Serials and Cliffhangers in Color and Sepia

This colorized 15-Chapter serial depicts The Phantom, the inheritor of a line of "the Ghost who Walks", the legendary defender of the Jungles of Bangala, and considered by the natives to be immortal. In this story, he defends a scientific expedition seeking the lost city of Zoloz from the plots of a gang trying to find it first and sieze Zoloz's wealth for the Axis. The Phantom is a 1943 15-chapter cliffhanger superhero serial, produced by Rudolph C. Flothow, directed B. Reeves Eason, and starring Tom Tyler in the title role. It is based on Lee Falk's comic strip The Phantom, first syndicated to newspapers in 1936 by King Features Syndicate. The serial also features Jeanne Bates as the Phantom's girlfriend Diana Palmer, and Ace the Wonder Dog as the Phantom's trusty German shepherd Devil (who is a wolf in the original comic strip). Plot summary Professor Davidson plans an expedition to find the Lost City of Zoloz. The location of the city is contained on seven pieces of ivory, three of which Davidson already possesses. Doctor Bremmer, however, intends to find the lost city and use it as a secret airbase for his unnamed country. To remove him as an obstacle, he kills The Phantom, only for his recently returned son, Geoffrey Prescott, to inherit the family identity and take over the mantle of The Phantom. Three of the remaining ivory pieces are owned by Singapore Smith, who initially steals Davidson's pieces. The seventh, and most important, piece is missing at first but turns up in the possession of Tartar (which The Phantom acquires by wrestling Tartar's pet gorilla). Cast Tom Tyler as Godffrey Prescott/The Phantom Jeanne Bates as Diana Palmer Ernie Adams as Rusty Fenton John Bagni as Moku Frank Shannon as Prof. Davidson Kenneth MacDonald as Dr. Max Bremmer Joe Devlin as Singapore Smith Al Ferguson as Thug (uncredited)

The first foray of Batman and Robin in the Cinema. This is a 15-Chapter serial that narrates the struggle of the Dynamic Duo against a Japanese spy ring. It is rabidly anti-Japanese in its depiction of the then enemy. The Batman is a 1943 American 15-chapter theatrical serial from Columbia Pictures, produced by Rudolph C. Flothow, directed by Lambert Hillyer, that stars Lewis Wilson as the Batman and Douglas Croft as his sidekick, Robin.[ The serial is based on the DC Comics character Batman, who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. The villain is an original character named Dr. Daka, a secret agent of the Japanese Imperial government, played by J. Carrol Naish. Rounding out the cast are Shirley Patterson as Linda Page, Bruce Wayne's love interest, and William Austin as Alfred, the Wayne Manor butler. The serial's story line involves the Batman, a secret U.S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operating in Los Angeles at the height of World War II.[ Serving Daka are his American henchmen. Batman is notable for being the first appearance on film of theBatman and for debuting story elements that quickly became permanent parts of the Batman character's mythos, such as the "Bat's Cave" and its secret entrance through a grandfather clock inside Wayne Manor. The serial also changed the course of how Alfred's physical appearance was depicted in future Batman stories. At the time Batman was released in theaters, Alfred was drawn as a portly gentleman in the comics. Subsequent issues suddenly depicted Alfred as slim and sporting a thin moustache, following actor William Austin's appearance. The serial was commercially successful and in 1949, four years after World War II, spawned another Columbia chapter serial, Batman and Robin. The entire first Batman serial was re-released theatrically in 1965 as An Evening with Batman and Robin, and proved very popular (some theatres showed the chapters as a Saturday matinee). Its success inspired the action-comedy lampoon series Batman (and its 1966 theatrical feature film spin-off) starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Plot The Batman/Bruce Wayne (Lewis Wilson), and his ward, Robin/Dick Grayson (Douglas Croft), secret government agents following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, become aware of a Japanese sabotage ring operating in Gotham City. Bruce's girlfriend Linda Page (Shirley Patterson) asks for his help in finding her uncle, Martin Warren (Gus Glassmire), who was abducted by the ring after he was released from prison. Dr. Tito Daka (J. Carrol Naish), the Japanese leader of the ring, plans to steal the city's radium supply to power his invention, a hand-held ray gun that can dissolve anything hit by its powerful beam. He forces from Warren the location of the vault where the radium is stored. Daka sends his American henchmen, along with a zombie that he controls by microphone via an electronic brain implant, to steal the precious metal. Batman discovers the plot and eventually routs the gang after a terrific battle. In his secret Bat's Cave, the Batman interrogates one of Daka's henchmen, who reveals the radium was to have been taken to The House of the Open Door, located in the mostly deserted "Little Tokyo" section of Gotham City. Batman and Robin infiltrate the gang's lair (also Dr. Daka's laboratory), hidden inside a still-open business, a Fun House ride. There, they find Linda bound, gagged, and unconscious. After she is rescued by the Dynamic Duo, Daka transforms her uncle Warren into a zombie, and plots the derailment of a heavily laden supply train. Once again, Dr. Daka's sabotage efforts are stopped by the Batman and Robin. Traps and counter-traps follow in the succeeding chapters, as the Dynamic Duo continue to thwart the plans of the Japanese agent and his henchmen. When Dr. Daka attempts to steal America's Victory Plans, the Batman and Robin finally prevail. They oversee the capture of Daka's men and finally the death of the Japanese agent, as he tries to escape and falls through his own hidden trapdoor into a pit full of hungry alligators. Chapter titles Chapter Title Release # Release Date Length (feet) Running Time 1 The Electrical Brain 5120 July 16, 1943 2423′ 26.9 minutes 2 The Bat's Cave 5121 July 23, 1943 1606′ 17.8 minutes 3 The Mark of the Zombies 5122 July 30, 1943 1638′ 18.2 minutes 4 Slaves of the Rising Sun 5123 August 6, 1943 1664′ 18.5 minutes 5 The Living Corpse 5124 August 13, 1943 1565′ 17.4 minutes 6 Poison Peril 5125 August 20, 1943 1538′ 17.1 minutes 7 The Phoney Doctor 5126 August 27, 1943 1467′ 16.3 minutes 8 Lured By Radium 5127 September 3, 1943 1525′ 16.9 minutes 9 The Sign of the Sphinx 5218 September 10, 1943 1500′ 16.7 minutes 10 Flying Spies 5129 September 17, 1943 1618′ 18 minutes 11 A Nipponese Trap 5130 September 24, 1943 1447′ 16.1 minutes 12 Embers of Evil 5131 October 1, 1943 1333′ 14.8 minutes 13 Eight Steps Down 5132 October 8, 1943 1322′ 14.7 minutes 14 The Executioner Strikes 5133 October 15, 1943 1441′ 16 minutes 15 The Doom of the Rising Sun 5134 October 22, 1943 1840′ 20.4 minutes Cast Lewis Wilson as Bruce Wayne / Batman Douglas Croft as Richard "Dick" Grayson / Robin J. Carrol Naish as Dr. Tito Daka/Prince Daka Shirley Patterson as Linda Page William Austin as Alfred (uncredited) Robert Fiske as Foster (uncredited) Gus Glassmire as Uncle Martin (uncredited) Karl Hackett as Wallace (uncredited) Tom London as Andrews (uncredited) Charles Middleton as Ken Colton (Episodes #6-#8) (uncredited) Harry Tenbrook as Bartender (uncredited) Charles C. Wilson as Police Captain Arnold (uncredited)

Jungle Raiders is a 1945 Columbia film serial. Kane Richmond plays the hero Bob Moore, with Janet Reed as Ann Shaw (his love interest), and Charles King plays head villain Jake Raynes. Plot Ann Reed travels to a mysterious land following her father, Dr. Murray Reed, who disappeared into its interior many years ago. Ann falls in with Bob Moore and Joe Riley who have just been mustered out of the military and plan to join Moore's father who is researching rumors of a miracle healing drug used by the witch doctors of a mysterious tribe. The owner of the local trading post is determine to keep the scientists out of the area so he can locate a cache of jewels guarded by the tribe without outside interference... Cast Kane Richmond as Bob Moore Eddie Quillan as Joe Riley, Bob Moore's comedy sidekick Veda Ann Borg as Cora Bell Carol Hughes as Zara, the High Priestess Janet Shaw as Ann Reed John Elliott as Dr Horace Moore Jack Ingram as Tom Hammil Charles King as Jake Raynes, owner of the trading post Ernie Adams as Charley, a henchman I. Stanford Jolley as Brent, a henchman Kermit Maynard as Cragg, a henchman Budd Buster as Dr Murray Reed, abductee and Ann Reed's father Nick Thompson as the chief of the Arzecs Alfredo DeSa as Matu

The Mysterious Mr. M is a 1946 Universal Pictures movie serial, the 137th and last serial produced by Universal. Plot Anthony Waldron intends to steal a new submarine invention from Dr. Kittridge while blaming a fictitious mastermind he calls "Mr. M." To further this plan, Waldron uses a mind control drug he has developed called "Hypnotreme." However, a mystery villain soon appears claiming to be the real Mr. M and starts giving Waldron orders. Federal agent Grant Farrell, whose brother was killed by Waldron, is dispatched to find the mysterious villain and stop his nefarious plans, teaming up with Kirby Walsh and Shirley Clinton to do so. Cast Richard Martin as Detective Lieutenant Kirby Walsh Pamela Blake as Shirley Clinton, insurance investigator Dennis Moore as Agent Grant Farrell Edmund MacDonald as Anthony Waldron, the original villain Virginia Brissac as Cornelia Waldron Jack Ingram as William Shrag, the chief henchman Danny Morton as Derek Lamont, one of Waldron's henchmen Byron Foulger as Wetherby Jane Randolph as Marina Lamont, one of Waldron's henchmen SOURCE:[1] Chapter titles When Clocks Chime Death Danger Downward Flood of Flames The Double Trap Highway Execution Heavier than Water Strange Collision When Friend Kills Friend Parachute Peril The Human Time-bomb The Key to Murder High-line Smash-up The Real Mr. M

Plot A murderous gang of counterfeiters has kidnapped John Severn (played by Ray Parsons), the U.S. government's best engraver. He is forced to engrave a set of counterfeit plates, to print phony money that is virtually undetectable from genuine currency. The United States Secret Service sends its toughest agent, Jack Holt (played by himself), and his female partner, Kay Drew (Evelyn Brent), after the gang. Holt poses as escaped tough guy, Nick Farrel. Masquerading as the bickering, tough-talking Mr. and Mrs. Farrel, Holt and Drew manage to infiltrate the ruthless gang of thugs. Holt locates Severn and instructs him to keep working but as slowly as possible, to give Holt time to find the head of the crime ring. Holt takes the set of counterfeit plates in hand, and much of the action has Holt keeping the plates away from the crooks. The scenes shift from the gang's hideout in a lost canyon to a gambling ship on the high seas, to a small island country where the gang hopes to escape U.S. extradition. The head of the ring is gambler Lucky Arnold (John Ward), but he hides behind the facade of one of his loyal henchmen, Quist (Ted Adams), to shield himself from the Secret Service, and lets another one of his men, Ed Valden (Tristram Coffin), do most of his dirty work. The island nation has its own self-appointed dictator (Stanley Blystone), who is also trying to rub out our hero. During the 15 episodes, Holt endures numerous brushes with death, emerging from all of them virtually unscathed. Holt is so tough that, when he faces a firing squad and is asked if he wants a blindfold, he murmurs, "Forget it. This is the only thing in life I haven't seen!" Cast Jack Holt as Jack Holt / Nick Farrel Evelyn Brent as Kay Drew C. Montague Shaw as Chief John W. Malloy Tristram Coffin as Ed Valden John Ward as 'Lucky' Arnold Ted Adams as Quist Joe McGuinn as 'Crimp' Evans Edward Hearn as Agent Jim Layton Ray Parsons as John Severn - Engraver Jack Cheatham as Agent Frank

LES VAMPIRES (1915–1916) Les Vampires is a 1915–1916 French silent crime serial film written and directed by Louis Feuillade. Set in Paris, it stars Édouard Mathé, Musidora and Marcel Lévesque. The main characters are a journalist and his friend who become involved in trying to uncover and stop a bizarre underground Apaches criminal gang, known as the Vampires (who are not the mythical beings their name might suggest). The serial consists of ten episodes, which vary greatly in length. Being roughly 7 hours long, it is considered one of the longest films ever made. It was produced and distributed by Feuillade's company Gaumont. Due to its stylistic similarities with Feuillade's other crime serials Fantômas and Judex, the three are often considered a trilogy. Cast Newspaper: Édouard Mathé as Philippe Guérande, a newspaper reporter, investigating the Vampires Stacia Napierkowska as Marfa Koutiloff, a dancer and early love interest for Philippe Delphine Renot [fr] as Madame Guérande, Philippe's mother Louise Lagrange as Jane Bremontier, Philippe's fiancée, and later, wife Jeanne Marie-Laurent as Madame Brémontier, Jane's mother Marcel Lévesque as Oscar-Cloud Mazamette, Guérande's friend and coworker, who is initially working undercover for the Vampires Gaston Michel as Benjamin, Mazamette's servant René Poyen [fr] as Eustache, Mazamette's son Germaine Rouer as Augustine Charlet, widow of a Vampire victim and eventual fiancée of Mazamette Vampires Jean Aymé [fr] as the First Grand Vampire, a master of disguise Musidora as Irma Vep, collaborator with several Vampire leaders Suzanne Le Bret [fr] as Hortense, Irma Vep's servant Louis Leubas [fr] as Father Silence, a deaf mute working for the Vampires; and as Satanas, the Second Grand Vampire Edmond Bréon as Satanas's servant Maurice Boyer [fr] aka Moriss as Venomous, the Third Grand Vampire, a chemist genius Miss Édith [fr] as Countess de Kerlor, a Vampire Georgette Faraboni [fr] as the Vampire Dancer Rivals Fernand Herrmann as Juan-José Moréno (and Brichonnet), head of a ring of crooks, and rival to the Vampires Suzanne Delvé as Lily Flower (in the French intertitles as Fleur-de-Lys), an accomplice of Moréno Others Rita Herlor [fr] as Mrs. Simpson, an American multimillionairess Émile Keppens [fr] as George Baldwin, an American millionaire Renée Carl as the Andalusian Maurice Luguet [fr] as De Villemant Paula Maxa [fr] as Laure Laurent Morléas as Grand Army Officer Théodore Thalès [fr] as the Magistrate Jacques Feyder as a party guest Françoise Rosay as a party guest Fridolin Jean-François Martial

Raiders of Ghost City is a 1944 American Western film serial from Universal Pictures set in California during the American Civil War. Plot At the height of the Civil War, a gang of supposed Confederates, headed by Alex Morel, raid all gold shipments from Oro Grande, California, bound for Washington. Captain Steve Clark is recognized as a Union Secret Service agent by Morel's accomplice Trina Dessard, along with his friend Idaho Jones, is ambushed in the baggage car and sent to almost certain death when the car is un-coupled and plunges down the mountainside. Leaping to safety, Idaho and Steve report to Colonel Sewell in Oro Grande, and Idaho introduces himself as a Wells Fargo detective to Cathy Haines the Oro Grande company agent. Steve and Idaho learn that the Morel raiders are only posing as Confederates, and their headquarters are at Morel's "Golden Eagle" saloon. He also discovers that members of the gang use old European coins with the date "1752" as identification. In a raid on the hideout, Steve's brother Jim is killed by the gang. The next victim is Confederate Army Captain Clay Randolph who has discovered that Morel is connected with a group of Prussian spies who have been using the stolen gold to initially finance Prussia's wars but later to buy Alaska from the Russian Empire as a "club over Canada"; hed gives Steve a clue before he dies. The date 1752 of the recognition coins is explained as the date of Frederick the Great's Testament that supposedly gave instructions how Prussia would take over the world. The clue leads Steve to a San Francisco dive owned by Abel Rackerby, who thinking he has Steve in his power, exposes the ring's activities and operation methods. Aided by the San Francisco Secret Service, Steve escapes and returns to Oro Grande where he and Idaho round up the spies. Cast Dennis Moore as Captain Steve Clark Wanda McKay as Cathy Haines Lionel Atwill as Erich von Rugen, alias Alex Morel Joe Sawyer as Idaho Jones Regis Toomey as Captain Clay Randolph Virginia Christine as Countess Elsa von Merck, alias Trina Dressard Eddy Waller as Doc Blair Emmett Vogan as Count Manfried von Rinkton, alias Carl Lawton Addison Richards as Colonel Sewell Charles Wagenheim as Hugo Metzger, alias Abel Rackerby Jack Ingram as Braddock, Confederate outlaw

King of the Forest Rangers (1946) is a Republic film serial. Cast Larry Thompson as Forest Ranger Captain Steve King Helen Talbot as Marion Brennan Stuart Hamblen as Prof Carver Anthony Warde as Burt Spear LeRoy Mason as "Flush" Haliday Scott Elliott as Andrews Plot An Indian rug is the key to the location of a lost treasure. When the rug's owner is murdered, it becomes a case for Forest Ranger Steve King.

The Spiders (German: Die Spinnen) is a silent two-part German adventure film written and directed by Fritz Lang. It was released in two parts in 1919 and 1920. Two more parts were originally planned but never made. It was believed to be a lost film, but it has been rediscovered and restored. it was planned in four. one of the closest film to a serial Plot Carl de Vogt and Lil Dagover in a scene from part 1 Part 1. Der goldene See ("The Golden Lake"): In San Francisco, well-known sportsman, adventurer and traveller Kay Hoog announces to his club that he has found a message in a bottle with a map drawn by a Harvard professor who has gone missing. The message tells of a lost Incan civilization that possesses an immense treasure. Hoog starts an expedition to find the treasure, while the crime syndicate "Die Spinnen" sends out a rival expedition led by the beautiful but dangerous Lio Sha. At the Golden Lake, Hoog saves the Inca priestess Naela and falls in love with her. He takes her home with him after discovering a mysterious clue about a diamond ship. Back in San Francisco, Lio Sha declares her love for Hoog but he rejects her in favour of Naela. Lio Sha has Naela murdered and Kay Hoog swears revenge.[1] Part 2. Das Brillantenschiff ("The Diamond Ship"): The search is on for a Buddha-head shaped diamond that has special powers. Carried in the hands of 'a princess' it will bestow the power to rule Asia. In San Francisco, Hoog discovers a hidden city underneath Chinatown but he is found out and taken prisoner. Eventually the hunt brings Kay Hoog to England, where the Spiders kidnap Ellen, daughter of diamond king Terry whom they suspect of owning the stone. When Kay Hoog arrives on the scene, he and Terry discover (with the help of an ancient log book) that Terry's pirate ancestor concealed a map in a painting. Hoog follows the map to the Falkland Islands to find the diamond, but Fourfinger-John, who has spied on Terry and Hoog, manages to inform the Spiders by carrier pigeon. Lio Sha and her henchmen catch up with Hoog in the cave where the pirate treasure is hidden and take him prisoner. However, poisonous fumes from a volcano enter the cave and all the criminals die. Only Kay Hoog manages to escape with the stone. Back in England, he works with the police and Terry to free Ellen from the clutches of the Spiders' hypnotist master.[2] Cast Part 1[1] Carl de Vogt as Kay Hoog Lil Dagover as Sun Priestess Naela Ressel Orla as Lio Sha Georg John as Dr. Telphas Rudolf Lettinger as diamond king John Terry Edgar Pauly [de] as Fourfinger-John Paul Morgan as diamond expert Meinhardt Maur as book worm Friedrich Kühne Part 2[2] Carl de Vogt as Kay Hoog Ressel Orla as Lio Sha Reiner Steiner as captain of the diamond ship Georg John as Dr. Telphas Rudolf Lettinger as diamond king John Terry Thea Zander as Ellen Terry Friedrich Kühne as Yogi All-hab-mah Edgar Pauly [de] as Fourfinger-John Meinhardt Maur as Chinese Paul Morgan as Jew

IN PROCESS TOCOLORIZE--Flying G-Men is a 15-episode 1939 adventure film Film serial, directed by James W. Horne and Ray Taylor. The serial was the sixth of the 57 serials released by Columbia.[1] Four "Flying G-Men" battle with enemy saboteurs intent on destroying American military defences.[2] Plot Three government aviators, Hal Andrews, Bart Davis and John Cummings called the "Flying G-Men", one of whom is disguised as "The Black Falcon", fight to protect the United States and its allies from an enemy spy ring and to avenge the death of the fourth Flying G-Man, Charles Bronson. Bronson was killed when he attempted to stop enemy agents from stealing the new McKay military aircraft, designed by Billy McKay. The Junior Air Defenders are also enlisted to help the Flying G-Men. A plot to infiltrate all military factories and airports is discovered but the spy chief called "The Professor" is unknown. Suspecting Marvin Brewster, the owner of Brewster Airport, a local airfield, is The Professor, the G-Men find that he has kidnapped Babs McKay. They follow him to the spy hideout to capture Brewster and rescue Babs. Chapter titles Challenge in the Sky Flight of the Condemned The Vulture's Nest The Falcon Strikes Flight from Death Phantom of the Sky Trapped by Radio The Midnight Watch Wings of Terror Flaming Wreckage While a Nation Sleeps Sealed Orders Flame Island Jaws of Death The Falcon's Reward Source:[3] Cast Robert Paige as Hal Andrews, Flying G-Man, and "The Black Falcon" Richard Fiske as Bart Davis, Flying G-Man James Craig as John Cummings, Flying G-Man Lorna Gray as Babs McKay [N 1] Sammy McKim as Billy McKay Stanley Brown as Charles Bronson, Flying G-Man Don Beddoe as W. S. Hamilton Forbes Murray as Marvin Brewster and The Professor, the villainous owner of a local airport Lee Prather as Simmons Beatrice Blinn as Brewster's secretary Ann Doran as Hamilton's secretary Dick Curtis as Korman, a henchman Eddie Laughton as Hall, a henchman John Tyrrell as Williams Eddie Fetherston as Borden, a geologist

IN PROCESS TOCOLORIZE--Son of the Guardsman is an American film serial released in 1946 by Columbia Pictures. It was the 31st of the 57 serials produced by that studio. Son of the Guardsman is a rare serial with a period setting, in this case 12th century England. The serial is largely based on the Robin Hood legends, to the extent of including outlaws from Sherwood Forest, but it does not include or reference Robin Hood himself. The serial was produced by the notoriously cheap Sam Katzman and directed by Derwin Abrahams. Bob Shaw starred as the heroic noble-turned-outlaw David Trent with Charles King as his villainous uncle Sir Edgar Bullard. Plot Set in the High Middle Ages, Sir Edgar Bullard conspires to conquer England. In doing so, he kidnaps the daughter of his rival, Lord Markham. This causes his nephew, David Trent, to turn against him and join the outlaws in Sherwood Forest, who are led by Allan Hawk. Meanwhile, the outlaws of the forest support Prince Richard as the rightful ruler of England, who has been usurped by the regent Lord Hampton. Cast Bob Shaw as David Trent, nobleman turned outlaw Daun Kennedy as Lady Louise Markham, daughter of Lord Markham Robert 'Buzz' Henry as "Roger Mowbry", really Prince Richard in disguise Jim Diehl as Allan Hawk, leader of the Sherwood Forest outlaws Hugh Prosser as Red Robert Leonard Penn as Mark Crowell Jock Mahoney as Captain Kenley Charles King as Sir Edgar Bullard, David Trent's evil uncle John Merton as Lord Hampton, the evil regentSon of the Guardsman is an American film serial released in 1946 by Columbia Pictures. It was the 31st of the 57 serials produced by that studio. Son of the Guardsman is a rare serial with a period setting, in this case 12th century England. The serial is largely based on the Robin Hood legends, to the extent of including outlaws from Sherwood Forest, but it does not include or reference Robin Hood himself. The serial was produced by the notoriously cheap Sam Katzman and directed by Derwin Abrahams. Bob Shaw starred as the heroic noble-turned-outlaw David Trent with Charles King as his villainous uncle Sir Edgar Bullard. Plot Set in the High Middle Ages, Sir Edgar Bullard conspires to conquer England. In doing so, he kidnaps the daughter of his rival, Lord Markham. This causes his nephew, David Trent, to turn against him and join the outlaws in Sherwood Forest, who are led by Allan Hawk. Meanwhile, the outlaws of the forest support Prince Richard as the rightful ruler of England, who has been usurped by the regent Lord Hampton. Cast Bob Shaw as David Trent, nobleman turned outlaw Daun Kennedy as Lady Louise Markham, daughter of Lord Markham Robert 'Buzz' Henry as "Roger Mowbry", really Prince Richard in disguise Jim Diehl as Allan Hawk, leader of the Sherwood Forest outlaws Hugh Prosser as Red Robert Leonard Penn as Mark Crowell Jock Mahoney as Captain Kenley Charles King as Sir Edgar Bullard, David Trent's evil uncle John Merton as Lord Hampton, the evil regent

Blackhawk is a 1952 American 15-chapter science fiction adventure movie serial from Columbia Pictures, based on the comic book Blackhawk, first published by Quality Comics, but later owned by competitor DC Comics. It was Columbia's forty-ninth serial. The one-sheet poster referred to the serial as The Miraculous Blackhawk: Freedom's Champion.[1] The home video release added the tagline: "Fearless Champion of Freedom". Blackhawk stars Kirk Alyn as Blackhawk and Carol Forman as the foreign spy that must be stopped from stealing the experimental super-fuel "Element-X"; Alyn and Forman were also the hero and villain of Columbia's earlier Superman. Blackhawk was produced by the famously cheap Sam Katzman and directed by the team of Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred F. Sears. It is considered cheap and lackluster, made in the waning years of studio movie serial production. Premise A flying squadron of World War II veterans, The International Brotherhood, is a private flying investigative force led by Blackhawk. They uncover a gang of underworld henchmen, led by the notorious foreign spy Laska, who reports to The Leader, a mystery man. During the serial, Blackhawk and his flying squadron set about bringing these criminals to justice, following a series of cliff-hanger adventures. Cast Kirk Alyn as Blackhawk Michael Fox as Mr. Case Don C. Harvey as Olaf (as Don Harvey) Rick Vallin as Stan/Boris John Crawford as Chuck Frank Ellis as Hendrickson [Chs. 1-2,4,8-9] Larry Stewart as Andre Weaver Levy as Chop-Chop Carol Forman as Laska Zon Murray as Bork Nick Stuart as Cress Marshall Reed as Aller Pierce Lyden as Dyke William Fawcett as Dr. Rolph [Chs.4-7] Rory Mallinson as Hodge [Chs. 11-14] Chapter titles Distress Call from Space Blackhawk Traps a Traitor In the Enemy's Hideout The Iron Monster Human Targets Blackhawk's Leap for Life Mystery Fuel Blasted from the Sky Blackhawk Tempts Fate Chase for Element X Forced Down Drums of Doom Blackhawk's Daring Plan Blackhawk's Wild Ride The Leader Unmasked

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars is a 1938 Universal Pictures 15–chapter science-fiction movie serial based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip Flash Gordon.[1] It is the second of the three Flash Gordon serials made by Universal between 1936 and 1940. The main cast from the first serial reprise their roles: Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon, Jean Rogers as Dale Arden, Frank Shannon as Dr. Alexis Zarkov, Charles B. Middleton as Ming the Merciless, and Richard Alexander as Prince Barin. Also in the principal cast are Beatrice Roberts as Queen Azura, Donald Kerr as Happy Hapgood, Montague Shaw as the Clay King, and Wheeler Oakman as Ming's chief henchman. The serial was followed by Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). Plot When a mysterious beam of light starts disrupting and destroying the Earth's atmosphere, Flash Gordon (Buster Crabbe), Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon), and Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) - accidentally accompanied by wisecracking reporter Happy Hapgood (Donald Kerr) - swing into action in Zarkov's rocketship, believing that it could be coming from the planet Mongo. Once in space, they discover that the ray originates from Mars. Journeying to the fourth planet, they discover their old enemy from Mongo, Ming the Merciless (Charles B. Middleton), is alive and allied with Azura (Beatrice Roberts), the Witch Queen of Mars. From there, under her protection, he is operating a Nitron ray destroying Earth's atmosphere. Azura can transmute people into living clay, condemned to live and die in darkened caves, and she is hated and feared by most of the population. Conversely, the Clay People, led by their King (Montague Shaw), know how to eliminate Azura's power, but lack the means of escaping the caves to which their ruined bodies restrict them. Gordon and his party seem to hold the answer to their problem, except that the Clay People do not trust them at first, and end up holding Dale Arden hostage. Ultimately, the Earth visitors and the Clay People become allies in the tandem quest to defeat Azura and stop Ming from destroying the Earth. Flash, Dale, Zarkov, and Hapgood do battle against Azura's magic and her Martian space force, Ming's super-scientific weaponry, the treacherous Forest People, and other dangers on the Red Planet. Finally, they win by the classic strategy of divide-and-conquer, showing Azura that Ming has been plotting behind her back to take power from her. Azura's alliance with Ming is broken, at the cost of the Queen's own life, but the Clay People are freed from their curse. The evil emperor of Mongo, his Nitron ray destroyed and his escape cut off on all sides by the now hostile Martian forces, is seemingly vanquished by the accidental result of his own machinations and treachery. Cast Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon Jean Rogers as Dale Arden Charles B. Middleton as Ming the Merciless Frank Shannon as Dr. Alexis Zarkov Beatrice Roberts as Queen Azura Donald Kerr as Happy Hapgood Richard Alexander as Prince Barin C. Montague Shaw as Clay King Wheeler Oakman as Tarnak Kenne Duncan as Airdrome captain Warner Richmond as Zandar Cast notes: Charles Middleton's portrayal of Ming is devilish in this serial, as opposed his Fu Manchu-like performance in the first serial.

Mysterious Island is a 1951 American 15-chapter movie serial from Columbia Pictures, the studio's 46th, that stars Richard Crane, Marshall Reed, Karen Randle, and Ralph Hodges. It is an adaptation of Jules Verne's 1874 novel, The Mysterious Island (L'Île mystérieuse). As in the original story, which was Verne's follow-up to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, this serial is set in 1865. However, Columbia's screenwriters added alien Mercurians as an additional set of villains. The serial has been labeled a space opera version of Verne's novel.[1][2] Plot During the siege of Richmond, Virginia, in the American Civil War, POW Capt. Cyrus Harding escapes from his Confederate captors in a rather unusual way – by hijacking an observation balloon. In his escape, Harding is accompanied by sailor Pencroft, his nephew Bert, writer Gideon, loyal soldier Neb, and a dog. A hurricane blows the balloon off course, and the group eventually crash-lands on a cliff-bound, volcanic, uncharted (and fictitious) island, located in the South Pacific, with very unusual inhabitants. They name it "Lincoln Island" in honour of American President Abraham Lincoln. The castaways soon encounter a group of people that include the local natives (who worship the island's volcano), Rulu (a woman from Mercury trying to extract an unnamed superexplosive element in order to conquer the Earth), Ayrton (a wild man exiled on the island) and Captain Shard (a ruthless pirate). A mystery man, who possesses great scientific powers, also makes his presence known to the group of people; he is Captain Nemo, who survived the whirlpool in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and unlike the character in the Disney film, was not fatally wounded by military troops from warships. On the way, our quintet of heroes must battle the elements and peoples while trying to figure out a way off the island and back to civilization. Cast Richard Crane as Capt. Cyrus Harding Marshall Reed as Jack Pencroft Karen Randle as Rulu of Mercury Ralph Hodges as Herbert 'Bert' Brown Gene Roth as Pirate Capt. Shard Hugh Prosser as Gideon Spillett Leonard Penn as Captain Nemo Terry Frost as Ayrton - The Wild Man Rusty Wescoatt as Moley Bernard Hamilton as Neb (as Bernard Hamilton) Stanley Blystone as Confederate Officer (uncredited) Tom Tyler as Union Rider (uncredited)

The Purple Monster Strikes is a 1945 Republic Movie serial.[2] It was also released as a Century 66 television film under the title D-Day on Mars (1966). The original production title for the serial was The Purple Shadow Strikes. The sequel to this serial was the 1950 Flying Disc Man from Mars, which used much of the footage from the original.[3] Plot Astronomer Cyrus Layton is working late one night on his new airplane design in his observatory. He witnesses what he believes is a meteorite landing in the far distance. He contacts his niece Sheila and asks her to bring Craig Foster to the observatory to help analyze his discovery; he then sets out to search for the meteorite crater. Layton instead discovers a crashed spaceship; the ship's pilot emerges and explains that he is from the planet Mars. Mistakenly thinking the alien is friendly, Layton takes him back to the observatory. Once there the Martian, calling himself "The Purple Monster," wishes to see Layton's designs for the new airplane/spaceship.[4] He proudly shows the alien his designs until the alien explains that he is now stealing them, to build a spaceship for himself to fly back to Mars, where a fleet of the ships will then be used invade the Earth. When Dr. Layton objects, the Martian murders him with a weapon that emits a "carbo-oxide" gas, which kills instantly. The alien then transforms into a ghost and takes over Dr Layton's body. Doing so fools the astronomer's niece Sheila and criminologist Craig Foster, both of whom work with Dr. Layton's foundation, which is responsible for commissioning the spaceship project. Inhabiting Dr. Layton allows the Martian to witness the unrelated theft of the plans by a gangster named Garrett. The Martian convinces Garrett and his gang to aid in the invasion plot. With the criminals' help the alien begins building the spaceship. Eventually, however, the Martian's efforts at pretending to be Dr Layton fall apart, and Foster and Sheila realize what is happening. A series of action scenes show the pair trying to figure out and stop whatever the alien is doing on Earth. Craig and Sheila constantly battle the Purple Monster's henchmen, who use mind-control poisons, carjackings, and even a booby-trapped vacant lot to dispose of Craig and Sheila. The closest the criminals come to succeeding is in Chapter 7 ("The Evil Eye"), when Sheila is lured into a trap at the gang's hideout. Foster gets the information out of a captured gang member and speeds to the house to save Sheila, who has been tied up and gagged inside a room filled with explosives set to detonate after an electric eye is tripped. At the end of Chapter 7, Foster steps into the electric eye, triggering the explosives and detonating the building. However, at the beginning of Chapter 8, Shelia manages to remove her gag and alert Foster about the eye, allowing him to jump over it. Once safely out of the building, Foster shoots a henchman, causing him to fall into the electric eye, triggering the bomb. In the last chapter Craig and Sheila realize that the Purple Monster is using Professor Layton's body; they devise a plan to uncover the truth. While Sheila gets the supposed Doctor Layton to come downtown to sign some papers needed for funding, Craig slips into Layton's office and secretly installs a movie camera which will be remotely activated when the telephone is used. Foster then escapes and calls the office to advise him that he will be bringing reinforcements to search the observatory, which he has discovered is the Purple Monster's hideout. Craig and Sheila arrive to find the observatory deserted. Sheila goes to the basement where she stumbles upon Purple Monster's subterranean lair and is kidnapped. Foster goes to check on Sheila and finds the basement empty. He then discovers the secret lair where Sheila has been bound and gagged. The Purple Monster orders his henchmen to dispose of her and destroy the observatory once he escapes. The story ends with Craig Foster using a part of the spaceship, a sonic pulse cannon used to shatter meteors. He destroys the alien spaceship with the Purple Monster inside as he attempts to fly back to Mars to lead an invasion fleet against Earth. Cast Dennis Moore as Craig Foster. The hero was known as Carry Foster even as far into production as the final shooting script. The name was pencilled out for filming.[5] Linda Stirling as Sheila Layton Roy Barcroft as The Purple Monster. The villain was originally called "The Purple Shadow", which was also changed for filming.[5] James Craven as Dr Cyrus Layton Bud Geary as Hodge Garrett, Henchman Mary Moore as Marcia John Davidson as Emperor of Mars Joe Whitehead as Carl Stewart Anthony Warde as Tony, the Organ Grinder Production The Purple Monster Strikes was budgeted at $160,057 although the final negative cost was $183,803 (a $23,746, or 14.8%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1945.[1] It was filmed between 17 April and 19 May 1945 under the working title The Purple Shadow Strikes.[1] The serial's production number was 416.[1] This was the first post-war science fiction serial.[6] Roy Barcroft lived close (about a mile) to Republic Studios and jogged to work to keep fit for this job. When told that the costume included tights, he decided to lose weight and lost about 30 lb in 30 days. He called the serial "The Jerk in Tights from Boyle Heights".[5] The Purple Monster costume was re-used in Flying Disc Man from Mars (for Mota), Radar Men from the Moon (for Retik) and Commando Cody (the agent played by Stanley Waxman). Stock footage from The Purple Monster Strikes was also re-used in these serials. The rocket crash footage was re-used for Flying Disc Man from Mars.[5][6] The costume for Marcia, the Purple Monster's Martian henchwoman, was reused as Lara's outfit in the "Superman On Earth" episode of the Adventures of Superman television show. This was the last Republic serial with 15-chapters. The remaining serials were either 12- or 13-chapters in length.[1] Special effects The special effects were created by the Lydecker brothers. A problem occurred with the effects sequence of the rocketship crash in the first chapter. In the first attempt, the rocket struck an underground water pipe causing a geyser and forcing a retake.[5] The name of the aircraft that is intended to travel to Mars is always called the "jet plane". Jets were new at the time the series was made and Universal Studios' serial Flash Gordon had the copyright on the word "rocketship" for use in serials and their featurizations.[citation needed] Stunts Dale Van Sickel as Craig Foster (doubling Dennis Moore) Babe DeFreest as Sheila Layton (doubling Linda Stirling) Fred Graham as The Purple Monster (doubling Roy Barcroft) Tom Steele as Hodge Garrett (doubling Bud Geary) Polly Burson as Marcia (doubling Mary Moore) John Daheim Bud Geary Carey Loftin Cliff Lyons Henry Wills Release Theatrical The Purple Monster Strikes' official release date is 6 October 1945, although this is actually the date Chapter 7 was made available to film exchanges.[1] The serial was re-released on 25 March 1957 between the similar re-releases of Dangers of the Canadian Mounted and Zorro's Black Whip. The last original Republic serial release was King of the Carnival in 1955.[1] Television The Purple Monster Strikes was one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed to D-Day on Mars. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.[1] Chapter titles The Man in the Meteor (22min 20s) The Time Trap (13min 20s) Flaming Avalanche (13min 20s) The Lethal Pit (13min 20s) Death on the Beam (13min 20s) The Demon Killer (13min 20s) The Evil Eye (13min 20s) Descending Doom (13min 20s) The Living Dead (13min 20s) House of Horror (13min 20s) - a recap chapter Menace from Mars (13min 20s) Perilous Plunge (13min 20s) Fiery Shroud (13min 20s) The Fatal Trial (13min 20s) Take-off to Destruction (13min 20s)

The Mysterious Airman (a.k.a. Mysterious Airman and The Mystery Airman ) is a 1928 American black-and-white 10-chapter silent film serial from Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures.[1] The serial involves a mysterious airman who is after the aviation inventions from a new aircraft company.[2]The Mysterious Airman was one of the last Hollywood silent film serials and, until recently, thought to be a lost film.[3] Plot Jack Baker (Walter Miller) is an aviation engineer, pilot, and president of the Baker Aircraft Company. He has invented new aviation innovations to be mounted on his company's aircraft. The owners of Globe Air Corporation, a rival aviation company, are after these new inventions. Their president, William Craft (Robert Walker), hires a masked and mysterious airman, known only as "Pilot X", who also makes plans to steal those inventions for his own use. He uses a trained monkey to steal one of them, a radio-controlled "flying torpedo", that was in engineer Baker's workshop. In the air, his gang of "Air Hawks" pose serious peril to the Baker Aircraft Company. The attacks are largely aimed at stealing Baker's exclusive rights to the "Aerometer", invented by James B. Joyce (C. H. Allen), a new navigational instrument that makes flying safer in all sorts of weather, even at night. The inventor's daughter, Shirley (Eugenia Gilbert), is an aviatrix who is Baker's fiancée. "World-famous aviatrix" Fawn Nesbitt (Dorothy Talcott), who hopes to become the first female pilot to fly around the world, becomes concerned when Baker's aircraft begin crashing. She is to be married to Albert Orren (Eugene Burr), the owner of a rival aircraft company. As the air attacks mount, Baker and Shirley are in constant danger, both on the ground and above the clouds. Their efforts always seem to be known to the mysterious Pilot X, and suspicion falls on Perkins (Arthur Morrison), Joyce's butler, who is always nearby when plans are being discussed. Chapter titles The Winged Avenger (16 minutes) The Sky Writer (20 minutes) The Girl Who Flew Alone (20 minutes) The Smoke Screen (20 minutes) Test Flight (20 minutes) The Hawk's Nest (20 minutes) The Faker Pilot (20 minutes) The Air Raft (20 minutes) The Hidden Hangar (20 minutes) Mystery Pilot X (20 minutes) Cast Walter Miller as Jack Baker Eugenia Gilbert as Shirley Joyce Robert Walker as William Craft Eugene Burr as Albert Orren Dorothy Tallcot as Fawn Nesbitt James A. Fitzgerald as Barney Madden C.H. Allen as James Joyce Ray Childs as Henry Knight Hugh Blair as Detective Mullens Arthur Morrison as Perkins Hamilton Morse as Mardos Kartoff Production The Mysterious Airman was written by famed mystery novelist Arthur B. Reeve of Craig Kennedy, Scientific Detective fame. The serial was the last silent serial produced by poverty row producers, the Weiss Brothers, and came at the end of the silent film era.[4] Although production values were modest, a number of aircraft were featured, both on the ground and in the air. These aircraft included a Waco ATO, fitted with a machine gun and was flown by Pilot X.[5] Reception A modern appraisal of The Mysterious Airman was published in the Schenectady (NY) Gazette and notes that it is "Superior to the usual run of serials ... full of thrills ...”[6] Preservation status The Mysterious Airman was thought to be a “lost” silent film. In 2004, after producer Kit Parker (of Kit Parker Films) purchased the holdings of Weiss Global International, Parker was approached by film archivist Jeff Joseph of SabuCat Productions. Joseph offered to loan Parker his near-complete original 35mm tinted nitrate film print of the serial.[6] His print was missing only the first reel of Chapter Nine, due to reel's decomposition. Once restored (including recreating the missing reel from film stills and plot synopses) and digitally restored,[6][N 1] The Mysterious Airman was released October 17, 2017 on DVD by VCI Video (Sprocket Vault).[7] Additional features include a commentary track by historian Richard M. Roberts, Flying Cadets (1928), a 2-reel United States Army Air Corps documentary film short, and a gallery of original The Mysterious Airman posters and lobby cards.[8]

Hawk of the Hills is a 1927 American silent Western film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet.[1]Colorized Silent Movie: Hawk of the Hills - In this classic 1929 Western, a grizzled old prospector finally strikes it rich, but his newfound wealth attracts a band of outlaws led by a mysterious half-breed known as the Hawk, who’ll stop at nothing to steal the gold. Hawk of the Hills (1929) Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet Writers: George Arthur Gray Stars: Allene Ray, Walter Miller, Jack Ganzhorn Genre: Western Country: United States Language: English Release Date: March 17, 1929 (United States) Filming Location: San Bernardino Mountains, California, USA Synopsis: Hawk of the Hills (1927), a ten episode serial, re-edited into a five-reel feature length version released in 1929. Newhall, California. A band of Indians led by the half-breed 'The Hawk' terrorizes prospectors in a valley. When the old prospector Clyde Selby hits the mother lode, The Hawk plans to kidnap his pretty blond daughter Mary Selby. This kidnapping actually proves one of the lesser of the perils faced by the poor Mary. Laramie, a government agent, wants with the help of his friendly Shoshone Indian friends to extricate the damsel-in-distress. Cast Allene Ray as Mary Walter Miller as Laramie James Robert Chandler as Clyde Selby Jack Ganzhorn as Henry Selby Frank Lackteen as The Hawk Paul Panzer as Manson Wally Oettel as Shorty Harry Semels as Sheckard Jack Pratt as Colonel Jennings J. Parks Jones as Lieutenant MacCready Frederick Dana as Larry John T. Prince as The Hermit Whitehorse (as Chief Whitehorse) George Magrill Evangeline Russell as Indian Maiden Chief Yowlachie as Chief Long Hand Chapter titles The Outlaws In the Talons of the Hawk Heroes in Blue The Attack The Danger Trail The Death Menace of Lost Canyon Demons of the Darkness Doomed to the Arrows The House of Horror The Triumph of Law and Order

Flash Gordon is a 1936 superhero serial film. Presented in 13 chapters, it is the first screen adventure for Flash Gordon, the comic-strip character created by Alex Raymond in 1934. It presents the story of Gordon's visit to the planet Mongo and his encounters with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Priscilla Lawson and Frank Shannon portray the film's central characters. In 1996, Flash Gordon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". SYNOPSIS Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Alexis Zarkov visit the planet Mongo to thwart the evil schemes of Emperor Ming the Merciless, who has set his planet on a collision course with Earth. CAST & CREW Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon Charles B. Middleton as Ming the Merciless Jean Rogers as Dale Arden Priscilla Lawson as Princess Aura Frank Shannon as Dr. Alexis Zarkov Richard Alexander as Prince Barin Jack Lipson as King Vultan Theodore Lorch as Second High Priest James Pierce as Prince Thun Duke York as King Kala Earl Askam as Officer Torch Richard Tucker as Professor Gordon George Cleveland as Professor Hensley Muriel Goodspeed as Zona Directed by Frederick Stephani Screenplay by Frederick Stephani, Ella O'Neill, George H. Plympton, (as George Plympton), Basil Dickey Based on Flash Gordon by Alex Raymond Produced by Henry MacRae CinematographyJerome Ash, Richard Fryer Edited by Saul A. Goodkind, Louis Sackin, Alvin Todd, Edward Todd Production company Universal Pictures, King Features Syndicate Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date April 6, 1936 Running time 245 minutes (13 episodes) Country United States Language English Budget $350,000 NOTES According to Harmon and Glut, Flash Gordon had a budget of over a million dollars. Stedman, however, writes that it was "reportedly" $350,000. Many props and other elements in the film were recycled from earlier Universal productions. The watchtower sets used in Frankenstein (1931) appear again as several interiors within Ming's palace. One of the large Egyptian statues seen in The Mummy (1932) is the idol of the Great God Tao. The laboratory set and a shot of the Moon rushing past Zarkov's returning rocket ship from space are from The Invisible Ray (1936). Zarkov's rocket ship and scenes of dancers swarming over a gigantic idol were reused from Just Imagine (1930). Ming's attack on Earth is footage from old silent newsreels, and an entire dance segment is from The Midnight Sun (1927), while some of the laboratory equipment came from Bride of Frankenstein (1935). The music was also recycled from several other films, notably Bride of Frankenstein, Bombay Mail, The Black Cat (both 1934), Werewolf of London (1935), and The Invisible Man (1933). Crabbe had his hair dyed blond to appear more like the comic-strip Flash Gordon. He was reportedly very self-conscious about this and kept his hat on in public at all times, even with women present. He did not like men whistling at him. Jean Rogers also had her hair dyed blonde prior to production, "apparently to capitalize on the popularity of Jean Harlow". Brunette was actually the natural hair color for both actors. According to the 1973 reference The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury by Jim Harmon and Donald Glut, Ming's makeup and costuming were designed to resemble Fu Manchu, a fictional "supervillain" popularized in earlier Hollywood films and in a series of novels first published in England in 1913. Exterior shots, such as the Earth crew's first steps on Mongo, were filmed at Bronson Canyon. Universal hoped to regain an adult audience for serials with the release of Flash Gordon and by presenting it in many of the top or "A-level" theaters in large cities across the United States. Multiple newspapers in 1936, including some not even carrying the Flash Gordon comic strip, featured half- and three-quarter-page stories about the film as well as copies of Raymond's drawings and publicity stills that highlighted characters and chapter settings. The film was the first outright science-fiction serial,[citation needed] although earlier serials had contained science-fiction elements such as gadgets. Six of the fourteen serials released within five years of Flash Gordon were science fiction. The serial film was also edited into a 72-minute feature version in 1936, which was only exhibited abroad, until being released in the US as 1949 as Rocket Ship by Sherman S. Krellberg's Filmcraft Pictures. Flash Gordon was Universal's second-highest-grossing film of 1936, after Three Smart Girls, a musical starring Deanna Durbin. The Hays Office, however, objected to the revealing costumes worn by Dale, Aura and the other female characters. In response to those objections, Universal designed more modest outfits for the female performers in the film's two sequels.

The serial is one of the three serials starring "The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys" who were under contract to Universal at the time. The plot of Junior G-Men is a pre-World War II G-Man story about fifth columnists in the United States, with the FBI joining forces with youth to save the country. A group of saboteurs called the "Order of the Flaming Torch" who are trying to undermine the "social order" of the United States kidnaps several prominent scientists, including Colonel Robert Barton, the father of Billy Barton, the leader of a group of young local street toughs. When FBI Agent Jim Bradford investigates the mysterious disappearances, Billy is reluctant to help the authorities. Billy's gang team up with the FBI and the youthful "Junior G-Men", led by Harry Trent in order to stop the saboteurs. The criminal gang led by a man called Brand, calls themselves "The Order of the Flaming Torch". They are intent on destroying important military programs. The enemy agents become aware that they boys are on their trail and set a trap. When Billy and Harry are captured, they find a way to signal to their friends, and are rescued. "The Order of the Flaming Torch" is after the inventor of a new aerial torpedo. Billy and Harry go to the local airfield and hide on one of the inventor's aircraft. When the pilot is knocked out by one of Brand's men, the boys struggle to regain control of the aircraft. Finally successful, Harry, a licensed pilot, takes over and flies to safety. Learning that the enemy agents are holed up in an old warehouse where scientists including Colonel Barton is held, Billy and Harry try to free Barton, who has a secret formula for an explosive. Managing to send a message out from a radio room, the boys are saved when FBI agents overrun the warehouse. Billy is finally reunited with his father, and becomes a full-fledged member of the Junior G-Men.

This serial introduces the World War II scenario when a masked hero tries to prevent Nazi agents from crippling the U.S.'s war effort. The spy ring is led by fifth columnist Jensen, who, with his lieutenant Rudy Thyssen and a network of Nazi saboteurs, is trying to get possession of a top-secret formula the United States had developed for manufacturing synthetic rubber while creating explosive gases and radio-controlled bombs to sabotage the exhausting war effort. Police Lieutenant Dan Barton stages a public dismissal from the police department in order to join the saboteurs ring and learn the secret code they have been using. To further assist his efforts (especially after his superior, the only person to know that Barton is working undercover, is murdered), Barton assumes the secret identity of the Black Commando, a masked man who is wanted both by the villains (who want the secret formula they think he has) and police (who are also searching for Barton for murder). Finally, Barton steals the formula and is captured by Thyssen and put under the protection of the sabotage ring. Joining the gang, he learns of their plans, which he immediately leaks to his best friend and former partner Pat Flanagan (and through Flanagan to reporter girlfriend Jean Ashley) and, as "The Black Commando", continually frustrates the Nazi plots. After innumerable dangers and lost efforts in trying to decipher the enemy's secret codes, Barton and Flanagan discover the key to the Nazi code, capture the Nazi ring and make sure that the Nazi U-boat which has been waiting to help the Nazis escape is depth-bombed and destroyed. At the end of each episode, the audience is given a short lecture on solving complex secret messages.

Detective Chick Carter. son of Nick Carter; finds himself in a complex case when Sherry Martin, a singer at the Century Club, reports the robbery of the famous Blue Diamond, owned by Joe Carney, the owner of the nightclub. Joe planned the theft in order to pay a debt to Nick Pollo with the $100,000 insurance money he would collect. Sherry double-crossed Joe by wearing an imitation one, while she threw the real one, hidden in a cotton snowball, to Nick during the floor show. But Spud Warner, a newspaper photographer, there with newspaper reporter Rusty Farrell, takes a snowball from her basket and Nick receives an empty one. The Blue Diamond disappears. Aided by a private investigator, Ellen Dale, Chick finds himself pitted against the criminals searching for the missing Blue Diamond...

A mysterious criminal known as The Whispering Shadow commits crimes by means of a gang he controls by television and radio rays. Jack Norton, whose brother was murdered by The Whispering Shadow, suspects that the eerie Professor Strang - whose ghostly wax museum contains figures far too lifelike - may be involved in the crimes. However, the Whispering Shadow is an underworld mastermind. He has invented a device that allows him to kill by radio control. He, along with several other persons, seeks the late Russian Czar's jewels. The serial is notable for the constant false clues and decoy actions that make nearly everybody a suspect.

Martian invader, Mota, attempts to conquer the Earth as Mars is worried about its use of new atomic technology. The Martians consider that it would be much safer, and beneficial for both Earth and Mars, if the Martians were in charge. Mota, having been shot down by an experimental ray gun, blackmails American scientist, and former Nazi, Dr. Bryant, into assisting him and hires some criminals to be his henchmen. Kent Fowler, the private pilot who shot down Mota with Dr. Bryant's ray gun, gets caught up in these events while working security for atomic industrial sites.

This serial is based upon Otis Kline's "Jan of the Jungle" stories, and relates the tale of a lost jungle boy, rival scientific teams pursuing the formula for a medical serum in African jungles and the discovery of the lost city of Mu.

Colonel Nathan B. "Skipper" Gregory, a former World War I ace pilot, is the owner of a travelling carnival that has fallen on hard times. Only the money brought in by Craig McCoy, the carnival stunt pilot, keeps the carnival from closing. Jean Gregory, Colonel Gregory's daughter, works with Craig as a wing walker and parachutist. A mysterious pilot, the legendary "Eagle", thought to have been shot down by accident by his own squadron and killed in the war, attempts to sabotage the Evans Aero Co., a large corporation. He sends threatening messages to the company's five directors by skywriting the date that the "Eagle" was shot down: May 23, 1918. Gregory is thought to be the Eagle because he has a grudge against Evans Aero, which stole his plans for a radio-piloted aircraft. Suspicion also falls on McCoy, who is also skilled in skywriting, and had left the message about the "Eagle" after being paid by an anonymous source. Craig suspects that the "Eagle" is Mr. Green, a director of the corporation, a pilot who flew in the same squadron as the "Eagle", and the likely culprit who stole the plans to Gregory's invention. When confronted, Green escapes and teams up with two compatriots, Tim Moore and Boyle, but Craig grabs the plans and rushes back to the carnival to show Jean. Gregory, who is confined to a wheelchair, tries to hide from the authorities. Someone steels Craig's aircraft and tries to burn down the carnival. Hoping to prove her father's innocence, the pair then learn of Gregory's disappearance, captured by the henchmen of the "Eagle". A murder occurs at the corporation and Gregory is again implicated. Jean still thinks that her father is innocent and with Craig, escapes death on many occasions, fighting with gang members, as they go after the real "Eagle". Craig enlist the aid of the carnival's midget, strongman, and ventriloquist to track down the criminal. Craig unmasks the evildoer (Green) and brings the ordeal to an end.