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Silent  &  Sound  Movie  Serials
Page Six Serials, 1950s & Later

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Sound  Serials,  1950 & Later
back to silent serials • back to 1930s sound serials • back to 1940s serials

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"Atom Man vs. Superman" 15-chapter sci-fi serial [Columbia Pictures July 1950] Atom Man is not a robot, but is instead Lex Luthor wearing a costume borrowed from a movie robot; the story does have flying saucers; Chapter Titles: 1) Superman Flies Again; 2) Atom Man Appears; 3) Ablaze In The Sky; 4) Superman Meets Atom Man; 5) Atom Man Tricks Superman; 6) Atom Man's Challenge; 7) At The Mercy of Atom Man; 8) Into The Empty Doom; 9) Superman Crashes Through; 10) Atom Man's Heat Ray; 11) Luthor's Strategy; 12) Atom Man Strikes; 13) Atom Man's Flying Saucers; 14) Rocket of Vengeance; and 15) Superman Saves The Universe • Produced by Sam Katzman; directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet; written by George H. Plympton, Joseph F. Poland & David Mathews; narrated by Knox Manning; starring Kirk Alyn {dual role}, Noel Neill, Lyle Talbot, Tommy Bond, Pierre Watkin, Jack Ingram, Don C. Harvey, Rusty Wescoatt, Terry Frost, Wally West, Paul Stader, George Robotham, Stanley Blystone, Marshall Bradford, Jack Chefe, Frank Ellis, Tommy Farrell, William Fawcett, Eddie Fetherston, Eddie Foster, Kit Guard, Frank Hagney, Creighton Hale, John Hart, Edward Hearn, Fred Kelsey, Charles King, Pierce Lyden, George Morrell, Frank O'Connor, Eddie Parker, Hugh Prosser, Chuck Roberson, Guy Teague, Rick Vallin, and archive footage of actors Ernie Adams, John Elliott & Michael Vallon Volume 1 Chapters 1-7: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [1988] out of prodn/used Volume 2 Chapters 8-15: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [1988] out of prodn/used all 15 chapters: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [6/95] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used available on DVD as part of the "Complete 1948 & 1950 Superman Serials" Box Set [2008] Warner Home Video DVD set [10/2018] 4 disks for $29.95 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Desperadoes of The West" 12-chapter Western serial [Aug 1950] /tt0042390/
https://www.amazon.com/Desperadoes-West-Judy-Clark/dp/B00AGKH6GU/

"Don Daredevil Rides Again" 12-chapter Western serial [April 1951] /tt0043471/
https://www.amazon.com/Don-Daredevil-Rides-Again-VHS/dp/6302689333/

"Roar of The Iron Horse" 15-chapter serial [Columbia Pictures May 1951, re-release March 1963] Partly filmed near Carson City, Nevada; same plot as "Winners of The West" [Universal 1940] (also co-written by George Plympton); three factions vie for control of the construction of the railroad: the local land baron, the railroad people, and local Indians. Chapter Titles: 1. Indian Attack; 2. Captured By Redskins; 3. Trapped By Outlaws; 4. In The Baron's Stronghold; 5. A Ride For Life; 6. White Indians; 7. Fumes of Fate; 8. Midnight Marauders; 9. Raid On The Pay Train; 10. Trapped On A Trestle; 11. Redskin's Revenge; 12. Plunge of Peril; 13. The Law Takes Over; 14. When Killers Meet; and 15. The End of The Trail Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Thomas Carr; written by George H. Plympton, Sherman L. Lowe & Royal K. Cole; starring Jock Mahoney, Virginia Herrick, George Eldredge, William Fawcett, Harold Landon, Jack Ingram, Myron Healey, Rusty Wescoatt & Dick Curtis • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb

"Government Agents vs Phantom Legion" [Republic Pictures July 1951] Government agents battle a gang that is robbing trucks of military shipments and selling the goods to the enemy. Chapter Titles: 1. River of Fire; 2. The Stolen Corpse; 3. The Death Drop; 4. Doorway To Doom; 5. Deadline For Disaster; 6. Mechanical Homicide; 7. The Flaming Highway; 8. Sea Saboteurs; 9. Peril Underground; 10. Execution By Accident; 11. Perilous Plunge; and 12. Blazing Retribution Directed by Fred C. Brannon; written by Ronald Davidson; starring Walter Reed, Mary Ellen Kay, Dick Curtis, John Pickard, Fred Coby, Pierce Lyden & George Meeker 167-minute Cheezy Flicks b&w DVD [5/2013] for $13.99 full credits at IMDb • watch revised trailer [1:20 - then black screen to 1:47] online at YouTube

"Captain Video, Master of The Stratosphere" 15-chapter serial [Columbia Pictures Dec 1951] Theatrical serial spun off from the 1949 TV series with a different cast; space hero Captain Video and his Rangers battle the evil interplanetary menace Vultura from the planet Atoma, who is helped by the traitorous Earth scientist Dr. Tobor • Chapter Titles: 1. Journey Into Space; 2. Menace To Atoma; 3. Captain Video's Peril; 4. Entombed In Ice; 5. Flames of Atoma; 6. Astray In The Atmosphere; 7. Blasted By The Atomic Eye; 8. Invisible Menace; 9. Video Springs A Trap; 10. Menace of The Mystery Metal; 11. Weapons of Destruction; 12. Robot Rocket; 13. Mystery of Station X; 14. Vengeance of Vultara; and 15. Video vs. Vultara Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace Grissell; starring Judd Holdren, Larry Stewart, George Eldredge, Don C. Harvey & Gene Roth V.C.I. Ent. Cliffhanger Collection 'digitally mastered & restored' b&w DVD [8/2005] 2 disks for $10.99 full credits from IMDb • serial entry at Wikipedia

"Radar Men From The Moon" 12-chapter serial [Republic Pictures Jan 1952] {NOTE: NOT filmed in 3-D!} Commando Cody, 'Sky Marshal of The Universe', learns that America's defenses are being destroyed by an 'atomic gun' used by Earthian thugs in the pay of Retik, Ruler of The Moon, who seeks to invade and rule the Earth. Chapter Titles: 1. Moon Rocket, 2. Molten Terror, 3. Bridge of Death, 4. Flight To Destruction, 5. Murder Car, 6. Hills of Death, 7. Camouflaged Destruction, 8. The Enemy Planet, 9. Battle In The Stratosphere, 10. Mass Execution, 11. Planned Pursuit, and 12. Death of The Moon Man Directed by Fred C. Brannon; written by Ronald Davidson; starring George Wallace {as Commando Cody}, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, William Bakewell, Peter Brocco & Clayton Moore Complete Serial, Remastered : A2Zcds, Inc. b&w DVD [10/2007] 3 disks for $24.95 Complete Serial: Reel Classic Films b&w DVD [10/2007] for $14.95 Complete Serial + 2 cartoons: CATCOM Home Video b&w DVD [8/2008] for $4.49 Volumes 1 & 2: Alpha Home Ent. b&w DVD [11/2007] 2 disks for $14.49 serial credits at IMDb • serial entry at Wikipedia watch trailers + full feature version [2:10:19] online at YouTube

"Zombies of The Stratosphere" 12-chapter movie serial [Republic Studios July 1952] Invaders from Mars seek to build an H-bomb and obliterate Earth so that Mars can move to Earth's better orbit – "in twelve explosive, suspense-filled episodes". Chapter Titles: 1. "The Zombie Vanguard", 2. "Battle of The Rockets", 3. "Undersea Agents", 4. "Contraband Cargo", 5. "The Iron Executioner", 6. "Murder Mine", 7. "Death On The Waterfront", 8. "Hostage For Murder", 9. "The Human Torpedo", 10. re-cap chapter "Flying Gas Chamber", 11. "Man vs. Monster", and 12. "Tomb of The Traitors". The serial footage was edited down to feature length in 1958 and released as "Satan's Satellites" { IMDb } • Directed by Fred C. Brannon; screenplay by Ronald Davidson; SFX by Howard & Theodore Lydecker; starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Wilson Wood, Lane Bradford, Stanley Waxman, John Crawford, Craig Kelly, Ray Boyle & Leonard Nimoy {as Narab} • full credits at IMDb • serial entry at Wikipedia Cheezy Flicks Ent. b&w DVD [9/2009] 2 disks for $13.99 12-chapter Republic Pictures b&w VHS [1995] for $13.99 93-minute Republic Pictures b&w VHS [5/95] for $13.99 watch official trailer [10/2009 upload; 1:58] online at YouTube • all 12 chapters are available on YouTube

"Satan's Satellites" [March 1958] /tt0052160/
70-minute feature version of the 1952 serial "Zombies of The Stratosphere"

"Commando Cody" serial & TV series [Republic Pictures Feb 1953, NBC-TV July 1955] One of the last Republic Pictures movie serials, planned as a direct sequel to "Radar Men From The Moon"; the twelve chapters were planned as half-hour TV episodes (without cliffhanger endings), released as a weekly serial in 1953, and later sold to National Broad-casting Company for broadcast as "Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of The Universe" over 13 weeks (one repeat) in Summer 1955; Chapter Titles: 1). Enemies of The Universe; 2). Atomic Peril; 3). Cosmic Vengeance; 4). Nightmare Typhoon; 5). War of The Space Giants; 6). Destroyers of The Sun; 7). Robot Monster From Mars; 8). The Hydrogen Hurricane; 9). Solar Sky Raiders; 10). S.O.S. Ice Age; 11). Lost In Outer Space; and 12). Captives of The Zero Hour • Co-produced by Franklin Adreon; directed by Harry Keller, Franklin Adreon, Fred C. Brannon; written by Ronald Davidson & Barry Shipman; starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Gregory Gaye, Craig Kelly, Dale Van Sickel, Richard Crane, Gloria Pall, Lyle Talbot, John Crawford, Eddie Foster, William Schallert, Zon Murray, William Henry, Kenneth MacDonald, Sydney Mason, Rick Vallin, Peter Brocco, Mauritz Hugo, Paul Livermore, Keith Richards, Lee Roberts, Denver Pyle, Lane Bradford, Fred Graham, I. Stanford Jolley, Stanley Waxman, Joanne Jordan, William Fawcett, Peter Ortiz, Sandy Sanders, Riley Hill, Roy Barcroft, Coleman Francis • series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia Olive Films b&w Blu-ray [9/2016] for $16.99 U.K. all-region import b&w DVD [9/2010] 3 disks for $28.68 Olive Films b&w DVD [9/2016] out of prodn/used watch all 12 chapters [12/2017 upload] online at YouTube

"Man With The Steel Whip" 13-chapter Western serial [July 1954] /tt0047210/
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Steel-Whip-Episodes-VHS/dp/6303494099/

"Panther Girl of The Kongo" 12-chapter serial [Jan 1955] /tt0048465/
https://www.amazon.com/Panther-Girl-Kongo-Myron-Healey/dp/B00YZ4RFMI/

"King of The Carnival" 12-chapter serial [June 1955] /tt0048257/
https://www.amazon.com/King-Carnival-VHS-Harry-Lauter/dp/6303494064/

"Hardy Boys" TV serials [Disney/ABC-TV 1956-57] Disney Television adapted Hardy Boys book #1 "The Tower Treasure" for serialization over 19 weeks on the Mickey Mouse Club TV show. The second serial was an original story by Jackson Gillis that aired as 15 episodes during 1957. Extras on the Disney Treasures DVD include: the October 1956 M.M.C. show with the two actors presenting a promo short; Leonard Maltin interview with the two aged boy actors; two featurettes; a booklet - all packed in a collectible tin. • Starring Tim Considine {as Frank}, Tommy Kirk {as Joe}, Carole Ann Campbell, Florenz Ames, Russ Conway, Sarah Selby, Robert Foulk & Donald MacDonald First b&w serial "The Mystery of The Applegate Treasure": full credits at IMDb Second b&w serial "The Mystery of The Ghost Farm": full credits at IMDb Walt Disney Video b&w/color DVD set [12/2006] 2 disks for $141.29 {sic}

"Retik, The Moon Menace" TV movie [Republic Pictures/National Telefilm Associates Sept 1966] Edited down to 1 hour & 40 minutes from "Radar Men From The Moon" movie serial [1952]; feature also released as "Commando Cody vs. The Moon Menace" {poster at top of this page}; scientist-adventurer Commando Cody encounters aliens from the Moon intent on taking over Earth • Archival credits: Co-produced by Franklin Adreon; directed by Fred C. Brannon; written by Ronald Davidson; special effects by Howard & Theodore Lydecker; starring George Wallace {as Commando Cody}, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, William Bakewell, Clayton Moore, Peter Brocco, Robert R. Stephenson, Don Walters, Tom Steele, Wilson Wood, Noel Cravat, Baynes Barron, Ted Thorpe • full credits at IMDb "Commando Cody Vs The Moon Menace" DVD release [2014] Alpha Video b&w DVD [9/2014] for $5.99

"Matinee At The Bijou" TV series [P.B.S./Bijou Sept 1980-88]
Weekly series replicating the Saturday matinee experience, each 90-minute program included classic cartoons, selected short
subjects, cliffhanging serials & feature films • Directed by John Galbraith & Sam Harrison; hosted by Debbie Reynolds
videos/DVDs not available • series credits from IMDb

"The Dangers of Deborah" 10-chapter serial on DVD [indep July 2008] Fearless newspaper reporter Deborah Dodd is out to unmask mystery villain The Terror, who is trying to steal Professor Shaw's invisibility formula; filmed in b&w in Philadelphia and New Jersey; ten chapters in 110 minutes • Produced, written & directed by T.J. Moore; starring Leah Getz, T.J. Doyle, Kim Robson, Tim Curzie, Jason J. Michael, Raymond Borowski, Marcus Danforth, Jake Josephson, Marc Provost, Jack Arrison, Mike Bentley, Audra Grosso, Mike McLaughlin, Frank Wilkinson REVIEW 1/2017: It is easy to heap disdain on this project as a terrible movie, but check out the clips on YouTube: looked at properly, these guys made a two-hour b&w film on a budget of about $1.98 with actors of no ability, but you can see what they intended: the story and editing works, the sound effects are smart, the fights actually choreographed. Hollywood may not be calling anytime soon, but the effort deserves some applause for their loving display of the standard plot elements and cliff-hanger chapter endings. Said another way: If you think that you can do better, then you should put up or shut up. Cliffhanger Prodns b&w DVD [7/2008] 2 disks for $19.99 full credits at IMDb • producers official website {parked 2016}

here on the Silent & Sound Movie Serials Pages at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

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back on Page 5: sound serials, 1940s • here on Page 6: sound serials, 1950 & later

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