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Vigilantes Are Coming
Topic Started: Mar 18 2018, 05:53 PM (403 Views)
HAWKEYE
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Balcony Gang
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Unlike a lot, of other balconeers, I really enjoy this serial, and it has always been a favorite, of mine, since I first saw it, over 65 years ago. I have the two disc, Serial Squadron version, which I am very happy with, but, out of curiosity, I just bought the VCI release, for comparison. Even though the VCI is perfectly acceptable, the SS version is much sharper, with better sound. Batman's ratings chart, on this site, says, that VCI's is a two disc set, but my copy, with a 2013 release date, on the case, is all, on one disc.
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The Batman
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Thanks, Hawkeye. I haven't watched this yet, not even sure if I have it (and if I do, what edition, SS or VCI)>

I just checked VCI's website and they list it as a 2-disc release, hence why I had it on the ratings chart as such. Is it possible they have released it in both 1-disc and 2-disc version?

But the point is probably moot if the SS version is better anyway.

Anyone else have and can speak up for the SS version? I get a second on Hawkeye's motion and I'll update the chart to reflect that.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Laughing Gravy
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My VCI (#8836) is one disc.
"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
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AndyFish
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Also VCI and also one disc.
Quality on the Serial is definitely B++
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The Batman
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This is where the rating of a DVD of a serial can be...difficult. One says the SS is better, one gives the VCI top-notch marks.

Does anyone have both that can compare the qualities and break the tie?

As for the VCI disc count, I'm guessing the website is a typo, as everyone seems to have a 1-disc version of this release.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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AndyFish
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The VCI print looks to be sourced from a pretty good master-- it's a B+ print with a little bit of too much gray. If one were to run this through a digitizer and up the contrast a bit you could even it out and get it to an A- which I suspect is what anybody "restoring" it would do, not saying Eric did, I have no idea what his source material is.

He had a preview up at one time (I think I checked it out when comparing it to my VCI) and I while I thought it had better contrast it was only by a half point or so.

Why is this serial so poorly regarded? I know Livingston's mask is ridiculously small and looks ridiculous, but from what I've seen of it, and that's not much, it seems like a pretty solid Zorro-esque serial.

The subjectiveness of quality ratings is always going to be there. Anybody remember the dealer who used to sell VHS copies of these back in the day that would rate the quality A-F? I think it was Pentagram Library. I always thought those were funny and admit I'd bought things marked D if I really wanted to see them-- the old Universal Crime Club films were tough to find at one time.
Edited by AndyFish, Mar 22 2018, 11:12 AM.
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Jerry Blake
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I wouldn't say it's poorly regarded; it has its fans, although like most Western serials it doesn't get as much attention as the sci-fi serials do. In so far as it gets criticized, it's for the outrageous "cheat" cliffhanger resolutions, particularly the notorious ore-crusher one. A lot of other late Mascots and early Republics have the same issue, but I think Vigilantes might set the record in that department. However, I personally think it's the only 1936 Republic serial that actually works as a whole, although it has a more serious flaw than the cliffhanger cheats--very uneven action scenes. Yakima Canutt's riding, whip-cracking, and other stuntwork is very good, but the mass gunfight scenes really miss the directorial hand of B. Reeves Eason, who'd helmed the two preceding Republic serials; he left for Warner Brothers before Vigilantes was made. In his absence, Mack V. Wright and Ray Taylor do a disappointingly static and unexciting job with the big gun battles; I recall in particular one fight between the Vigilantes and the Cossacks which spans a couple of chapters but which consists of the two forces simply sitting in the same spots and firing at each other without anyone ever being hit. The climactic battle scenes aren't quite as pedestrian, but would have benefited enormously from Eason's presence.

Still, that said, the plot is compelling, and spun out nicely (with a minimum of the stop-and-start-again repetition that was so common at Republic), and the cast is really strong, including a good hero, menacing villain, and two of the only Republic sidekick characters that are both genuinely helpful and genuinely funny--thanks to top character players Big Boy Williams and Raymond Hatton, who are a joy to watch.
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Laughing Gravy
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I remember liking this well enough because it was different and because I tend to enjoy many of the '30s Republics as much as or more than the later "polished ones." I don't recall much about it though - haven't watched it since the VHS days (as I recall, tape two began in the MIDDLE of a chapter, for some reason). I have the VCI DVD but haven't watched it.

"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
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witneyenglish
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It's been at least 20 years since I watched this one but I recall that I enjoyed it, and I don't usually enjoy western serials.
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