| Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.) Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Watching Any Good Serials? | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 12 2006, 09:28 AM (88,403 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Oct 27 2007, 05:42 AM Post #316 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
One of those "only in a serial" moments occurs in episode 5 of King of the Mounties: the villains put "enough explosives to blow up every bridge in Canada!" into their aerial torpedo, and as soon as the shootin' starts, they duck behind -- the aerial torpedo. Like, the most UNSAFE place in the northern hemisphere when bullets are flying. |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
![]() |
|
| Black Tiger | Oct 27 2007, 02:25 PM Post #317 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Hey LG, what do you expect of villains who also build their secret headquarters inside an active volcano?! |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Oct 28 2007, 02:14 PM Post #318 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I do believe it is only a partially-active volcano. Which makes it twice as safe.
:rolleyes:
|
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Oct 28 2007, 09:15 PM Post #319 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
No, just partially safe. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Oct 28 2007, 09:18 PM Post #320 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
You know, I'm partial to your answer, though it only makes me partially correct. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| witneyenglish | Oct 30 2007, 04:07 PM Post #321 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I haven't watched any serials since I moved, so today I started The Secret of Treasure Island. I just hope that it doesn't start me on the road to scientology. |
![]() |
|
| Black Tiger | Oct 30 2007, 07:33 PM Post #322 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I've watched the first couple of chapters of Captain Video from VCI. Quality is very good (although I'm not sure I'm sold on the tinting). The logo bug is a little bothersome at times, but not worth rebuying the serial. Content-wise, it's pretty much a snore. Interesting scientific devices, but muddled plot and wooden acting. The site of Gene Roth in Bermuda shorts will want to make you put your eyes out. |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Oct 31 2007, 09:01 AM Post #323 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I finally finished The Monster and the Ape. What a snoozer! Took me about a year to slog through it. The first couple of chapters were fun, and then it went rancid. Tim Tyler's Luck is an even bigger disappointment. Now I'll start Flying G-Men, but I am getting less interested in serials as it gets clearer that I've seen the good ones. I need a real nifty to revive my interest. I hope that Secret Agent X-9 and A Woman In Gray will do the trick. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Oct 31 2007, 09:29 AM Post #324 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yikes! I loved Monster & Ape. Which X-9 you gonna see? The '45 is terrific, the '37 is boooooooooooooooring. |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
![]() |
|
| rodney | Oct 31 2007, 11:09 AM Post #325 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yeah, the 45 one would do the trick if you're wanting your interest to be renewed. |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Oct 31 2007, 02:16 PM Post #326 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yeah, the '45 one. I loved the first chapter. I think I just had too much hard-to watch stuff going at one time. Hope so, anyhow. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Oct 31 2007, 04:24 PM Post #327 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Recently finished THE SECRET CODE and really enjoyed it. I had bought the AC Comics version, before learning that only the first 4 secret code segments followed their respective chapters, and the rest of the codes were stuffed onto the second disc, but that really didn't detract from my enjoyment. I am currently watching KING OF THE MOUNTIES, from the Serial Squadron. Paul, I didn't find the '37 version of Secret Agent X-9 all that bad, but the '45 should help recharge your batteries. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| riddlerider | Oct 31 2007, 04:40 PM Post #328 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
At last! I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt that way about this p.o.s. |
![]() |
|
| riddlerider | Oct 31 2007, 05:09 PM Post #329 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Okay, I need somebody to explain this for me. I think the '37 X-9 is a disappointment, easily the weakest Universal serial of that year. But "dull"? "Boring"? In what way? It's got a fair amount of action, a few good chapter endings, and great Universal music from the period. True, the plot is weak, but no weaker than that of RED BARRY or RADIO PATROL. In fact, it's structured along the same lines: two competing factions are after the same McGuffin. In RADIO PATROL it's the formula for flexible steel; in RED BARRY it's a million dollars in bonds; in X-9 it's the crown jewels. I'll grant you that Scott Kolk is lame as X-9 and Henry Hunter is no better as his sidekick. But the other principal players, with the exception of David Oliver, are accomplished pros and for the most part serial veterans as well. I'm at a loss to understand why the 1937 X-9 is considered "dull" and "boring." "Weak" I could agree with. "Insipid," perhaps. "Bad," maybe. But "boring"? I just don't see it that way. On the other hand, I happen to like the '45 X-9 very much but can make what I think is a persuasive case that it's nothing special, just a typical mid-Forties Universal. For example, the plot...well, what exactly is the plot? I've seen the serial twice now and I can't really remember what, if anything, the Axis agents are trying to accomplish by hanging around that island. Moreover, there's very little variety to the serial. Like most Universals of the period, it's a talkfest. Practically each chapter proceeds the same way: after the takeout, let's go to the saloon and talk there for a while. We can watch Samuel S. Hinds play tiddley-winks and toss off a deadpan bon mot or two. Then let's board the ship and chew the fat with that bunch. Then we can go to the boarding house and gab while the owners listen through an exhaust pipe. And hey, if by that time twenty minutes hasn't already elapsed, maybe we can get ourselves into a quick car crash or something! Also, am I correct in recollecting that, by chapter two, everybody has gotten to the island and stays there for the remainder of the serial? Doesn't everybody spend the next eleven weeks running around the same two square miles of real estate? Like I say, I like the '45 X-9 just fine. But I'm hard pressed to understand why that one is considered a classic and the '37 a yawner. Anybody care to enlighten me? |
![]() |
|
| KanSmiley | Oct 31 2007, 05:54 PM Post #330 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I like The Monster and the Ape. In my opinion it's got everything. It's got two of the best henchmen going...Anthony Ward and Jack Ingram. Neither one is too bright but they are good as baddies. It's got Willie Best in comic relief. It's got a giant robot and a crazed ape. It's got all the dark secret tunnels you ask for. I mean how can argue with having a mansion and a zoo hooked together by a tunnel. The mansion and the zoo thing is every kid's dream. I like both both the X-9's. Perhaps the '45 better than the '39. I guess I'm just easier to please or have lesser expectations about these serials. I think it is all what type movie you like. I know that Fu Manchu is high on most people's list of serials. I have tried 3 or 4 times to watch it and cannot get past chapter 3. I just cannot get into that serial. Kan |
|
http://www.saturday-matinee-memories.com/ intoxicated, adj.: When you feel sophisticated without being able to pronounce it. | |
![]() |
|
![]() ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community. Learn More · Register Now |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Continued Next Week · Next Topic » |





![]](http://z2.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)




:rolleyes:

6:53 AM Jul 11