canada-Alaska border but the treasure is hidden somewhere on land. In their efforts to find the hidden treasure they resort to murder and sabotage to stop the construction of the Alcan highway which will bring homesteaders to the area. RCMP's Sergeant Royal battles to find the crooks and to learn the identity of their mysterious leader known only as "The Boss"

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

2 DVD Set with King of the Forest Rangers : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders & King of the Forest Rangers :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Daredevils of the Red Circle

Date of  Release : 10th June, 1939

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Charles Quigley, Herman Brix, David Sharpe, Carol Landis & Charles Middleton

Directed by William Witney & John English

12 Chapters & 217 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Diabolical mastermind 39-0-13, escapes and sets out to destroy all holdings of industrialist Horace Granville, who put him in prison. One target is an amusement park, home of the three Daredevils of the Red Circle, who perform death-defying stunts. Aghast at the loss of innocent lives, the three heroes swear to capture 39-0-13.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Fighting Devil Dogs : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Darkest Africa

Date of  Release : March 1936

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clyde Beatty, Manuel King, Elaine Sheppard, Lucien Prival & Ray Bernard

Directed by B. Reeves Easton & Joseph Kane

15 Chapters & 268 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Beatty meets Baru, a jungle boy who has come to the outland for assistance in rescuing his sister, the Goddess of Joba, a city in an unexplored part of Africa. Join real-life lion tamer Clive Beatty as he battles  the batmen, frees the captive goddess and traps the man-eating blood-thirsty beasts in Republic's first serial. Beatty meets Baru, a jungle boy who has come to the outland for assistance in rescuing his sister, the Goddess of Joba, a city in an unexplored part of Africa

Note: This is an Excellent Print of this rare & exciting serial

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Lost Jungle : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Daughter of Don Q

Date of  Release : 4th June, 1946

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Adrian Booth, Kirk Alyn, Roy Barcroft, LeRoy Mason & Claire Meade

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Fred C. Bannon

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : Carlos Manning discovers an ancient Spanish land grant that gives Don Quantero a large tract of land that is now the business district of a city. As a descendant Manning plots to inherit the vast fortune for himself by murdering his relatives. Delores Quantero enlists the help of reporter Cliff Roberts to stop him

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Black Widow : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Deadwood Dick

Date of  Release : July 19th, 1940

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Don Douglas, Lorna Gray, Lane Chandler, Roy Barcroft & Harry Harvey

Directed by James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 300 mins  - Chapter 1 is 32 mins, the rest are 19 mins each

Synopsis : As statehood seems imminent for the Dakota Territory, The Skull, a grotesquely masked criminal, seeks to create an outlaw empire and gain control of rich mineral lands. Dakota Pioneer Express publisher Dick Stanley adopts the disguise of Deadwood Dick, a masked figure, to battle the outlaws

Note: Now a very nice print

Previous purchasers of this serial can receive a gratis upgrade (with one small condition)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Tex Granger : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Desert Hawk, The

Date of  Release : 12th May, 1944

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Gilbert Roland, Mona Maris, Ben Weldon & Kenneth Macdonald

Directed by B. Reeves Eason

15 Chapters & 270 mins - Chapter 1 is 28 Mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Kasim, the caliph of Ahad is kidnapped and almost murdered on instructions of his evil twin brother, who takes his place on the throne. Kasim assumes the identity of The Desert Hawk to regain his throne and to keep his brother from marrying Azala, whom the emir of a neighbouring country has brought to Ahad to marry Kasim

Note: A nicely restored print of this rare serial - quite nice indeed

Previous purchasers of this serial can receive a gratis upgrade (with one small condition)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Desperadoes of the West

Date of  Release : 17th August, 1950

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Richard Powers, Judy Clark, Roy Barcroft, I. Stanford Jolley & Lee Phelps

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : The race to strike oil has triggered an explosive contest of wills, wells & weapons between western & eastern raiders that's turned the frontier ablaze. At stake is the legal claim to a suspected oil-rich site. The owners will do anything to tap it & the raiders will stop at nothing to sabotage the rigs and steal the rights.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Phantom Rider (1945) : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Dick Tracy

Date of  Release : 20th February, 1937

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Ralph Byrd, Kay Hughes, Lester "Smiley" Burnett, Lee Van Atta & John Piccori

Directed by Ray Taylor Sr., & Alan James

15 Chapters & 296 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 19 mins each

Synopsis : A master criminal called "The Spider" causes mayhem when he puts Dick Tracy's brother Gordon under a hypnotic spell that turns him against the detective

Great Print

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Dick Tracy Returns : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

4 DVD Set with Dick Tracy Returns, Dick Tracy's G-Men, Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. :

AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Dick Tracy Returns

Date of  Release : October, 1938

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Ralph Byrd, Lynn Roberts, Charles Middleton, Jerry Tucker & David Sharpe

Directed By William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 268 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : In this sequel to the 1937 serial, Tracy is on the trail of Pa Stark ( Charles Middleton gives a great performance ) and his five sons. After killing a rookie G-Man, Tracy goes after the youngest son ( aptly named the Kid ) and through out the serials he battles the enemy agents and saboteurs Stark is mixed up with to bring the master criminal to justice

A great print - much superior to those commercially available

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Dick Tracy : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

4 DVD Set with Dick Tracy, Dick Tracy's G-Men, Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. :

AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.

Date of  Release : January, 1942

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Ralph Byrd, Jan Wiley, Ralph Morgan, John Davidson & Kenneth Harlan

Directed by William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 268 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Tracy battles the Ghost, a fiendish master criminal who has the ability to make himself invisible. The fourth and final Dick Tracy serial and some feel the pick of the bunch

A great print - much superior to those commercially available

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Dick Tracy's G-Men : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

4 DVD Set with Dick Tracy, Dick Tracy Returns, Dick Tracy's G-Men :

AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Dick Tracy's G-Men

Date of  Release : 2nd September, 1939

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Ralph Byrd, Phylis Isley, Irving Pichel, Ted Pearson & Walter Miller

Directed by William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 268 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : A mad doctor named Zanoff uses a drug to bring himself back from the dead after his execution in prison. Dick Tracy sets out to capture Zanoff before he can put his criminal gang back together again.

A great print - much superior to those commercially available

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

4 DVD Set with Dick Tracy, Dick Tracy Returns, Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. :

AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Don Daredevil Rides Again

Date of  Release : 23rd May, 1951

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Ken Curtis, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, Lane Bradford & I. Stanford Jolley

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

12 Chapters & 163 mins  - Chapter 1 is 20 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : Striking without warning,  the mystery rider Don Daredevil challenges the West's most desperate outlaw band to a fiery match of wits, weapons & wagon wheels. His mission is to protect honest ranchers and their lawfully deeded land from the ore-greedy clutches of a master villain

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Man With the Steel Whip : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard

Date of Release : July 1943

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Don Terry, Walter Sande, Elyse Knox, June Duprez & Philip Ahn

Directed by Lewis D. Collins & Ray Taylor

13 chapters & 260 min

Synopsis : Blasting invaders and smashing saboteurs, super-hero Don Winslow is back fighting the evil Scorpion who, with the help of the Japanese, plans to attack the Pacific Coast. Red Pennington is back also in this great WWII spy thriller built around the "always ready" Coast Guard.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Don Winslow of the Navy : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Don Winslow of the Navy & The Secret of Treasure Island:

                        AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Don Winslow of the Navy

Date of Release : December 1942

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Don Terry, Walter Sande, John Litel, Claire Dodd, Anne Nagel & Kurt Katich

Directed by Ford Beebe & Ray Taylor

12 chapters & 240 min

Synopsis : In this action/adventure spy serial, based on the newspaper comic strip and radio show of the same name, courageous Navy Commander Don Winslow ably assisted by Red Pennington takes on the devious Scorpion, a Nazi agent.

Note : This is a good print (unlike some commercial releases)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Don Winslow of the Coast Guard : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Don Winslow of the Coast Guard & The Secret of Treasure Island:

                        AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Drums of Fu Manchu

Date of  Release : 15th March, 1940

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Henry Brandon, William Royle, Gloria Franklin,  Robert Kellard & Olaf Hytten

Directed by William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 310 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 20 mins each

Synopsis : Fu Manchu is in search of the the tomb that houses the legendary sceptre of Genghis Khan. His oldest nemesis,  Sir Nayland Smith stands in his way and creates an adventure that spans from Asia to America.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Note : This serial is part of The Fu Manchu Collection (includes theatrical  movies & TV episodes) - see the Movies Series A - M section of the website

 

 

 

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