List of film serials
A list of film serials by year of release.
1910s[edit]
1920s[edit]
1930s[edit]
(Film prints exist unless noted otherwise)
| Production Company | Title | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | |||||||
| Ben Wilson Productions | The Voice from the Sky | 10 | Science fiction | Ben F. Wilson | Wally Wales, Neva Gerber | First serial with full sound; print exists[37] | |
| Mascot Pictures | The Lone Defender | 12 | Western | Richard Thorpe | Rin Tin Tin, Buzz Barton, Joe Bonomo, June Marlowe | Print exists; also released as a feature version | |
| Talking Picture Epics Inc. | Across the World with Mr & Mrs Martin Johnson | Travelogue | James Leo Meehan | Martin and Osa Johnson | Tour visits Australia, Hawaii, Tanganyika and the Belgian congo | ||
| Hunting Tigers in India | 82 minutes | Documentary | James Leo Meehan | George Miller Dyott | Filmed in 1929; later re-edited into a 3-episode series | ||
| Universal Pictures | The Jade Box | 10 | Fantasy Mystery |
Ray Taylor | Jack Perrin, Louise Lorraine, Francis Ford, Jay Novello | Partial sound; an incomplete print exists in Universal's vault | |
| The Lightning Express | 10 | Western, Railroad | Henry MacRae | Louise Lorraine, Lane Chandler, Al Ferguson, James Pierce | Based on the "Whispering Smith" character created by novelist Frank H. Spearman; Remake of Whispering Smith Rides (1927); considered a lost film | ||
| Terry of the Times | 10 | Crime | Henry MacRae | Reed Howes, Lotus Thompson, Sheldon Lewis, | Universal's last partial sound serial; considered a lost film | ||
| The Indians are Coming | 12 | Western | Henry MacRae | Tim McCoy, Allene Ray, Francis Ford | First Universal all-talking serial; based on a novel The Great West That Was by "Buffalo Bill" Cody[38] | ||
| 1931 | |||||||
| Les Films Osso | Méphisto | 4 | Mystery | Henri Debain and Georges Vinter | Jean Gabin | French Based on a novel by Arthur Bernède | |
| Mascot Pictures | The Phantom of the West | 10 | Western | D. Ross Lederman | Tom Tyler, Dorothy Gulliver, William Desmond, Joe Bonomo, Kermit Maynard | ||
| King of the Wild | 12 | Jungle | Richard Thorpe, B. Reeves Eason | Walter Miller, Nora Lane, Boris Karloff, Mischa Auer | Also released in South America as a feature version called "Bimi" | ||
| The Vanishing Legion | 12 | Western | Ford Beebe and B. Reaves Eason | Harry Carey, Edwina Booth, Rex King of the Wild Horses, Boris Karloff (voice only), Frankie Darro, Yakima Canutt, Joe Bonomo | |||
| The Galloping Ghost | 12 | Sports | B. Reaves Eason and Benjamin H. Kline | Football star Harold "Red" Grange, Dorothy Gulliver, Lon Chaney Jr. (uncredited) | |||
| The Lightning Warrior | 12 | Western, Animal adventure | Benjamin H. Kline and Armand Schaefer | Rin Tin Tin, Frankie Darro, Lafe McKee | This was Rin Tin Tin's last role, being replaced in 1932 by Rin Tin Tin Jr.[39] | ||
| Metropolitan Pictures | The Sign of the Wolf | 10 | Western | Forrest Sheldon and Harry S. Webb | Rex Lease, Virginia Brown Faire, Rex the Wonder Dog | ||
| Syndicate Pictures | The Mystery Trooper | 10 | Western | Stuart Paton and Harry S. Webb | Robert Frazer, Buzz Barton | Reissued in 1935 as "Trail of the Royal Mounted" with chapter titles all renamed | |
| Universal Studios | Finger Prints | 10 | Crime | Ray Taylor | Kenneth Harlan, Edna Murphy | a lost film | |
| Heroes of the Flames | 12 | Crime/ Firefighters | Robert F. Hill | Tim McCoy, Andy Devine, Joe Bonomo, Walter Brennan (uncredited) | Print was rediscovered and preserved by Universal, but is not available on DVD | ||
| Danger Island | 12 | Jungle | Ray Taylor | Kenneth Harlan, Lucile Browne, Walter Miller, Andy Devine | a lost film | ||
| Battling with Buffalo Bill | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | Tom Tyler, Lucile Browne, Chief Thundercloud | Based on a novel The Great West That Was by "Buffalo Bill" Cody[38] | ||
| The Spell of the Circus | 12 | Crime | Robert F. Hill | Francis X. Bushman Jr., Alberta Vaughn | considered a lost film | ||
| 1932 | |||||||
| Mascot Pictures | The Shadow of the Eagle | 12 | Crime, Aviation | Ford Beebe | John Wayne's first serial | Edited into a feature film version when released years later on video[40] | |
| The Last of the Mohicans | 12 | Western | Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason | Harry Carey, Hobart Bosworth | Based on the novel by James Fenimore Cooper | ||
| The Hurricane Express | 12 | Railroad | J. P. McGowan and Armand Schaefer | John Wayne, Shirley Grey, Glenn Strange, Fred Toones | Later released as a feature version as well[41] | ||
| The Devil Horse | 12 | Western | Otto Brower | Harry Carey, Noah Beery, Frankie Darro, Lane Chandler | |||
| RKO Radio Pictures | The Last Frontier | 12 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas L. Storey | Lon Chaney Jr. (as The Black Ghost), Francis X. Bushman Jr. | Based on a novel by Courtney Ryley Cooper; also released theatrically in 1932 as a 70-minute feature version called The Black Ghost.[42] | |
| Universal Pictures | Detective Lloyd | 12 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Henry MacRae | Jack Lloyd | US/British co-production with British cast, released in Europe as Lloyd of the C.I.D.; a.k.a. The Green Spot Mystery (the feature version); a lost film | |
| The Airmail Mystery | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | James Flavin, Lucile Browne, Al Wilson, Walter Brennan | a lost film | ||
| Heroes of the West | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | Noah Beery Jr., Onslow Stevens, Diane Duval | based on the novel "The Tie That Binds" by Peter B. Kyne; the novel was made into another serial in 1938 called Flaming Frontiers[43] | ||
| Jungle Mystery | 12 | Jungle | Ray Taylor | Tom Tyler, Noah Beery Jr., Cecilia Parker, William Desmond | based on a novel "The Ivory Trail" by Talbot Mundy;[44] A complete print exists but only in Universal's vault | ||
| The Lost Special | 12 | Railroad | Henry MacRae | Frank Albertson, Cecilia Parker | Based on a story The Lost Special by Arthur Conan Doyle | ||
| 1933 | |||||||
| Mascot Pictures | The Whispering Shadow | 12 | Mystery | Colbert Clark and Albert Herman | Bela Lugosi's first sound serial | Also exists as a feature version | |
| The Three Musketeers | 12 | Foreign Legion | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | John Wayne, Jack Mulhall, Ruth Hall, Lon Chaney Jr., Raymond Hatton, Robert Frazer | Chaney's appearance is mainly in the first chapter; Edited later into a 1946 feature version called Desert Command | ||
| Fighting with Kit Carson | 12 | Western | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | Johnny Mack Brown, Noah Beery Sr., Noah Beery Jr., Lane Chandler | Released theatrically as a feature film version in 1946 | ||
| The Wolf Dog | 12 | Western | Colbert Clark and Harry L. Fraser | Rin Tin Tin Jr., Frankie Darro, George Lewis | Rin Tin Tin Jr.'s first serial film, having replaced the original dog star in 1932[45] | ||
| The Mystery Squadron | 12 | Aviation | Colbert Clark and David Howard | Bob Steele, J. Carrol Naish, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams | |||
| Principal Pictures | Tarzan the Fearless | 12 | Jungle Fantasy |
Robert F. Hill | Buster Crabbe, Jacqueline Wells | Based on the Tarzan novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs; only the edited feature version still exists | |
| Universal Studios | Clancy of the Mounted | 12 | Northern | Ray Taylor | Tom Tyler, Jacqueline Wells, William Desmond | ( Only the first 6 chapters are available on DVD, but the British Film Institute (BFI) holds a complete 35mm print of all 12 chapters) | |
| The Phantom of the Air | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | Tom Tyler, William Desmond, Walter Brennan | |||
| Gordon of Ghost City | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones, Madge Bellamy, William Desmond | Based on the novel "Oh Promise Me!" by Peter B. Kyne | ||
| The Perils of Pauline | 12 | Damsel in distress | Ray Taylor | Evalyn Knapp, William Desmond | Sound remake of the 1914 eponymous serial | ||
| 1934 | |||||||
| Mascot Pictures | The Lost Jungle | 12 | Jungle | David Howard and Armand Schaefer | Clyde Beatty, Syd Saylor, Gabby Hayes | Followed by a sequel Darkest Africa in 1936 | |
| Burn 'Em Up Barnes | 12 | Sports (auto racing) | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | Frankie Darro, Jack Mulhall, Lola Lane | Loose remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name[46] | ||
| The Law of the Wild | 12 | Western, Animal adventure | B. Reeves Eason and Armand Schaefer | Rin Tin Tin Jr., Rex the Wonder Horse, Bob Custer, Ben Turpin, Richard Alexander | |||
| Mystery Mountain | 12 | Western | Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Ken Maynard, Syd Saylor, Tarzan the Wonder Horse, Gene Autry (uncredited) | |||
| Principal Pictures | The Return of Chandu | 12 | Fantasy | Ray Taylor | Bela Lugosi, Maria Alba | Based on the popular Chandu the Magician radio program; later released as two separate feature versions[47] | |
| Romance Productions Incorporated | Young Eagles | 12 | Boy Scouts, Jungle | Edward Laurier, Vin Moore | Bobby Cox, Jim Vance | ||
| Universal Pictures | Pirate Treasure | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor | Richard Talmadge | ||
| The Vanishing Shadow | 12 | Science fiction | Lew Landers | Onslow Stevens, William Desmond | |||
| The Red Rider | 15 | Western | Lew Landers | Buck Jones, Grant Withers, William Desmond | Based on the short story "The Redhead from Sun Dog" by W. C. Tuttle; a remake of Buck Jones' earlier 1931 film The Range Feud[41] | ||
| Tailspin Tommy | 12 | Aviation | Lew Landers | Maurice Murphy, Noah Beery Jr., Grant Withers | Based on the "Tailspin Tommy" newspaper comic strip by Hal Forrest [48] | ||
| 1935 | |||||||
| Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises | The New Adventures of Tarzan | 12 | Jungle Fantasy |
Edward A. Kull | Herman Brix | Based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs | |
| Mascot Pictures | The Phantom Empire | 12 | Western, Fantasy | Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Smiley Burnette | Considered the first Science-Fiction Western[49] | |
| The Miracle Rider | 15 | Western | Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Tom Mix, Charles Middleton | |||
| The Adventures of Rex and Rinty | 12 | Crime, Animal adventure | B. Reeves Eason and Ford Beebe | Kane Richmond, Smiley Burnette, Rin Tin Tin Jr., Rex the Wonder Horse | |||
| The Fighting Marines | 12 | War | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Grant Withers, Adrian Morris, Richard Alexander, Jason Robards Sr. | Last Mascot serial; Mascot merged into Republic Pictures | ||
| Screen Attractions | Queen of the Jungle | 12 | Jungle | Robert F. Hill | Mary Kornman, Reed Howes | Used extensive stock footage from Jungle Goddess (1922)[50] | |
| Super Serial Productions Inc. | The Lost City | 12 | Science Fiction, Jungle | Harry Revier | Wm. (stage) Boyd, Kane Richmond, Claudia Dell, Gabby Hayes | later edited into four different feature versions | |
| Universal Pictures | Rustlers of Red Dog | 12 | Western | Lew Landers | Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Chief Thundercloud | Based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody[51] | |
| The Call of the Savage | 12 | Jungle Fantasy |
Lew Landers | Noah Beery Jr. | Based on a story "Jan of the Jungle" by Otis Adelbert Kline; later edited into a 70-minute feature version called Savage Fury[52] | ||
| The Roaring West | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones, Frank McGlynn Sr., William Desmond | |||
| Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | Clark Williams, Jean Rogers, Noah Beery Jr., Grant Withers | Based on the "Tailspin Tommy" comic strip by Hal Forrest [48] | ||
| 1936 Beginning of the Golden Age of Serials[53] | |||||||
| Republic Pictures | Darkest Africa | 15 | Jungle | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Clyde Beatty, Manuel King, Elaine Shepard, Lucien Prival | First Republic serial; sequel to "The Lost Jungle" (1934); later reissued as King of the Jungleland[54] | |
| Undersea Kingdom | 12 | Fantasy | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Ray (Crash) Corrigan, Lois Wilde, Smiley Burnette | Later released as a 100-minute feature version entitled Sharad of Atlantis[55] | ||
| The Vigilantes Are Coming | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright | Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Raymond Hatton | Later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for television | ||
| Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island | 14 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright | Mala, Rex, Mamo Clark | released in 1966 as a feature version called Robinson Crusoe of Mystery Island | ||
| Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.) | Custer's Last Stand | 15 | Western | Elmer Clifton | Rex Lease, Frank McGlynn Jr., Chief Thundercloud | features characters General Custer, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok | |
| Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.) | The Clutching Hand | 15 | Mystery | Albert Herman | Jack Mulhall, Mae Busch, Rex Lease, Richard Alexander | A Craig Kennedy mystery; also released as a 70-minute feature version[56] | |
| Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.) | The Black Coin | 15 | Mystery | Albert Herman | Ralph Graves, Ruth Mix, Dave O'Brien, Yakima Canutt | ||
| Universal Pictures | The Adventures of Frank Merriwell | 12 | Sports | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Donald Briggs, Jean Rogers, Carla Laemmle | Based on the Frank Merriwell novels by Gilbert Patten | |
| Flash Gordon | 13 | Science fiction | Frederick Stephani | Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Frank Shannon, Charles Middleton, Glenn Strange (as "the Gocko") | Based on the comic strip by Alex Raymond; later re-released as two different feature versions, "Rocket Ship" (72 min.) and "Spaceship to the Unknown" (90 min.)[57] | ||
| The Phantom Rider | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones, Charles King | |||
| Ace Drummond | 13 | Aviation | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | John King, Jean Rogers, Noah Beery Jr., Lon Chaney Jr. | Based on a comic strip by Eddie Rickenbacker | ||
| Victory Pictures (Sam Katzman) | Shadow of Chinatown | 15 | Mystery, Yellow peril | Robert F. Hill | Bela Lugosi, Herman Brix | Also exists as a feature version | |
| 1937 | |||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Jungle Menace | 15 | Jungle | Harry L. Fraser and George Melford | Frank Buck Charlotte Henry[58] |
First Columbia serial (produced by Weiss Bros.); later released as a 70-minute feature version called "Jungle Terror". | |
| The Mysterious Pilot | 15 | Aviation | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Frank Hawks | Produced by Weiss Brothers; based on a novel "The Silver Hawk" by William Byron Mowery[59] | ||
| Republic Pictures | Dick Tracy | 15 | Crime | Alan James, Ray Taylor | Ralph Byrd, Smiley Burnette, Kay Hughes | Based on the famous comic strip by Chester Gould | |
| The Painted Stallion | 12 | Western | Alan James, William Witney, Ray Taylor[41] | Ray Corrigan, Hoot Gibson, Duncan Renaldo, Yakima Canutt | Featured characters Kit Carson, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett; later re-edited into a six-episode TV series, as well as a 72-minute feature version[60] | ||
| S.O.S. Coast Guard | 12 | Maritime, Science fiction | Alan James, William Witney | Ralph Byrd, Bela Lugosi, Richard Alexander | Also exists as a 71-minute feature version including some newly added footage | ||
| Zorro Rides Again | 12 | Western | William Witney, John English[41] | John Carroll, Noah Beery, Duncan Renaldo, Richard Alexander | Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley; later released as a six-episode TV series, as well as a 68-minute eponymous feature version.[61] | ||
| Universal Pictures | Jungle Jim | 12 | Jungle | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Grant Withers, Henry Brandon, Raymond Hatton | Based on the popular comic strip by Alex Raymond[41] | |
| Secret Agent X-9 | 12 | Crime | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Scott Kolk, Jean Rogers, Henry Brandon, Lon Chaney Jr. | Based on the comic strip by Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond | ||
| Wild West Days | 13 | Western | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Johnny Mack Brown, Chief Thundercloud | Based on the novel "Saint Johnson" by William R. Burnett[62] | ||
| Radio Patrol | 12 | Crime | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Grant Withers, Robert Armstrong | Based on the popular comic strip by Eddie Sullivan and Charles Schmidt[63] | ||
| Tim Tyler's Luck | 12 | Jungle | Ford Beebe and Wyndham Gittens | Frankie Thomas, William Benedict | Based on the popular comic strip created by Lyman Young [64] | ||
| Victory Pictures (Sam Katzman) | Blake of Scotland Yard | 15 | Crime | Robert F. Hill | Ralph Byrd, Joan Barclay, Dickie Jones | Last independent American serial; also released as a 73-minute feature version | |
| 1938 | |||||||
| Columbia Pictures | The Secret of Treasure Island | 15 | Jungle | Elmer Clifton | Don Terry, Gwen Gaze, Walter Miller, Grant Withers | Last serial produced by Weiss Bros.; based on a serialized story "Murder at Pirate Castle" (1936) by L. Ron Hubbard; Bela Lugosi was originally slated to co-star[65] | |
| The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | 15 | Western | Mack V. Wright and Sam Nelson | William Elliott, Frankie Darro, Dickie Jones, Ray Mala, Chief Thundercloud, Kenne Duncan | |||
| The Spider's Web | 15 | Superhero | Ray Taylor and James W. Horne | Warren Hull, Kenne Duncan, Iris Meredith, Nestor Paiva, Byron Foulger | Based on a popular 1930s pulp magazine; followed by a sequel The Spider Returns (1941)[66] | ||
| Republic Pictures | The Lone Ranger | 15 | Western | William Witney and John English | Lee Powell, Chief Thundercloud, Herman Brix, Lane Chandler | Based on the popular 1930s radio program; later released as a 69-minute feature version called Hi-Yo Silver[67] | |
| The Fighting Devil Dogs | 12 | Science fiction | William Witney and John English | Lee Powell, Herman Brix | Later re-edited into a 69-minute feature version for TV, retitled Torpedo of Doom | ||
| Dick Tracy Returns | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd, Charles Middleton, David Sharpe | Based on the famous comic strip by Chester Gould; re-released theatrically in July 1948 | ||
| Hawk of the Wilderness | 12 | Jungle | William Witney and John English | Herman Brix, Mala, Monte Blue, Noble Johnson | based on the novel by William L. Chester[68] later re-edited and released to TV as The Lost Island of Kioga | ||
| Universal Studios | Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars | 15 | Science fiction | Frederick Stephani | Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Frank Shannon, Richard alexander, Kenne Duncan | Based on the comic strip by Alex Raymond; later retitled Space Soldiers' Trip to Mars for TV release | |
| Flaming Frontiers | 15 | Western | Alan James and Ray Taylor | Johnny Mack Brown, Charles Middleton, Chief Thundercloud | based on "The Tie That Binds" (a novel) by Peter B. Kyne; later re-edited for TV release in 1966[43] | ||
| Red Barry | 13 | Crime | Alan James | Buster Crabbe, Wheeler Oakman, Philip Ahn | Based on the comic strip by Will Gould[69] | ||
| 1939 | |||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Flying G-Men | 15 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and James W. Horne | Robert Paige, Richard Fiske, James Craig, Lorna Gray | ||
| Mandrake the Magician | 12 | Fantasy | Sam Nelson and Norman Deming | Warren Hull, Al Kikume | Based on the popular comic strip created by Lee Falk | ||
| Overland with Kit Carson | 15 | Western | Sam Nelson and Norman Deming | Bill Elliott, Richard Fiske, Iris Meredith, Kenne Duncan | |||
| Republic Pictures | The Lone Ranger Rides Again | 15 | Western | William Witney and John English | Robert Livingston, Chief Thundercloud, Glenn Strange, Duncan Renaldo | Based on the popular 1930s "Lone Ranger" radio program | |
| Daredevils of the Red Circle | 12 | Adventure | William Witney and John English | Charles Quigley, Herman Brix, David Sharpe, Carole Landis, Charles Middleton | Later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for television[70] | ||
| Dick Tracy's G-Men | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd, Irving Pichel, Ted Pearson, Phylis Isley | Based on the famous comic strip by Chester Gould; re-released theatrically in Sept., 1955[71] | ||
| Zorro's Fighting Legion | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Reed Hadley | Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley; later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for TV | ||
| Universal Pictures | Scouts to the Rescue | 12 | Boy scouts | Alan James and Ray Taylor | Jackie Cooper, Jason Robards Sr., Bill Cody Jr. | ||
| Buck Rogers | 12 | Science fiction | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Buster Crabbe, Henry Brandon, Philson Ahn, Anthony Warde, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran, Kenne Duncan | Based on the popular comic strip by Philip Francis Nowlan; later re-edited into 2 separate feature versions, Destination Saturn and Planet Outlaws[72] | ||
| The Oregon Trail | 15 | Western | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Roy Barcroft | |||
| The Phantom Creeps | 12 | Science fiction | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Bela Lugosi, Edward Van Sloan, Regis Toomey, Ed Wolff (as the Robot) | Also exists as a 78-minute feature version; contains stock footage from The Invisible Ray (1936)[73] | ||
1940s[edit]
| Production Company | Title | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | The Shadow | 15 | Crime | James W. Horne | Victor Jory, Robert Fiske, Veda Ann Borg | Based on the radio program and pulp magazine series |
| Terry and the Pirates | 15 | Jungle | James W. Horne | William Tracy, Granville Owen | Based on the "Terry and the Pirates" newspaper comic strip created by Milton Caniff | |
| Deadwood Dick | 15 | Western | James W. Horne | Don Douglas Lane Chandler Lorna Gray Kenne Duncan |
Character loosely based on "Zorro"[74] | |
| The Green Archer | 15 | Mystery | James W. Horne | Victor Jory, Iris Meredith, James Craven, Kenne Duncan | Based on the 1923 novel by Edgar Wallace[75] | |
| Republic Pictures | Drums of Fu Manchu | 15 | Yellow Peril Mystery |
William Witney and John English | Henry Brandon, Olaf Hytton, William Royle, Dwight Frye | Based on the character created by Sax Rohmer; also released as a 69-minute feature version with an altered ending[76][77] |
| Adventures of Red Ryder | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Don "Red" Barry, Noah Beery Sr., Tommy Cook, Maude Pierce Allen | Based on the western comic strip by Fred Harmon[78] | |
| King of the Royal Mounted | 12 | Northern | William Witney and John English | Allan Lane, Robert Strange, Herbert Rawlinson | Based on the comic strip written by Zane Grey; also released as a 68-minute feature version called The Yukon Patrol[79] | |
| Mysterious Doctor Satan | 15 | Superhero | William Witney and John English | Eduardo Ciannelli, Robert Wilcox, C. Montague Shaw, Tom Steele (as the Robot) | Features a hero called "The Copperhead"; originally written as a never-produced Republic "Superman" serial; later re-edited into a seven episode TV series, as well as a 100-minute feature version called Doctor Satan's Robot[80][81] | |
| Universal Pictures | The Green Hornet | 13 | Crime/Superhero | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Gordon Jones, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel | Based on the popular radio program by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker; some home video versions are heavily edited |
| Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe | 12 | Science fiction/Superhero | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Buster Crabbe, Carol Hughes, Charles Middleton, Frank Shannon, Ray Mala | Based on the famous comic strip by Alex Raymond; later released as three separate re-edited feature versions, entitled "Purple Death from Outer Space", "Perils from the Planet Mongo" and "Space Soldiers Conquer the Universe".[82] | |
| Winners of the West | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Dick Foran, Anne Nagel, Roy Barcroft | ||
| Junior G-Men | 12 | Crime | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, David Sharpe | ||
| 1941 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | White Eagle | 15 | Western | James W. Horne | Buck Jones, Raymond Hatton, Dorothy Fay, Kenne Duncan | Remake of a 1932 Buck Jones western film also called "White Eagle" |
| The Spider Returns | 15 | Crime | James W. Horne | Warren Hull, Kenne Duncan, Mary Ainslee | Based on the 1930s pulp magazine character "The Spider"; sequel to The Spider's Web (1938); an 80-minute feature version exists that was shown in England | |
| The Iron Claw | 15 | Mystery | James W. Horne | Charles Quigley, Joyce Bryant, Alex Callam | ||
| Holt of the Secret Service | 15 | Crime | James W. Horne | Jack Holt, Evelyn Brent, Tristram Coffin | ||
| Republic Pictures | Adventures of Captain Marvel | 12 | Superhero | William Witney and John English | Tom Tyler, William Benedict, Louise Currie, Kenne Duncan | Based on the popular Captain Marvel comic book series; later reissued to theaters in 1953 as Return of Captain Marvel |
| Jungle Girl | 15 | Jungle | William Witney and John English | Frances Gifford, Tom Neal, Gerald Mohr, Emil Van Horn (as the Gorilla) | Based on the 1932 novel "Jungle Girl" by Edgar Rice Burroughs; re-released to theaters in 1947; followed by a sequel The Perils of Nyoka (1942) | |
| King of the Texas Rangers | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Slingin' Sammy Baugh, Neil Hamilton, Duncan Renaldo, Kenne Duncan | Later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for television[83] | |
| Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd, Ralph Morgan, John Davidson, Jan Wiley | Based on the famous comic strip by Chester Gould; later re-released theatrically in 1952 as Dick Tracy vs. Phantom Empire; featured stock footage from Deluge (1933) | |
| Universal Pictures | The Green Hornet Strikes Again! | 15 | Crime/Superhero | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | Warren Hull, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel | Based on the Green Hornet radio program by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker |
| Sky Raiders | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Donald Woods, Billy Halop, Robert Armstrong, Eduardo Ciannelli | ||
| Riders of Death Valley | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Buck Jones, Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, Lon Chaney Jr., Glenn Strange, Roy Barcroft, Richard Alexander | ||
| Sea Raiders | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | The Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys, Richard Alexander | ||
| 1942 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Captain Midnight | 15 | Adventure | James W. Horne | Dave O'Brien, James Craven | Based on the "Captain Midnight" radio adventure serial broadcast from 1938 to 1949 |
| Perils of the Royal Mounted | 15 | Western | James W. Horne | Robert Kellard, Kenneth MacDonald, Iron Eyes Cody, Kermit Maynard | ||
| The Secret Code | 15 | Spy | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Paul Kelly, Anne Nagel, Frank Shannon, Kenne Duncan | Features a hero called "The Black Commando"[84] | |
| The Valley of Vanishing Men | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Bill Elliott, Slim Summerville, Kenne Duncan | ||
| Republic Pictures | Spy Smasher | 12 | War Superhero | William Witney | Kane Richmond, Tristram Coffin, Marguerite Chapman | Based on the Fawcett Comics "Spy Smasher" character; later released to TV as a 100-minute feature version Spy Smasher Returns |
| Perils of Nyoka | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
William Witney | Kay Aldridge, Clayton Moore, Lorna Gray, Charles Middleton, Tristram Coffin, William Benedict, Kenne Duncan | Based on the 1932 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel "Jungle Girl"; later re-released to theatres in 1952 as "Nyoka and the Tiger Men"; later released to TV as a 100-minute feature version called "Nyoka and the Lost Secrets of Hippocrates" | |
| King of the Mounties | 12 | Northern | William Witney | Allan Lane, Peggy Drake | ||
| Universal Pictures | Don Winslow of the Navy | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Don Terry, Anne Nagel | Based on the popular comic strip by Commander Frank V. Martinek |
| Gang Busters | 13 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Noel M. Smith | Kent Taylor. Irene Hervey, Ralph Morgan, Robert Armstrong | Based on the popular "Gang Busters" radio program; re-released theatrically in 1949[85] | |
| Junior G-Men of the Air | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor, Lewis D. Collins | The Dead End Kids, Turhan Bey, William Benedict, Lionel Atwill, Frankie Darro | ||
| Overland Mail | 15 | Western | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | Lon Chaney Jr., Noah Beery Sr., Noah Beery Jr., Don Terry, Bob Baker | Based on the short story by Johnston McCulley; later released as a feature version called "The Indian Raiders" | |
| 1943 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Batman | 15 | Superhero | Lambert Hillyer | Lewis Wilson, Douglas Croft, J. Carrol Naish, Charles Middleton, Kenne Duncan | Based on the popular comic book series from DC Comics; reissued theatrically in 1965 |
| The Phantom | 15 | Jungle Superhero | B. Reeves Eason | Tom Tyler, Jeanne Bates, frank Shannon | Based on Lee Falk's popular newspaper comic strip ; followed by a 1955 sequel The Adventures of Capt. Africa[86] | |
| Republic Pictures | G-Men vs The Black Dragon | 15 | Spy | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Rod Cameron, Roland Got, George J. Lewis | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called Black Dragon of Manzanar; followed by a 1943 sequel called Secret Service in Darkest Africa |
| Daredevils of the West | 12 | Western | John English | Allan Lane, Kay Aldridge, Chief Thundercloud, Jay Silverheels, Kenne Duncan | Film was incomplete for years, but was restored and released on DVD in 2011 | |
| Secret Service in Darkest Africa | 15 | Spy | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Rod Cameron, Duncan Renaldo, Joan Marsh | Later re-released theatrically in 1954 as Manhunt in the African Jungles; later released as a feature version called The Baron's African War | |
| The Masked Marvel | 12 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Tom Steele, Louis Currie, Tom Steele, Johnny Arthur | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called Sakima and the Masked Marvel | |
| Universal Pictures | The Adventures of Smilin' Jack | 13 | War Aviation | Ray Taylor, Lewis D. Collins | Tom Brown, Keye Luke, Sidney Toler, Turhan Bey, Jay Novello | Based on the popular newspaper comic strip by Zack Mosley |
| Don Winslow of the Coast Guard | 13 | War | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Don Terry, Philip Ahn, Nestor Paiva, Walter Sande | Based on the popular newspaper comic strip "Don Winslow of the Navy" by Frank V. Martinbek | |
| Adventures of the Flying Cadets | 13 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Johnny Downs, Bobby Jordan, Robert Armstrong, William Benedict, Robert Armstrong, Billy Halop, Eduardo Ciannelli, Ian Keith | ||
| 1944 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | The Desert Hawk | 15 | Adventure | B. Reeves Eason | Gilbert Roland, Charles Middleton, Chief Thundercloud, Elmo Lincoln | |
| Black Arrow | 15 | Western | B. Reeves Eason and Lew Landers | Robert Scott, Charles Middleton, Elmo Lincoln | ||
| Republic Pictures | Captain America | 15 | Superhero | Elmer Clifton and John English | Dick Purcell, Lionel Atwill, Edward Van Sloan, Lorna Gray, Kenne Duncan | Based on the popular comic book series by Marvel Comics; the chapters were re-released theatrically in 1953 as The Return of Captain America |
| The Tiger Woman | 12 | Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling, Allan Lane, Duncan Renaldo, George J. Lewis, Kenne Duncan | Re-released theatrically in 1951 as Perils of the Darkest Jungle; released in 1966 as a feature version called Jungle Gold | |
| Haunted Harbor | 15 | Maritime | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kane Richmond, Roy Barcroft, Kay Aldridge, Kenne Duncan | Based on the novel by Ewart Adamson (aka Dayle Douglas); re-released theatrically in 1951 as Pirates' Harbor | |
| Zorro's Black Whip | 12 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling, Francis McDonald, George J. Lewis[41] | Based on the Zorro character created by Johnston McCulley, but due to legalities, the character was called "The Black Whip" (not Zorro) in this serial; re-released theatrically in 1957[87] | |
| Universal Pictures | The Great Alaskan Mystery | 13 | Mystery | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Milburn Stone, Martin Kosleck, Ralph Morgan, Edgar Kennedy, Fuzzy Knight | |
| Raiders of Ghost City | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Dennis Moore, Lionel Atwill, Wanda McKay, Virginia Christine | ||
| Mystery of the River Boat | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Robert Lowery, Mantan Moreland, Lyle Talbot | ||
| 1945 End of the Golden Age of Serials[53] | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Brenda Starr, Reporter | 13 | Crime | Wallace Fox | Joan Woodbury, Kane Richmond, Syd Saylor, Wheeler Oakman | Based on the popular comic strip created by Dale Messick |
| The Monster and the Ape | 15 | Science fiction | Howard Bretherton | Robert Lowery, Ralph Morgan, Willie Best, Ray Corrigan (as the Ape) | ||
| Jungle Raiders | 15 | Jungle | Lesley Selander | Kane Richmond, Carol Hughes, Charles King, Veda Ann Borg | ||
| Who's Guilty? | 15 | Mystery | Howard Bretherton and Wallace Grissell | Robert Kent, Amelita Ward, Charles Middleton, Minerva Urecal | ||
| Republic Pictures | Manhunt of Mystery Island | 15 | Jungle science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling, Richard Bailey, Roy Barcroft, Kenne Duncan | Re-released theatrically in 1956; later released as a 100-minute feature version called Captain Mephisto and the Transformation Machine |
| Federal Operator 99 | 12 | Crime | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Marten Lamont, Helen Talbot, Lorna Gray, George J. Lewis | Re-released theatrically in 1956; later reissued as a feature version called F.B.I. 99[88] | |
| The Purple Monster Strikes | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Linda Stirling, Dennis Moore, Roy Barcroft, James Craven, Kenne Duncan | Re-released theatrically in 1957; later released as a 100-minute feature version called D-Day on Mars | |
| Universal Pictures | Jungle Queen | 13 | Jungle | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Ruth Roman, Edward Norris, Douglas Dumbrille, Clarence Muse | Later re-edited into a feature version called Jungle Safari in 1956 |
| The Master Key | 13 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Milburn Stone, Lash Larue, Dennis Moore, Byron Foulger | ||
| Secret Agent X-9 | 13 | Spy | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Lloyd Bridges, Keye Luke, Samuel S. Hinds | Based on the comic strip created by Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond | |
| The Royal Mounted Rides Again | 13 | Northern | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Bill Kennedy, George Dolenz, Milburn Stone, Robert Armstrong | ||
| 1946 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Hop Harrigan | 15 | Aviation | Derwin Abrahams | William Bakewell, Wheeler Oakman, Jennifer Holt | Based on the "Hop Harrigan" comic book published by DC Comics |
| Chick Carter, Detective | 15 | Crime | Derwin Abrahams | Lyle Talbot, George Meeker, Charles King, Pamela Blake | Based on the popular radio program "Chick Carter, Boy Detective" | |
| Son of the Guardsman | 15 | Medieval | Derwin Abrahams | Bob Shaw, Robert "Buzz" Henry, Jock Mahoney | Based on the Robin Hood legend (but Robin Hood is not a character in the film) | |
| Republic Pictures | The Phantom Rider | 12 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Robert Kent, Peggy Stewart, Kenne Duncan, Roy Barcroft, Chief Thundercloud | later re-released theatrically in 1954 as "Ghost Riders of the West"[89] |
| King of the Forest Rangers | 12 | Northern | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Larry Thompson, Helen Talbot, Anthony Warde | Later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for television | |
| Daughter of Don Q | 12 | Crime | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Lorna Gray, Kirk Alyn, LeRoy Mason, Roy Barcroft | Features a female "Zorro" character called Dolores Quantero | |
| The Crimson Ghost | 12 | Science fiction | William Witney and Fred C. Brannon | Charles Quigley, Linda Stirling, Clayton Moore, Kenne Duncan, I. Stanford Jolley [41] | Also released to TV in the 1950s as a six-episode TV program; later released as a 100-minute feature version called Cyclotrode X; one of the few serials ever to be colorized on home video | |
| Universal Pictures | The Scarlet Horseman | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Paul Guilfoyle, Virginia Christine, Kenne Duncan | |
| Lost City of the Jungle | 13 | Jungle | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Russell Hayden, Jane Adams, Lionel Atwill, Keye Luke | (Atwill died during filming) | |
| The Mysterious Mr. M | 13 | Science fiction | Lewis D. Collins and Vernon Keays | Richard Martin, Pamela Blake, Dennis Moore | Last Universal serial | |
| 1947 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Jack Armstrong | 15 | Science fiction | Wallace Fox | John Hart, Rosemary LaPlanche, Pierre Watkin, Wheeler Oakman, Charles Middleton | Based on the popular radio program "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy" |
| The Vigilante | 15 | Western | Wallace Fox | Ralph Byrd, Ramsay Ames, Lyle Talbot | Based on the DC Comics character, The Vigilante (character) | |
| The Sea Hound | 15 | Maritime | Walter B. Eason and Mack V. Wright | Buster Crabbe, Jimmy Lloyd, Pamela Blake | Based on the 1940s radio program The Sea Hound featuring the seafaring character Capt. Silver[90] | |
| Brick Bradford | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kane Richmond, Rick Vallin, Carol Forman, John Merton, John Hart | Based on the Brick Bradford newspaper comic strip created by Clarence Gray[91] | |
| Republic Pictures | Son of Zorro | 13 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | George Turner, Peggy Stewart, Roy Barcroft | Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley; later re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for television[92] |
| Jesse James Rides Again | 13 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore. Linda Stirling | First of Republic's three "Jesse James" serials; re-released theatrically in March 1955 [93] | |
| The Black Widow | 13 | Science fiction, Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Bruce Edwards, Carol Forman, Ramsay Ames, Anthony Warde, I. Stanford Jolley | Also re-edited into six 26-minute episodes for TV; later released as a 100-minute feature version called "Sombra, the Spider Woman" | |
| 1948 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Tex Granger | 15 | Western | Derwin Abrahams | Robert Kellard, Peggy Stewart, Robert "Buzz" Henry, I. Stanford Jolley | Based on a character in "Calling All Boys" (a comic book) and a novel called The Last Frontier by Courtney Ryley Cooper |
| Superman | 15 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill, Pierre Watkin, Tommy Bond, Carol Forman, Herbert Rawlinson | Based on the famous DC Comics comic book character; followed by a 1950 sequel Atom Man Vs. Superman | |
| Congo Bill | 15 | Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr | Don McGuire, Cleo Moore, Jack Ingram | Based on the famous DC Comics comic book character | |
| Republic Pictures | G-Men Never Forget | 12 | Crime | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore, Roy Barcroft, Ramsay Ames | Later released as a 100-minute feature version entitled Code 645 |
| Dangers of the Canadian Mounted | 12 | Northern | Fred C. Brannon | Jim Bannon, Anthony Warde, Virginia Belmont | Re-released theatrically in 1965; also released as a 100-minute feature version called R.C.M.P. and the Treasure of Genghis Khan[94] | |
| Adventures of Frank and Jesse James | 13 | Western | Fred C. Brannon, Yakima Canutt | Clayton Moore, Noel Neill, George J. Lewis, Steve Darrell | Re-released theatrically in 1956 | |
| 1949 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Bruce Gentry | 15 | Aviation, Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr | Tom Neal, Tristram Coffin, Forrest Taylor | Based on the "Bruce Gentry" newspaper comic strip created by Ray Bailey |
| Batman and Robin | 15 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Robert Lowery, Johnny Duncan, Jane Adams, Lyle Talbot | Based on the famous DC Comics comic book characters; re-released theatrically in 1965 | |
| Adventures of Sir Galahad | 15 | Fantasy | Spencer Gordon Bennet | George Reeves, Nelson Leigh, William Fawcett, Hugh Prosser | Based on the King Arthur legend | |
| Republic Pictures | Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc | 12 | Crime | Fred C. Brannon | Kirk Alyn, Rosemary Planche, Roy Barcroft, Carol Forman, Tristram Coffin | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called "The Golden Hands of Kurigal" |
| Ghost of Zorro | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore, Roy Barcroft, George J. Lewis, | Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley; later released as a 69-minute feature version as well[95] | |
| King of the Rocket Men | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke, James Craven, I. Stanford Jolley | Inspired by the Buck Rogers serial character; re-released theatrically in 1956; released as a 65-minute feature version called Lost Planet Airman [96] | |
| The James Brothers of Missouri | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Noel Neill, Keith Richards, Robert Bice, Roy Barcroft | ||
| Radar Patrol vs Spy King | 12 | Spy | Fred C. Brannon | Kirk Alyn, John Merton, Tristram Coffin, George J. Lewis | ||
1950s[edit]
| Production Company | Title | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Cody of the Pony Express | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Jock Mahoney, Dickie Moore, Peggy Stewart, George J. Lewis | Based loosely on the life of Buffalo Bill Cody |
| Atom Man vs. Superman | 15 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill, Lyle Talbot, Tommy Bond | Based on the Superman comic book character published by DC Comics | |
| Pirates of the High Seas | 15 | Maritime/ Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr | Buster Crabbe, Lois Hall, Tristram Coffin | ||
| Great Britain Instructional | The Mystery of the Snakeskin Belt[97] | 8 | Jungle adventure | Frank Cadman | Colin Barlow, Ursula Strachey, Cyril Wentzel | British; Last independent serial; filmed in Zimbabwe[98] |
| Republic Pictures | The Invisible Monster | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Richard Webb, Aline Towne, Lane Bradford, Stanley Price | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called Slaves of the Invisible Monster |
| Desperadoes of the West | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Richard Powers, Roy Barcroft, I. Stanford Jolley | ||
| Flying Disc Man from Mars | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Harry Lauter, James Craven | Reuses the villain's costume from The Purple Monster Strikes (1945); later released as a 75-minute feature version called Missile Monsters[99] | |
| 1951 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Roar of the Iron Horse | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr | Jock Mahoney, Virginia Herrick, Myron Healy | |
| Mysterious Island | 15 | Science fiction, Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Richard Crane, Marshall Reed, Karen Randle, Tom Tyler (uncredited) | Based on The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne | |
| Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Wallace Grissell | Judd Holdren, Larry Stewart, Gene Roth, Skelton Knaggs | Only serial adapted from a television program; reissued theatrically in 1958, 1960, and 1963 | |
| Republic Pictures | Don Daredevil Rides Again | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Ken Curtis, Roy Barcroft, Aline Townes, I. Stanford Jolley | Similar in theme to Zorro; includes stock footage from Zorro's Black Whip (1944) |
| Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion | 12 | Spy | Fred C. Brannon | Walter Reed, Mary Ellen Kay, Dick Curtis | ||
| 1952 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | King of the Congo | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet, Wallace Grissell | Buster Crabbe, Gloria Dea, Rick Vallin, Leonard Penn | Based on the 1950s Thun'da comic book series drawn by Frank Frazetta |
| Blackhawk | 15 | Aviation | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Fred F. Sears | Kirk Alyn, Carol Forman, Rick Vallin, John Crawford | Based on the Blackhawk DC Comics comic book series | |
| Son of Geronimo | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Clayton Moore, Marshall Red, Rick Vallin, Rodd Redwing, Lyle Talbot | ||
| Republic Pictures | Radar Men from the Moon | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | George D. Wallace, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, Clayton Moore | 1st appearance of "Commando Cody"; later released as a 100-minute feature version called Retik, the Moon Menace (some videos were also released under the title Commando Cody vs. the Moon Menace)[100] |
| Zombies of the Stratosphere | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Judd Holdren, Leonard Nimoy, Aline Towne, Lane Bradford, John Crawford | Commando Cody is called "Larry Martin" in this sequel to Radar Men From the Moon; later released as a 70-minute B&W feature version called Satan's Satellites; also available colorized on VHS Home Video at 93 minutes | |
| 1953 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | The Lost Planet | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Judd Holdren, Vivian Mason, Ted Thorpe, Gene Roth | Semi-sequel to the 1951 Captain Video serial[41] |
| The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd | 15 | Maritime | Derwin Abrahams and Charles S. Gould | Richard Crane, David Bruce, George Wallace, John Crawford, Marshall Reed | Loosely based on the life story of Captain William Kidd | |
| Republic Pictures | Jungle Drums of Africa | 12 | Jungle | Fred C. Brannon | Phyllis Coates, Clayton Moore, Johnny Spencer | Later released as a feature version called U-238 and the Witch Doctor |
| Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe | 12 | Science fiction | Franklin Adreon, Fred C. Brannon, Harry Keller | Judd Holdren, Richard Crane, Aline Towne, William Schallert, Lyle Talbot | Released first theatrically in 1953 as a 12-episode serial (each episode was self-contained), then later released to television in 1955 as a 12-episode television series | |
| Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders | 12 | Mountie spy | Franklin Adreon | Bill Henry, Susan Morrow, Arthur Space, | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called Missile Base at Taniak | |
| 1954 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Gunfighters of the Northwest | 15 | Northern | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Charles S. Gould | Clayton Moore, Jock Mahoney, Phyllis Coates, Lyle Talbot, Marshall Reed, Rodd Redwing | |
| Riding with Buffalo Bill | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Marshall Reed, Rick Vallin, Shirley Whitney | Includes stock footage from Deadwood Dick (1940) | |
| Republic Pictures | Trader Tom of the China Seas | 12 | Maritime | Franklin Adreon | Phyllis Coates, Harry Lauter, Robert Shayne, Aline Towne, Lyle Talbot | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called Target: Sea of China |
| Man with the Steel Whip | 12 | Western | Franklin Adreon | Richard Simmons, Barbara Bestar, Roy Barcroft, Dale Van Sickel | Features a character called El Latigo, very similar to Zorro; used stock footage from all of the earlier Republic "Zorro" serials[101] | |
| 1955 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | The Adventures of Captain Africa | 15 | Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet | John Hart, Rick Vallin, Ben Weldon | Intended as a sequel to The Phantom; includes stock footage from The Phantom, Jungle Menace, and The Desert Hawk |
| Republic Pictures | Panther Girl of the Kongo | 12 | Jungle | Franklin Adreon | Phyllis Coates, Myron Healy, Arthur Space, David Sharpe (stunt double) | Later released as a 100-minute feature version called The Claw Monsters; includes stock footage from Jungle Girl (serial) and Perils of Nyoka |
| King of the Carnival | 12 | Crime | Franklin Adreon | Harry Lauter, Robert Shayne, Rick Vallin, Robert Clarke | Last Republic serial. Includes stock footage from Daredevils of the Red Circle | |
| 1956 | ||||||
| Columbia Pictures | Perils of the Wilderness | 15 | Northern | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Dennis Moore, Richard Emory, Kenneth MacDonald, Rick Vallin | Includes stock footage from Perils of the Royal Mounted |
| Blazing the Overland Trail | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Dennis Moore, Lee Roberts, Kermit Maynard, Norma Brooks | Last Columbia serial; last major-studio serial; Includes stock footage from White Eagle (1941). | |
| 1957 | ||||||
| Shintoho | Super Giant | 9 | Superhero | Teruo Ishii | Ken Utsui, Shōji Nakayama | Japanese tokusatsu film serial; later released to U.S. television as four separate Starman features. |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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- ^ Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "8. The Detectives "Gangbusters!"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ^ Wollstein, Hans J. "Adventures of Captain Africa (1955)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
- ^ Mathis, Jack (1995). Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement. Jack Mathis Advertising. pp. 3, 10, 80–81. ISBN 0-9632878-1-8.
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- ^ Hickerson, Jay. The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows. Hamden, Connecticut: Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514, second edition December 1992, page 355.
- ^ Holtz, Allan (2012). American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. p. 83. ISBN 9780472117567.
- ^ Mathis, Jack (1995). Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement. Jack Mathis Advertising. pp. 3, 10, 96–97. ISBN 0-9632878-1-8.
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- ^ Rainey, Buck (June 8, 2015). Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912-1956. ISBN 9781476604480.
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- ^ Harmon, Jim and Donald F. Glut. "8. The Detectives "Gangbusters!"; "9. The Superheroes "Could Superman Knock Out Captain Marvel"; "11. New Masks for New Heroes "Get That Masked Trouble Maker". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. London: Routledge Publishing, 1973. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ^ pt:The Mystery of the Snakeskin Belt
- ^ The Children's Newspaper, 11 September 1948
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