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Watching Any Good Serials?
Topic Started: Apr 12 2006, 09:28 AM (88,311 Views)
JazzGuyy
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Another quick note about "Mystery of the Riverboat". I noticed in Chapter 9 that the "hopped up" car the heroine is driving and that is seen racing along the roads is the "Black Beauty" coupe from the Green Hornet serials. Love the re-use of stock footage
TANSTAAFL!
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andarius
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Chapter 3 of Batman & Robin was Robin's Wild Ride; he didn't have one, lol, but here's hopin' he will in Chapter 4!

The Wizard's collar looks like one of those things pooches wear to stop 'em scratchin' themselves! :D
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toddgault
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Finished Son of Tarzan last week, fairly close to the book, except for the addition of the villain Paulovich, who if I remember correctly was actually killed in the previous book, Beasts of Tarzan. I know that the star Searle was seriously injured by an elephant during filming, but it doesn't look like the actual scene was included in the finished product.
Todd Gault..........Serial Buff
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JazzGuyy
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Another "Mystery of the Riverboat" gaffe. They have a trial taking place in "Clay County". There ain't no counties in Louisiana. They're all called "parishes".
TANSTAAFL!
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riddlerider
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toddgault
Oct 17 2009, 05:54 AM
Finished Son of Tarzan last week, fairly close to the book, except for the addition of the villain Paulovich, who if I remember correctly was actually killed in the previous book, Beasts of Tarzan.

Paulvitch does appear in SON OF TARZAN, but he gets killed off early.
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CliffClaven
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andarius
Oct 15 2009, 03:25 AM
Chapter 3 of Batman & Robin was Robin's Wild Ride; he didn't have one, lol, but here's hopin' he will in Chapter 4!

The Wizard's collar looks like one of those things pooches wear to stop 'em scratchin' themselves! :D
One of the abiding quirks of serials: Chapter titles usually reference the cliffhanger at the end of that episode, not the one resolved at the beginning. Thus you might have the hero being dropped into a pit of alligators, then a title card tells you this will be continued in "Biplane of Death." You were then left to wonder how they'd get from alligators to a biplane in one episode.

Didn't care too much for Batman & Robin -- it felt too much like the cheap syndicated TV shows of my youth (the ones with endless talking in tiny interior sets and driving on dirt roads). Dick Grayson looked like a beefy barfly (his suit in chapter one screams Ladies' Night at Ye Olde Lounge), and I'm sure the old scientist was Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace. In fact, by that time most of the serial and B people were transitioning over to TV, so the look and feel was much the same.

But then, how could you top the first Batman? Shovelfuls of WWII propaganda, insane science and all-around goofiness. Still enjoy thinking about the villain's lair, concealed behind a carnival dark ride with a constantly on-duty barker . . . displaying Japanese atrocities for your amusement . . . located in a rundown, near-abandoned neighborhood . . . attracting only suspicious mobster types ("Two, please. We're together.").

And even with all the fuss about hand X-rays and the poor slob pretending to be a dummy 24/7, you got the impression tons of stuff was being delivered to a non-concealed loading dock out back.
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Pa Stark
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A couple observations about riding through the cave. During the ride you can see the Black Tiger's head on the ceiling of the cave, which is about all he is good for. :D I saw the serial in one sitting in 1965, and when someone would have to show their hand under an x ray before being admitted to the hideout they all had the same number on the ring. After a couple of time the audience got wise, and when someone was putting their hand under, the entire audience went "AAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!" the when the same number showed up, we all applauded and went "Yay!" The kids who saw it wanted to believe in it, and took it seriously, but the adults all acted like kids, booing and hissing the villains, and cheering the heroes, and generally having a merry time. Definitely one of the greatest evening I ever spent at the movies.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
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CliffClaven
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A strange laugh moment I recall in a college showing of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (feature version, I think). A queen is addressing her three bearded advisers, who stand side by side before her. The middle adviser steps forward, delivers his wooden line reading, and steps back exactly like a little kid in a school pageant. I suspect it was the theater majors who loved that.
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Black Tiger
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Watching Manhunt of Mystery Island for the chat next weekend. 7 chapters in, I have the same impression as the last time I saw this one.

Great Republic action, music, fine villainous performances by Roy Barcroft as the evil modern-day pirate Captain Mephisto and Kenne Duncan as his loyal henchman, Brand. Linda Stirling is a bit bland, but pretty as ever and fine as the heroine, Claire Forrest.

The really weak link in this serial is the woefully miscast Richard Bailey as the bizarrely-named Lance Reardon. Most actors have charisma. Bailey has a negative charisma. Even his loud and ugly checkered jacket has more personality than he does.
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panzer the great & terrible
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Have to agree about ol' Lance -- one of the worst performances in serials, which is saying a lot.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047454/
Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious...
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Ming the Merciless
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Lighten up on Richard Bailey as hero/criminologist "Lance Reardon"!

He's cut from that wooden school of Republic leading men that are Emperor favorites!

Hey hows a criminologist supposed to look and act?? I see Bailey carrying his role in the serial with no problem....and I love the sport coat! Restrained, tastefull...yet makes a visual statement.

I think Bailey worked in radio most of his career?
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Barcroft
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Finished watching Manhunt of Mystery Island for the review in the Serial Family Chat Room next Sunday. Still enjoy this serial and I agree with Ming that Richard Bailey is not that bad (could have been better) but hey!!!! he matches up for Tom Steele so that's all we really have to worry about. Just my humble opinion but he might be a tad better than Larry Thompson the Star of King of the Forest Rangers.
Barcroft
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CliffClaven
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Lance Reardon.

(Insert Beavis and Butthead laugh here)
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Pa Stark
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Years ago a friend of me and the Black Tiger used to refer to Lance Reardon as Lance Boyle. That is an image I don't want to think of. Richard Bailey really tried hard, but like the old saying, "No matter how hard you work a mule, it is never going to win the Kentucky Derby." The reason Bailey is given such a hard time is because otherwise, the serial is outstanding, but many other heroes were much worse, but the serials they starred in were fair to poor. Other actors who were leads that were much worse were Ken Curtis, Keith Richards, Mala, David Bacon, and worst of all Bob Custer.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
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panzer the great & terrible
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I have to know what serial Bob Custer was in. This sounds like a real find.
Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious...
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