Movie Serials

E - M

 

Federal Agents vs Underworld, Inc.

Date of  Release : 12th November, 1948

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Kirk Alyn, Rosemary LaPlanche, Roy Barcroft, Carol Foreman & James Dale

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis :  Driven by greed, Nila, the villianous leader of an international crime ring steals a valuable artifact that can give her the power to control men's minds. Federal agents led by Dave Worth are dispatched to get it back and stop her evil plans.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Radar Patrol vs Spy King : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Federal Operator 99

Date of  Release : 4th June, 1945

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Marten Lamont, Helen Talbot, George J. Lewis, Lorna Gray & Hal Taliaferro

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet, Wallace A. Grissell, Enos ÒYakimaÓ Canutt

12 Chapters & 165 mins  - Chapter 1 is 22 mins, the rest are 13 mins each

Synopsis : Crime lord Jim Belmont escapes FBI custody and begins a reign of thievery that is thwarted at every turn by Jerry Blake, the FBI's Operator 99.

Bonus DVD : Theatrical Feature (FBI - 99)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with G-Men Never Forget : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Fighting Devil Dogs, The

Date of  Release : 9th June, 1938

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Lee Powell, Herman Brix, Eleanor Stewart, Montague Love, Sam Flint & Hugh Sothern

Directed by William Witney & John English

12 Chapters & 206 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : In Singapore, two US Marine Lieutenants, Tom Grayson and Frank Corby, discover the threat of a new villain called The Lightning, a masked villain who uses a powerful lightning based weapon in his bid for world conquest. Unfortunately, the battle becomes personal when The Lightning annihilates the officers' unit, and later kills Lt. Grayson's father as he was helping the investigation of the weapon. Now, those young marines have dedicated themselves to stopping The Lightning and bringing him to justice.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Daredevils of the Red Circle : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

2 DVD Set with Hawk of the Wilderness : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Fighting Marines, The

Date of  Release : 3rd  November, 1935

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Grant Withers, Adrian Morris, Ann Rutherford, Robert Warwick & George J. Lewis

Directed by B. Reeves Eason & Joseph Kane

12 Chapters & 226 mins  - Chapter 1 is 28 mins, the rest are 18 mins each

Synopsis : U.S. Marines, attempting to build a landing field on Halfway Island in the Pacific, unwittingly endanger the secret hideout of a mysterious figure known as The Tiger Shark. The Tiger Shark therefore begins a program of sabotage and murder against the Marines.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Fighting With Kit Carson

Date of  Release : July 15, 1933

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Johnny Mack Brown, Betsy King Ross, Noah Beery Sr. & Noah Beery Jr

Directed by Armand Schaefer & Colbert Clark

12 Chapters & 220 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are 17 mins each  

Synopsis : Kit Carson is employed to escort a caravan carrying a large quantity of gold destined for army posts in California. Unscrupulous men attempt to steal the gold by causing the murder of Chief Dark Eagle and placing the blame on Carson and his party, thus setting the Indians on the warpath.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Rustlers of Red Dog : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

2 DVD Set with Overland With Kit Carson : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

5 DVD Set with Flaming Frontiers,  The Oregon Trail, The Rustlers of Red Dog

                        & Wild West Days: : AU$40 or US$40 or £20

 

 

Flaming Frontiers

Date of  Release : May, 1938

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Johnny Mack Brown, Eleanor Hansen, Ralph Bowman & Charles Middleton

Directed by Ray Taylor & Alan James

15 Chapters & 300 mins  - each chapter is about 20 mins

Synopsis : Tom Grant has found a rich gold vein and Bart Eaton is after it. Tom's sister Mary heads for the gold fields and Eaton and his men follow. Eaton teams up with Ace Daggett who plans to doublecross him and get the gold for himself. They frame Tom for murder and then try to get him to sign over his claim. The famous scout Tex Houston is on hand, escaping the attempts on his life, saving Mary from various perils, and trying to bring in the real killer and clear Tom.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

5 DVD Set with Fighting With Kit Carson, The Oregon Trail, The Rustlers of Red Dog

                                    & Wild West Days: AU$40 or US$40 or £20

 

Flash Gordon

Date of Release : April 6th 1936

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Priscilla Lawson, Charles Middleton & Frank Shannon

Directed By Frederick Stephani

13 chapters & 260 min

Synopsis : A rogue planet is rushing madly toward the earth.  Impending doom creates worldwide pandemonium. But maverick scientist Dr. Zarkov hopes to stay disaster by travelling to the new planet in his experimental rocket. Two chance-met strangers, athletic Flash Gordon and damsel in distress Dale Arden, go with him. Arrived, the trio find Mongo to be a planet of wonders, warring factions, and deadly perils, its orbit controlled by Emperor Ming who has his own sinister plans for earth

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

3 DVD Set with Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars & Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe : AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

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

 

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe

Date of Release : February 1940

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Carol Hughes, Charles Middleton & Frank Shannon

Directed By Ford Beebe & Ray Taylor

12 chapters & 240 min

Synopsis : A mysterious plague, the Purple Death, ravages the earth. Dr. Zarkov, investigating in his spaceship, finds a ship from planet Mongo seeding the atmosphere with dust. Sure enough, Ming the Merciless is up to his old tricks. So it's back to Mongo for Flash, Dale, and Zarkov, this time with ready-made allies waiting: Prince Barin of Arboria and Queen Fria of the frozen northern land of Frigia; where, it so happens, is found polarite, antidote to the plague. But Ming will use all his forces to keep our heroes from thwarting his plans of conquest

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

3 DVD Set with Flash Gordon & Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars : AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

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

 

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Date of Release : May 1938

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Beatrice Roberts, Charles Middleton & Frank Shannon

Directed By Ford Beebe & Robert Hill

15 chapters & 280 min

Synopsis : Flash, Dale, and Dr. Zarkov return from their former space adventures only to find that their enemy, Ming the Merciless of planet Mongo, has a new weapon: a deadly ray that crosses space to wreak havoc on earth. Earth's only hope is for our heroes to take off again and stop the ray at its source on Mars, where they (and a stowaway) must battle Ming's ally, Queen Azura, who turns her enemies into lumpish clay people.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

3 DVD Set with Flash Gordon & Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

4 DVD Set with Flash Gordon, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe & Buck Rogers :

            AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Flying Disc Man from Mars

Date of  Release : December, 1950

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Gregory Gay, James Craven & Harry Lauter

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : A strange craft spying on industrialist Bryant's plant is brought down by Bryant's new atomic ray. Bryant meets the one survivor _ Mota from the planet Mars. Mota enlists the aid of Bryant (a former Nazi) in a scheme to bring Earth under control of a supreme dictator using advanced atomic weapons. But their attempts to steal uranium alert Kent Fowler of Fowler Air Patrol, who sets out single-handed to foil the villains

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Flying G-Men

Date of  Release : February, 1939

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Robert Paige, Robert Fiske, James Craig, Lorna Gray & Don Beddoe 

Directed by Ray Taylor & James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 260 mins  - Chapter 1 is 28 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis : Four flying G-Men, one of whom is The Black Falcon, are charged with the responsibility of running down a gang of saboteurs striking at American defenses. Secretly headed by Brewster, an airport owner, the  spies kill one of the four G-Men whilst The Black Falcon and his two buddies work to discover the leader's identity and thwart his actions.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Gang Busters

Date of  Release : 31st March 1942

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Kent Taylor, Irene Hervey, Robert Armstrong & Ralph Morgan

Directed Ray Taylor & Noel Smith

13 Chapters & 260 mins  - each chapter is about 20 mins

Synopsis : Detective Lt.Bill Bannister (Kent Taylor) has the assignment to run down an unknown gang of terrorists spreading a net of crime over the city. Aiding him is Detective Tim Nolan (Robert Armstrong), news photographer Vicki Logan (Irene Hervey) and reporter Happy Haskins (Richard Davies). Bill finds that the gang's leader is a mysterious Professor Mortis (Ralph Morgan) and the gang is made up of known criminals officially listed in the police records as dead. Each has become of member of Mortis' "League of Murdered Men" after seemingly committing suicide by hanging while on death row.

Note : This is an excellent print - much superior to those in commercial release

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Ghost of Zorro

Date of  Release : 12th April, 1949

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clayton Moore, Pamela Blake, Roy Barcroft, George J. Lewis & Gene Roth

Directed By Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : This serial features the grandson of the original Zorro. Clayton Moore dons the black outfit to help a pretty telegraph company owner defend her business from outlaws. Pamela Blake, Eugene Roth and George J. Lewis as Moccasin, Moore's faithful Indian ally, also star. This features Moore in first masked-western-hero role, which got him that big other part later.

Note: Nice quality print and yes, the final chapter runs the full 13 minutes!

Bonus DVD : Ghost of Zorro (1959) - the 70 minute theatrical feature

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

See also Zorro 6 DVD Combination Boxed Set

 

G-Men Never Forget

Date of  Release : 13th November, 1947

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clayton Moore, Ramsay Ames, Roy Barcroft, Drew Allen & Tom Steele

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

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

Synopsis : A Federal Agent is summoned from Washington to stop the crime spree of an escaped underworld czar, who has secretly undergone plastic surgery and is masquerading as the police commissioner

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Federal Operator 99 : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

G-Men vs the Black Dragon

Date of  Release : 31st December, 1942

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Rod Cameron, Constance Worth, Roland Got, Nino Pipitone & George J. Lewis

Directed by William Witney & John English

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

Synopsis : Special Agent Rex Bennett is tracking down the infamous Black Dragon Society, an Axis spy ring intent on crippling the US war effort

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Secret Service in Darkest Africa : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Gordon of Ghost City

Studio : Universal Studios

Date of  Release : 14th August 1933

Starring Buck Jones, Madge Bellamy, Walter Miller Hugh Enfield & William Desmond 

Directed by Ray Taylor

12 Chapters & 240 mins  - all Chapters are about 20 minutes each

Synopsis : Buck Gordon is hired to stop cattle rustling on the ranch of John Mulford, but soon finds himself spook hunting in Ghost City. There he meets Mary Gray, who enlists his help in protecting her grandfather's secret gold strike underneath one of the stores in the town. Rance Radigan, foreman of the Mulford Ranch and leader of a band of outlaws uses Ghost City as a hideout.

 

Special Note: This title has recently been upgraded - a combination of two prints coupled with digital enhancement technology has delivered a now quite nice print (sharp & clean)

Gratis upgrades to previous customers (subject to certain conditions)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

4 DVD Set with The Roaring West, The Phantom Rider (1936) & White Eagle:

            AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion

Studio : Republic Pictures

Date of  Release : 23rd August, 1951

Starring Walter Reed, Mary Ellen Kay, Richard Curtis, John Pickard & Fred Cody

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : Government Agent Hal Duncan is called in after thugs led by a mastermind called The Voice begin hijacking shipments of precision equipment and uranium to sell to an unfriendly country.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Flying Disc Man from Mars : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Great Adventures of Captain Kidd, The

Date of  Release : September, 1953

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Richard Crane, David Bruce, John Crawford, George Wallace & Paul Newlan

Directed by Derwin Abbe & Charles S. Gould

15 Chapters & 235 mins  - Chapter 1 is 22 mins & the rest are about 15 mins each

Synopsis : In 1697, Captain Kidd may well be the victim of falsehoods put out by one of his crew. This crew-member throughs in with pirate Captain Culliford to pin crimes on Kidd. Two British undercover naval officers are sent by the Admiralty to investigate.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, The

Studio : Columbia Studios

Date of  Release : 30th June, 1938

Starring Wild Bill Elliott, Carole Wayne, Frankie Darro, Monte Blue & Dickie Jones

Directed by Mack V. Wright & Sam Nelson

15 Chapters & 270 mins

Synopsis : The Phantom Raiders, organised by Morrell, a sinister and powerful character in the territory, attempt to keep Southern cattle from the Chisholm Trail and the railroad from reaching Abilene. Morrell realises that these events could destroy his hold over the territory. Wild Bill Hickok is appointed as US Marshall to see that both the cattle and the railroad reach their destination

This serial is considered by most serial buffs as probably the best of Columbia's chapterplays. Both the budget and production values were above par at Columbia. Its popularity led top Elliott becoming a major western star and gave him a name change to "Wild Bill". A series of feature films followed in which Elliott played "Wild Bill Hickok"

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Overland with Kit Carson : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Overland with Kit Carson + The Valley of Vanishing Men :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Great Alaskan Mystery, The

Date of  Release : April 1944

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Ralph Morgan, Milburn Stone, Marjorie Weaver & Fuzzy Knight

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 230 mins  - All chapters are about 18 mins each

Synopsis : Dr Miller, an American scientist, invents the Paratron, a machine that promises to be successful as a defense weapon. Accompanied by his daughter Ruth, Jim Hudson & Bosun, Miller goes to Alaska to examine a mine discovered by Jim's dad in the hope that the element necessary to develop the Paratron will be found. A ring of fascists attempt to thwart their plans and steal the machine.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Green Archer, The

Date of  Release : November 1940

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Victor Jory, Iris Meredith, James Craven, Dorothy Fay & Robert Fiske

Directed By James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 298 mins  - Chapter 1 is 32 mins, the rest are about 19 mins each

Synopsis : This adaptation of an Edgar Wallace story finds Michael Bellamy inheriting Garr Castle, but his brother, Abel Bellamy has him imprisoned unjustly and moves into the castle himself. When Michael's wife, Elaine Bellamy fails to return after visiting Abel, her sister Valerie Howett accompanied by their father, Parker Howett and private detective Spike Holland rent an adjoining estate, determined to investigate the case. Abel is afraid they will discover his association with a gang of jewel thieves and tries to have them all killed. Each attempt is thwarted by the sudden appearance of the mysterious Green Archer.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Green Hornet  Strikes Again, The

Date of Release : October 1940

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Warren Hull, Anne Nagel, Keye Luke & Eddie Acuff

Directed by Ford Beebe & John Rawlins

15 chapters & 300 min

Synopsis : The Green Hornet (secretly publisher Britt Reid of the Daily Sentinel)  uses his crime-fighting weaponry to track down the mysterious head of a city-wide racketeering ring.  He is ably assisted by and his trusted valet Kato.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Green Hornet, The

Date of Release : 1940

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Gordon Jones, Anne Nagel, Keye Luke & Wade Boteler

Directed by Ford Beebe, Ray Taylor & Lyonel Margolies

13 Chapters & 290 mins

Synopsis : The Green Hornet (secretly publisher Britt Reid of the Daily Sentinel) and his trusted valet Kato crusade against various rackets  including insurance fraud involving faulty airplanes, auto theft, election fraud, and a zoo protection money scheme.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Green Hornet Strikes Again : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Gunfighters of the Northwest

Date of  Release : April 15th 1954

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Jock Mahoney, Clayton Moore, Phyllis Coates, Don Harvey & Lyle Talbot

Directed By Spencer Bennet & Charles Gould

15 Chapters & 249 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are about 16 mins each

Synopsis : This is one of the few Mounties serials set back in the true frontier days - In Canada in the early 1900s, a gang of outlaws under the leadership of a mysterious chieftain plot the overthrow of the government and the establishment of a "White Horse Republic".Financed with gold from the mysterious Marrow Mine, they embark on a reign of terror against the settlers and miners, while the undermanned but resourceful Mounties do their valiant best to combat the depredations. To make things more complicated, the Blackfeet Indians, who have moved into Canada following their defeats in the Dakotas, are always ready to go on the warpath, and carry out deadly attacks against Mounties and rebels alike. Fortunately, Sergeant Joe Ward (Jock Mahoney) and Constable Bram Nevin (Clayton Moore) are on the case, and despite the odds they manage to unmask the leader and defeat the White Horse group and the Indians for good.

Gunfighters of the Northwest benefits immensely from its cast and its outdoor location filming, and the sure direction of Spencer Gordon Bennet - no studio sets were used at all !

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Perils of the Royal Mounted : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Roar of the Iron Horse & Cody of the Pony Express : 

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Haunted Harbor (aka Pirates' Harbor)

Date of  Release : 18th August, 1944

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Kane Richmond, Kay Aldridge, Roy Barcroft, Clancy Cooper & Marshall J. Reed

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace A. Grissell

15 Chapters & 235 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are 15 mins each

Synopsis : Accused of murdering a high seas financier and stealing a fortune in bullion from his own schooner, Captain Jim Marsden enlists the help a ship-wrecked beauty as he battles an evil raider & his hencemen.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

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

 

Hawk of the Wilderness

Date of  Release : 16th December, 1938

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Herman Brix, Jill Martin, Ray Mala, Monte Blue & Noble Johnson

Directed by William Witney & John English

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

Synopsis : With a volcano set to erupt on an uncharted jungle island, an expedition is mounted to rescue the local natives which are led by a mysterious jungle man, Kioga who was raised by natives after wrecking his ship on a remote island. He eventually has to protect his land from invading pirates.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Holt of the Secret Service

Date of  Release : December 1941

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Jack Holt, Evelyn Brent,  Montague Shaw, Tristram Coffin & John Ward

Directed by James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 280 mins  - Chapter 1 is 27 mins, the rest are about 19 mins each

Synopsis : This is veteran actor Jack Holt's famous serial saga about a two-fisted government agent who is called Jack Holt! To get the goods on a counterfeiting ring, federal agent Holt poses as master criminal Nick Farrel. Aided and abetted by fellow agent Kay (Evelyn Brent), who poses as "Mrs. Farrel", Holt endures numerous brushes with death, emerging from all of them with nary a hair out of place nor a crease in his well-tailored business suit.

NOTE: A very nice print - much better than commercial offerings

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Chick Carter, Detective : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Hop Harrigan : Ace of the Airways

Date of  Release : March 23rd 1946

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring William Bakewell, Jenifer Holt, Robert 'Buzz' Henry, Sumner Getchell, Emmett Vogan, Claire James & John Merton

Directed By Derwin Abrahams

15 Chapters & 295 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are about 19 mins each

Synopsis : Inspired by the popular comic-strip and radio show, Hop Harrigan is a pilot who is hired to deliver a scientist's secret invention to the man who financed the experiment, but ends up running afoul of crooks who are also after the secret. The mystery lies in the existence of certain characters who can't be easily established as good guys or bad guys from square one. The scientist here is a loose cannon; he spends most of the serial being kidnapped and rescued, but he is such a paranoid, quick-to-anger, and resourceful personality, that you're never sure who he will side with ultimately. Furthermore, the character of Ballard who is trying to cut a deal with the scientist for his invention is playing a game of his own that fits in with no other agenda. Both characters are mysterious and somewhat unpredictable, and trying to figure out how things will pan out in the end is actually more fun than obvious The main characters are likeable and interesting; even the little kid who is Hop's fan isn't merely a helpless pawn to be rescued; he is resourceful, smart and useful. The way the various elements of the plot unfold over the length of the serial also has a smoothness about it - 5 star serial entertainment

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

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

 

Hurricane Express, The

Date of  Release : August, 1932

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring John Wayne, Shirley Grey, Conway Tearle, Tully Marshall & J. Farrell MacDonald

Directed by Armand Schaefer & J. P. McGowan

12 Chapters & 215 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis :  The second of three serials that John Wayne made for Nat Levine and Mascot Pictures after leaving Columbia Studios following a run-in with mogul Harry Cohn. The Mascot serials were always fast paced and full of action and this one is no exception. The story revolves around a mysterious character named "The Wrecker" who is bent on destroying the L & R Railroad. He causes the wreck of the Hurricane Express in which engineer Jim Baker (J. Farrell MacDonald) is killed. His son Larry (Wayne), an airline pilot vows to avenge his father's death. And that's basically it. Wayne goes through the rest of the serial trying to identify "The Wrecker" and bring him to justice. Is the villain Edwards (Tully Marshall), the General Manager of the railroad; Stevens (Conway Tearle) the railroad attorney; Walter Grey (Lloyd Whitlock) the head of the airline; Stratton (Edmund Breese) an escaped convict who claims to have been set up by the railroad; Jordan (Matthew Betz) an engineer who was fired and has vowed revenge or is it Carlson (Alan Bridge) a station agent? Aiding Baker is the lovely Gloria Martin (Shirley Grey) who turns out to be Stratton's daughter. Appearing as "The Wrecker's" henchmen are Ernie Adams, Charlie King, Glenn Strange and Al Ferguson. Complicating matters is the fact that "The Wrecker" can impersonate anybody by donning a life like mask of that person. Never mind that he can also apparently assume their physical characteristics and clothing as well.

John Wayne was quite young and very athletic at the time this serial was made and can be seen clearly performing many of his own stunts.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

3 DVD Set with The Shadow of the Eagle & The Three Musketeers: AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Invisible Monster, The

Date of  Release : 8th June, 1950

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Richard Webb, Aline Towne, Stanley Price, Lane Bradford & John Crawford

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : Insurance Investigator Lane Carson vows to hunt down the Phantom Ruler, a master criminal who has discovered the secret of invisibility and will stop at nothing in organizing an invisible army capable of dominating the world.

Bonus DVD : TV Feature (Slaves of the Invisible Monster)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Iron Claw, The

Date of  Release : 1941

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Charles Quigley, Joyce Bryant, Forrest Taylor & Walter Sande

Directed by James W. Horne

15 Chapters & 260 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis : Miserly old Anton Benson once recovered a treasure in gold from a sunken Spanish galleon, and in his greed murdered anyone who got in his way of keeping it. Now his family is gathered at his estate, Bensonhurst, and they are all searching for the treasure, which is hidden somewhere on the estate. Also looking for the gold is a masked killer called The Iron Claw, who murders one member of the family and lets the others know that they'll be next.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Jack Armstrong

Date of  Release : March 1947

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring John Hart, Rosemary La Planche, Joe Brown Jr., Pierre Watkin & Charles Middleton

Directed By Wallace Fox

15 Chapters & 295 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are about 19 mins each

Synopsis : Jim Fairfield is the head of an aviation company whose head scientist Vic Hardy has discovered cosmic radioactivity being employed in experiments coming from a distant off shore island. Hardy is kidnapped and taken to the island and forced to aid the evil doers. Fairfield, Jack Armstrong and Fairfield's niece Betty and nephew Billy, decide to investigate. There they discover that an evil scientist, Jason Grood is behind a scheme to conquer the world through the development of a super annihilator ray and a space ship called the "aeroglobe". The aeroglobe is capable of launching into space and destroying cities with its deadly ray. Its up to Jack and the gang to foil the baddies.

Based on the popular radio series of the day : "Jack Armstrong, The All American Boy".

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

James Brothers of Missouri, The

Date of  Release : 4th October, 1949

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Keith Richards, Robert Bice, Noel Neill, Roy Barcroft & Patricia Knox

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : In an effort to reform, the James Brothers try to settle down and live within the law. But soon the boys are back in action trying to defend themselves in a turbulent battle that threatens their very lives

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

3 DVD Set with Jesse James Rides Again & Adventures of Frank and Jesse James :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Jesse James Rides Again

Date of  Release : 2nd June, 1947

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clayton Moore, Linda Stirling, Roy Barcroft, John Compton & Tristram Coffin

Directed by Fred C. Bannon & Thomas Carr

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

Synopsis : Jesse flees the law after being wrongly accused of leading the historic 1876 Northfield Minnesota bank robbery - only to clash with hooded raiders using his name while pillaging farmers.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Adventures of Frank and Jesse James : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Adventures of Frank and Jesse James & The James Brothers of Missouri :

            AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

Jungle Drums of Africa

Date of  Release : 19th December, 1952

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Clayton Moore, Phyllis Coates, Johnny Spencer, Roy Glenn & John Cason

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : TV's Lone Ranger & TV's original Lois Lane battle a team of enemy agents, a murderous hunter and a jealous witchdoctor in order to secure the rights to a valuable uranium mine.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Panther Girl of the Kongo : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Jungle Girl (Edgar Rice Burroughs')

Date of  Release : 21st June , 1941

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Francis Gifford, Tom Neal, Trevor Bardette, Gerald Mohr & Eddie Acuff

Directed by William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 267 mins  - Chapter 1 is 29 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : Dr. John Meredith has been driven from civilization by the criminal activities of his twin brother Bradley. With his infant daughter, he settles in the African jungle, where his ability to cure the native ills has resulted in his virtual control of the Masamba tribes, who possess vast diamond mines coveted by a gang of crooks. They use Shamba, a witch doctor jealous of Dr. Meredith's influence over the tribe, to further their schemes. The natives believe that a sacred amulet is the secret of Dr. Meredith's power, and Shamba attempts to kill Nyoka, Meredith's now-grown-up daughter, to obtain the amulet. Jack Stanton rescues her and assists her in her efforts to recover the amulet.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Perils of Nyoka  : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Jungle Jim

Date of Release : January 18th 1937

Studio : Universal  Studios

Starring Grant Withers, Betty Jane Rhodes, Raymond Hatton, Paul Sutton & Evelyn Brent

Directed By Ford Beebe & Cliff Smith

12 chapters & 240 min

Synopsis : Two safaris enter the African jungle intent on finding a white girl who is the heiress to a fortune. One safari, led by Jungle Jim, wants to make sure she gets the news that she is now a rich woman. The leaders of the other safari want to kill the girl so they can try to get hold of her inheritance. Based on a popular comic strip of the day by Alex Raymond, the prologue to each chapter of Jungle Jim consists of a Jungle Jim comic strip bringing the viewer up to date on the action.  Said to adhere more closely to the comic strip than later interpretations featuring Johnny Weissmuller, this Universal production benefited from that studio's high production values.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Note : Why not check out The Jungle Jim Collection (Johnny Weissmuller's theatrical  movies) - see the Movies Series A - M section of the website

 

Jungle Queen, The

Date of  Release : January, 1945

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Edward Norris, Lois Collier, Eddie Quillan, Douglas Dumbrille & Ruth Roman

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 230 mins  - Chapter 1 is 19 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : A young girl journeys to Africa to find her father, an explorer who vanished in the jungle. Meanwhile Nazi agents are trying to arouse the tribes of the middle jungle in Africa to revolt against the British. Americans Bob Elliott and Chuck Kelly arrive to help the British agents. A Secret Sword is the key to the ruler of the jungles, and the holder of this secret is sought by both the British and the Nazis.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Jungle Raiders

Date of  Release : September 1945

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Kane Richmond, Eddie Quillan, Veda Ann Borg, Carol Hughes & Janet Shaw

Directed By Lesley Selander

15 Chapters & 295 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are about 19 mins each

Synopsis : With a decent cast, some good humor and action scenes, this serial ranks highly amongst Columbia's 40's efforts The plot has Jake Raynes and his henchman looking for jewels from the Arzec Hidden Tribe. This same tribe knows the secret of a fungus with miraculous healing properties - the latter has attracted the attention of Dr Reed who knows the whereabouts of the tribe but refuses to disclose it. Into the mix comes Reed's daughter, war hero Bob Moore looking for Dr Reed's associate who has gone missing and the mysterious Cora whose loyalties are in question.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Junior G-Men

Date of  Release : 1940

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring The Dead End Kids & The Little Tough Guys : Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Philip Terry & Roger Daniels

Directed by Ford Beebe & John Rawlins

12 Chapters & 240 mins  - All Chapters are about 20 mins each

Synopsis : A group calling themselves the Flaming Torches is planning an upheaval of the current US government by sabotaging key defensive positions and making pacts with sinister foreign governments. The G-Men are after all members of this group and organize the Junior G-Men so they can assist them in small ways. A street gang, led by Billy Barton, is also after the Torches since the group has abducted Billy's father who has perfected a revolutionary new type of explosive. The Junior G-Men and Billy's gang work together, despite their obvious different methods, along with the G-Men to bring the Torches to justice.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Junior G-Men of the Air : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Sea Raiders & Junior G-Men of the Air : AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

4 DVD Set with Sea Raiders, Junior G-Men of the Air & Sky Raiders :

                                    AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

Junior G-Men of the Air

Date of  Release : May 1942

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring The Dead End Kids & The Little Tough Guys : Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Gene Reynolds & Lionel Atwill

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

12 Chapters & 225 mins  - Chapter 1 is 26 mins, the rest are about 18 mins each

Synopsis : The third of Universal's three serials headlining the Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys (preceded by "Junior G-Men" and "Sea Raiders") finds the gang working in an airplane/auto junk yard. Their truck is stolen by members of a fifth column organization called The Order of the Black Dragonfly. They join forces with a government agent to track down the organization and its Japanese leader.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Junior G-Men : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

3 DVD Set with Sea Raiders & Junior G-Men : AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

4 DVD Set with Junior G-Men, Sea Raiders & Sky Raiders : AU$35 or US$35 or £18

 

King of the Carnival

Date of  Release : 11 May, 1955

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Harry Lauter, Fran Bennett, Keith Richards, Robert Shayne & Gregory Gay

Directed by Franklyn Adreon

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

Synopsis : Treasury agents go after a ring of counterfeiters operating out of a traveling carnival. Republic's last serial.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Trader Tom of the China Seas : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

King of the Congo

Date of  Release : January, 1952

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Buster Crabbe, Gloria Dea, Leonard Penn, Jack Ingram & Rick Vallin

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace A. Grissell

15 Chapters & 249 mins  - Chapter 1 is 24 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : Based on the comic book character "Thun'Da, King of the Congo," this serial was the seventh and last serial starring Buster Crabbe. Crabbe plays U.S.A.F. Captain Roger Drum who shoots down an unidentified plane whose pilot was bound for Africa to deliver a message to a subversive group. Drum takes his place, makes the flight and crashes in the jungle. The rock people, led by Princess Phi, rescue him and take him to their temple. Whence Drum is proclaimed Thunda, King of the Congo, by the natives and then proceeds to reunite the Rock and Cave People and clears the jungle of all subversive elements. A good jungle serial with Buster doing Tarzan and Jungle Jim at various stages of the narrative.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

King of the Forest Rangers

Date of  Release : 19th February, 1946

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Larry Thompson. Helen Talbot, Stuart Hamblen, Anthony Warde & LeRoy Mason

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : A devious archaeologist & a US Forest Ranger are pitted against each other in trying to gain possession of an ancient Indian rug whose pattern provides the clues to a secret treasure.

A highly entertaining serial which was apparently originally to be a "Mountie" adventure but became a "ranger" story instead. The serial is, nonetheless, a Mountie story with our hero in garb strikingly similar to that of the RCMP. There are strong parallels here with 1948's Dangers of the Canadian Mounted not the least of which is the fabulous Anthony Warde as chief henchman in both serials.

 

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

& Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders: AU$30 or US$30 or £15

 

King of the Rocket Men

Date of  Release : 7th June, 1949

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Tristram Coffin, Mae Clark, Don Haggerty, James Craven & House Peters Jr.

Directed by Fred C. Bannon

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

Synopsis : A mysterious mastermind, Doctor Vulcan attempts to steal newly developed weapons for sale to foreign governments, but is opposed by a two-fisted research scientist who has at his disposal a remarkable flying suit which enables him to become a jet propelled avenger known as Rocketman.

Bonus DVD : Theatrical Feature (Lost Planet Airmen)

 

See also The Rocketman Feature Trilogy

 

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

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

King of the Royal Mounted (Zane Grey's)

Date of  Release : 20th September, 1940

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Allan "Rocky" Lane, Lita Conway, Robert Strange, Robert Kellard & Harry Cording

Directed by William Witney & John English

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

Synopsis : Tom Merritt has discovered a substance, Compound X, that will cure infantile paralysis, which he extracts from a mine at Caribou, Canada. A country at war with Canada discovers that Compound X also contains magnetic properties which will make their mines effective against the British fleet, and dispatch one of their intelligence officers to work undercover to ensure a steady stream of Compound X for the Fatherland. But RCMP Sergeant Dave King thwarts their every move.

Bonus DVD : King of the Mounties (1942) - the follow-up Republic serial again starring Allan "Rocky" Lane as Sgt. Dave King. Note that  this print is the legendary (infamous?) Jack Mathis print - it is incomplete - missing about 4% of its picture and about 34% of its sound

 

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

King of the Texas Rangers

Date of  Release : 4th October, 1941

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Slingin' Sammy Baugh, Pauline Moore, Duncan Renaldo & Neil Hamilton

Directed by William Witney & John English

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

Synopsis : To avenge the death of his father an All-American football star joins the Texas Rangers and uncovers a group of subversives led by "His Excellency"  who are out to destroy the Texas oil fields

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Adventures of Red Ryder: AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Lost City, The

Date of  Release : 1935

Studio : Independent

Starring Kane Richmond, William "Stage" Boyd, Claudia Dell, Josef Swickard.

Directed by Harry Revier

12 Chapters & 215 mins - Chapter 1 is 27 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : After a series of electrical storms disrupts the world, electrical engineer Bruce Gordon develops a machine to trace the cause of the disasters. He discovers that the source is in central Africa and, backed by the nations of the world, sets out on an expedition. Bruce learns that the disturbances emanate from an area called the Magnetic Mountain. But unknown to our hero and his pal Jerry, the Magnetic Mountain also contains a super-advanced secret city ruled by the tyrannical scientific wizard named Zolok, who has unleashed the electrical fury threatening civilization as part of his plan to conquer the world. Zolok has under his control a brilliant inventor, Manyus, Manyus' beautiful daughter Natcha and an army of giant African slaves, who follow the dictates of a strongman, Appolyn, and Gorza, a dwarf. Also in the mix are schemers Reynolds and Colton, who plan to capture Manyus and thereby gain control of Zolok's army, and a double-crossing fellow explorer named Butterfield. Can Bruce evade Zolok's "destroying rays" and stop his dreams of world conquest?

Note: An Excellent Print - much superior to commercial offerings

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Lost City of the Jungle

Date of  Release : May 1946

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Russell Hayden, Jane Adams, Lionel Atwill, Keye Luke & Helen Bennett

Directed By Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 241 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are 18 mins

Synopsis : Meteorium 245, a defense against the atomic bomb, is sought by a power-mad Englishman, but thwarting his plans to rule the world is a United Peace Foundation investigator, a scientist's daughter, and a Pendrang native. The search for the rare substance takes them to a lost city in the jungle.

An interesting cast with Hopalong Cassidy's side-kick joining Charlie Chan's side-kick in battle against that renown "master-mind" Lionel Atwill (in his last role having contracted pneumonia during the filming and dying a short time later)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Lost Jungle, The

Date of  Release : June 13th 1934

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Clyde Beatty, Cecilia Parker, Syd Sailor, Warner Richmond & Wheeler Oakman

Directed by Armand Schaefer & David Howard

12 Chapters & 230 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are about 18 mins

Synopsis : Animal trainer Clyde Beatty heads a rescue party in search of his girl, Ruth, and her father who get lost looking for an uncharted island. His dirigible crashes into the jungles of the island. When he locates Ruth, he learns that her father has disappeared. The ensuing search is hindered by greedy gold hunters and wild animals.

Note: An Very Good Print - much superior to commercial offerings

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Lost Planet, The

Date of  Release : May 1953

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Judd Holdren, Vivian Mason, Forrest Taylor, Joseph Mall & John George

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

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

Synopsis : Dr. Grood (Michael Fox) has succeeded in winning control over the planet Ergro as the first step in his desired conquest of the Universe. Reporter Rex Barrow (Judd Holdren), his photographer Tim Johnson (Ted Thorpe), Professor Edmund Dorn (Forrest Taylor) and his daughter Ella (Vivian Mason) are all captured by Grood, who plans to make use of the professor's knowledge. With the help of the professor's inventions, Rex is able to free Ergro of Grood's domination, while Grood is sent on an endless voyage into space.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Mandrake, the Magician

Date of  Release : May, 1939

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Warren Hull, Doris Wilson , Al Kikume, Rex Downing & Edward Earle

Directed by Sam Nelson & Norman Deeming

12 Chapters & 230 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 18 mins each

Synopsis : Mandrake and Luthor battle The Wasp for control of the radium energy machine invented by Professor Houston for medical purposes. The Wasp knows that it can be used as a lethal weapon of destruction. Learning that Mandrake is returning from Tibet with the formula for a platonite steel alloy needed to perfect the device, The Wasp orders his men to kidnap Houson and his prototype model. Based on the Lee Falk comic-strip.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Man with the Steel Whip

Date of  Release : 19th July, 1954

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Richard Simmons, Barbara Bestar, Dale Van Sickel, Lane Bradford & Mauritz Hugo

Directed by Franklyn Adreon

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

Synopsis : A Saloon owner wants the Indian reservation land on which he knows there is gold, and organizes a gang, aided by some renegade Indians, to raid and terrorize close-by settlers hoping to arouse them to drive off the Indians. Rancher Jerry Randall, accompanied by school teacher Nancy Cooper, sets out to defeat the plot. In order to win the loyality of the innocent tribe members, Randall masquerades as a legendary friend of the Indians, El Latigo

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Don Daredevil Rides Again : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Manhunt in the African Jungles (aka Secret Service in Darkest Africa)

Date of  Release : 6th August, 1943

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Rod Cameron, Joan Marsh, Duncan Renaldo, Lionel Royce & Kurt Kreuger

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

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

Synopsis : Chronicles the action-filled adventures of US Secret Service agent Rex Bennett in his quest to obtain a sacred Arab religious artefact which the Nazis will use to turn the hordes of Arab tribesmen against the allies

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with G Men vs the Black Dragon : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Manhunt of Mystery Island

Date of  Release : 13th January, 1945

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Richard Bailey, Linda Stirling, Roy Barcroft, Kenneth Duncan & Forrest Taylor

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace A. Grissell, Enos "Yakima" Canutt

15 Chapters & 221 mins  - Chapter 1 is 25 mins, the rest are 14 mins each

Synopsis : A young couple journey to Mystery Island to rescue the girl's father, who is being held prisoner by the evil Captain Mephisto, a pirate from 200 years ago who uses his Transformation Machine to travel forward in time and disguise himself as one of the four owners of Mystery Island.

Bonus DVD : Theatrical Feature (Captain Mephisto and the Transformation Machine)

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Purple Monster Strikes : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Masked Marvel, The

Date of  Release : 6th November, 1943

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring William Forrest, Louise Currie, Tom Steele, Johnny Arthur & Rod Bacon

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

12 Chapters & 202 mins  - Chapter 1 is 26 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : When a wave of sabotage masterminded by an infamous Japanese agent threatens America's war effort, the Masked Marvel leaps into action thwarting the subversives at every turn.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Master Key, The

Date of  Release : 18th April, 1945

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Milburn Stone, Jan Wiley, Dennis Moore, Sarah Padden & Russell Hicks

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 260 mins  - all chapters are about 18 mins each

Synopsis : A professor develops an Orotron machine that will extract gold from the ocean. The unidentified Master Key directs the foreign agents in attempts to steal and utilize the machine, while  an FBI agent, a detective and a reporter doggedly pursue the saboteurs.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Mysterious Mr. M : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Miracle Rider, The

Date of  Release : 4th May, 1935

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Tom Mix, Joan Gale, Charles Middleton & Jason Robards Sr.

Directed by Armand Schaefer & B. Reeves Easton

15 Chapters & 295 mins  - Chapter 1 is 42 mins, the rest are 18 mins

Synopsis : In 1930s Texas, following the murder of his father, Tom Morgan joins the Texas Rangers to avenge his father's death and to follow in his path as a proponent of Indian rights. His task as a Ranger is to stop the evil Zaroff and his gang, who are smuggling the elements for a powerful explosive from a mine on Indian land.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Monster and the Ape, The

Date of  Release : April, 1945

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Robert Lowery, George Macready, Ralph Morgan, Carole Mathews & Jack Ingram

Directed by Howard Bretherton

15 Chapters & 300 mins  - Chapter 1 is 30 mins, the rest are 19 mins

Synopsis : At the Bainbridge Research Foundation, Professor Franklin Arnold displays his creation, the Metalogen Man, a robot, to Professor Ernst (George Macready in his only serial appearance) and three other colleagues. Shortly afterwards, the three associates are killed by Thor, a huge ape trained by Ernst. Arnold, his daughter Babs and Ken Morgan (Robert Lowery), a representative of the company for whom the robot was made, find that the robot has been stolen. Their 15-chapter search for Thor, the robot and Ernst leads to a series of cliff-hanging adventures as Ernst strives to gain control of the robot and the supply of Metalogen needed for its production.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Mysterious Doctor Satan

Date of  Release : 13th December, 1940

Studio : Republic Pictures

Starring Robert Wilcox, Ella Neal, Eduardo Cianelli, William Newell & C. Montague Shaw

Directed by William Witney & John English

15 Chapters & 269 mins  - Chapter 1 is 31 mins, the rest are 17 mins each

Synopsis : "The Copperhead" a hooded crimefighter is out to thwart the evil designs of criminal mastermind, Doctor Satan, who plans to enslave the world with an army of remote-controlled robots.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Mysterious Island

Date of  Release : September 1951

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Richard Crane, Marshall Reed, Karen Randle, Ralph Hodges & Gene Roth

Directed by Spencer G. Bennet

15 Chapters & 248 mins  - Chapter 1 is 22 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : Several Yankee prisoners escape a Confederate prison via balloon and days later find themselves marooned on a desert island. Here they encounter a spaceship carrying two men and a woman from  the planet Mercury. The Mercurians are seeking a mysterious and rare metal to be used in making an explosive capable of destroying Earth. The Yankees also encounter hostile natives, pirates and Captain Nemo who aids them.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Mysterious Mr. M, The

Date of  Release : July 23rd 1946

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Dennis Moore, Richard Martin, Pamela Blake, Jane Randolph & Danny Morton

Directed by Lewis D. Collins & Vernon Keays

13 Chapters & 235 mins  - Chapter 1 is 22 mins, the rest are 16 mins each

Synopsis : Universal's last serial production. Two investigators seek to solve the case of the disappearance of a submarine inventor kidnapped by a gang headed by a mysterious leader called Mr. M

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

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

 

Mysterious Pilot, The

Date of  Release : November, 1937

Studio : Columbia Studios

Starring Frank Hawks, Dorothy Sebastian, Rex Lease, Guy Bates Post & Yakima Canutt

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & George M. Merrick

15 Chapters & 305 mins  - Chapter 1 is 28 mins & the rest are about 20 mins each

Synopsis : On a train travelling through the Canadian wilds Jean McNain overhears a conversation in the next compartment where James Crawford accuses Carter Snowden, her potential fiance of murder. Snowden kills Crawford and when Jean slips off the train, Snowden's henchmen are in hot pursuit, for not only can she identify him as the killer, she also co-owns a thriving lumber company Snowden covets. Jean encounters Jim Dorn (Captain Frank Hawks), a cartographer for the Royal Canadian Air Force who, together with RCMP Sergeant "Kansas" Eby and Indian Luke (Yakima Canutt) try to keep Jean out of the hands of Snowden's minions.

This serial is helped by a bigger budget (comparatively) and great outdoor locations - log cabins, canoe chases & crashing sea-planes. A genuine Mountie serial with a lot going for it.

Note : The lead was played by famous American aviator Frank Hawks, billed above the title and all the posters as Captain Frank Hawks. In June 1933, he had flown non-stop across the USA in 13 and a half hours, four hours faster than the previous record, which he also held. While acknowledged as one of the best flyers around, he was also something of a daredevil and risk-taker who managed to kill himself a few months after the completion of this film by crashing a non-commercial aircraft he was flying.

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

2 DVD Set with Flying G-Men : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

 

Mystery of the Riverboat, The

Date of  Release : October, 1944

Studio : Universal Studios

Starring Robert Lowery, Eddie Quillan, Marion Martin, Marjorie Clements & Lyle Talbot

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins

13 Chapters & 230 mins  - Each chapter is about 18 mins each

Synopsis : Oil-rich swampland in the bayou country inspires both greed and murder as the disinherited son of the Duval family tries to gain control of the land. Steve Langtry, returning home from college, is framed for a murder and jumps ship to escape. He then sets about proving his innocence and rounding up the real criminals

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

Mystery Squadron, The

Date of  Release : December 22nd, 1933

Studio : Mascot Pictures

Starring Bob Steele, Lucille Brown, Guinn Williams, Jack Mulhall & J. Carrol Naish

Directed by Colbert Clark & David Howard

12 Chapters & 225 mins  - Chapter 1 is 28 mins, the rest are about 17 mins each

Synopsis : A mystery squadron of planes, led by an unidentified leader calling himself The Black Ace, repeatedly attacks a huge dam construction project that threatens a secret gold mine. Two stunt pilots are hired by the owner of the construction firm to protect the dam site.

Excellent "aviation" serial

 

Very Nice print - much better than commercial offerings

 

DVD : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

 

 

 

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