| 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 (88,335 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Apr 5 2009, 01:26 PM Post #1336 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Ah, but DID he? I've oft-times wondered about that. Follow this speculation. Captain Midnight was filmed in late 1941 and released in February, 1942. Exactly 15 weeks later, Columbia released Perils of the Royal Mounted, filmed in early 1942 and released in May of that year. The next serial, The Secret Code, would've been filmed in early summer of 1942 for release in the first week of September. As you guys no doubt know, James W. Horne had solely directed every Columbia serial release since late 1939. He was fast, efficient, and churned out serials by himself when Republic and Universal were usually featuring multiple directors. Well, Mr. Horne died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage on June 29, 1942, at the age of 61. How much of The Secret Code had he worked on, if any? It stands to reason that the script had been prepared in the weeks after Pearl Harbor. Horne reworked his scripts, even earning a credit for The Green Archer, as I recall. It's safe to surmise he'd worked on the script. Had filming begin when he passed away? The serial made its release date: it was in theatres the first week in September, as scheduled. So we're looking at the following possibilities... (1) Horne died before beginning work on The Secret Code, and it was entirely Bennet's project. (2) Horne had probably worked on the script and possibly begun the direction and Bennet was grabbed to complete it fast so that the schedule wasn't screwed up. (3) Horne was replaced before filming started and Bennet was intended to be the new Columbia director all along. What was Bennet doing prior to The Secret Code? Working for Monogram churning out cheap westerns with Tex Ritter and Buck Jones. So it's equally possible that he lobbied for and got a job as a replacement for the departing Horne at Columbia, or that he was available when Horne died and was hired to fill in. A clue would be, what else did he do at Columbia? The answer: he did the next serial, too, Valley of Vanishing Men, and then he was off to Republic. If Horne retired or was let go, would Columbia hire Bennet for a few months or two serials to "see how it worked out"? Maybe, but I think it much more likely they needed a fast replacement when Horne died and Bennet, who had a lot of experience with serials and low-budget actioners, was available and filled in. (The studio used a variety of directors in the next few years following Bennet's departure.) So on a hunch I'm discounting choice (3) above, and of (1) and (2) I think (2) was more likely. So, is there anything of Horne's work in the serial as it stand today? Yeah! The scene in which The Black Commando is hurled against a rubber backstop and "BOOOOINNNNGGGGG!" bounces back against his assailant is TOTALLY a Hornsian moment of lunacy, for example. And let's face it, if he filmed that, he may well have filmed other scenes and worked on the script. In any case, this is a great serial and Valley of the Vanishing Men is not, although it's good, and in the upcoming years as Columbia's serial output went downhill Horne would be missed more and more. Okay, so there's my speculation for the day! Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. |
| "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 | |
![]() |
|
| Chandu | Apr 5 2009, 01:44 PM Post #1337 |
|
Champeen of Justice and Seeker of Knowledge, but rascal at heart!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I liked Valley Of Vanishing Men. |
| Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog. It's just little ol' me... | |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Apr 5 2009, 02:53 PM Post #1338 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Me, too! But as serials go, I wouldn't call it one of the "great" ones. |
| "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 | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Apr 5 2009, 08:23 PM Post #1339 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
You're on crack! Does Secret Code show the faintest hint of Horne's style? None. It's Bennett all the way -- close-ups and things being thrown at the camera. None of the Horne long shots, undercranking, ham acting and comic touches. One boing and it's a Horne serial? That's the same kind of stuff Manhunt In the African Jungle is loaded with. Pooh, Mr. G. Edited by panzer the great & terrible, Apr 5 2009, 08:27 PM.
|
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Apr 5 2009, 09:06 PM Post #1340 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I appreciate your retort. That's what "speculation" is for. |
| "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 | |
![]() |
|
| cinemalover | Apr 6 2009, 08:38 AM Post #1341 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
In my continuing quest to appreciate all that is Columbia (serial division) I started watching Mysterious Island. This is a title that I had never really heard anything of until reading about it on this site. I didn't read LGs recaps in any detail so that I wouldn't spoil any surprises. Four chapters into this thing and I'm wondering if they took a bunch of old scripts and tossed 'em in the blender. Civil War adventure, Robinson Crusoe knock-off, Flash Gordon wanna-be and a dash of Jungle Jim. With eleven chapters to go I'm just waiting for the romance and musical numbers to creep in. This definitely isn't boring and is borderline indescribable. I've got to get one of thise lightning shaped spears for my den. |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Apr 6 2009, 08:51 AM Post #1342 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
If you read Jules Verne's novel you'll find that this movie comes a little closer to its plot than the more expensive features do. The story's all over the map because...well...it's all over the map. And wait 'til you find out who the guy is that carried the Captain through the side of the mountain. I first saw this serial when I was about ten: it was my favorite then and still is. I watch it every five years or so. A few movies are so wacko that they powerfully stimulate the imagination without even being good: this one, The Alligator People and Plan Nine From Outer Space are my favorites, but there are plenty more. This site couldn't exist without 'em. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| cinemalover | Apr 6 2009, 09:20 AM Post #1343 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I'm sure enjoying it, I'm just not sure what's going on at times. Wasn't this one of the last serials that Columbia made? What year did they shut down serial production? Was it a popular serial upon release? Thanks for any info. |
![]() |
|
| Laughing Gravy | Apr 6 2009, 10:07 AM Post #1344 |
|
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Mysterious Island hails from 1951; Columbia's last serial was released in 1956. I think it was popular; Columbia followed it up with other sci-fi serials. |
| "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 | |
![]() |
|
| Ming the Merciless | Apr 6 2009, 10:24 AM Post #1345 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
From a prior post... "It's Bennett all the way -- close-ups and ** things being thrown at the camera.** " I remember thinking the first time I saw "Secret Code".....was this supposed to be a 3-D serial !!?? Man stuff was flying at the camera in almost every chapter....very 3-D like.... |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Apr 6 2009, 10:24 AM Post #1346 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
There's no way to judge a serial's popularity except the few blockbusters like Flash Gordon and Superman that got their names on the marquee. In the day, kids judged the product and nobody polled the kids; there wasn't any way to tell what part of the gross in a given theater was due to the serial and what part to the feature. In those days you (or at least I) didn't go to see a specific movie, just went to the movies because it was Saturday, no matter what the feature or serial was. It also didn't matter what time you arrived -- you'd go in, see the end of the picture, and then sit through the newsreel, cartoon and serial before catching the beginning of the feature (and, if you liked it, sitting through the ending again and then the serial again, of course). We weren't wild about western serials because the feature was always a western. The James Brothers serials were exceptions, though. Something about Frank and Jesse James captured our imaginations. The movie theater experience is different these days -- seems kinda regimented now that I think of it. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| Sgt Saturn | Apr 7 2009, 09:35 AM Post #1347 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Watching King of the Congo, one of three I bought from Rodney. It's Buster Crabbe's last 'loincloth' picture. IMDB and the Rodney to the contrary, it is not the only "Tarzan clone to ever feature in a serial". Kline's Jan of the Jungle is very much a Tarzan clone, and he was featured in The Call of the Savage. |
| The Ol' Sarge | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Apr 7 2009, 10:03 AM Post #1348 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
posted in the wrong thread Edited by The Batman, Apr 7 2009, 10:47 AM.
|
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| cinemalover | Apr 7 2009, 12:26 PM Post #1349 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for the answers to my earlier questions. As I continue to explore Columbia serials, which of the more obscure ones would any of you suggest I check out? Thanks in advance for your advice. |
![]() |
|
| Don Diego | Apr 7 2009, 12:35 PM Post #1350 |
![]()
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I'm a Columbia fan too - One of their best THE SPIDER'S WEB, for just plain fun THE MONSTER AND THE APE, for westerns THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL HICKOK and DEADWOOD DICK. |
![]() |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Continued Next Week · Next Topic » |





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






6:53 AM Jul 11