To Be Continued Next Week...

Great Movie Serials in VHS

Picture yourself as a youngster on a Saturday morning long ago. You race downtown to your local movie theater, pay your dime, and rush to the front row just in time for the matinee. You are watching a thrilling adventure story, complete with a two-fisted hero or heroine, his or her trusty sidekick, a villain determined to take over the world, and a battery of wild animals, death rays, booby traps, hidden treasures, berserk robots, sizzling dynamite fuses, and cars hurtling over cliffs. After only 20 minutes of breakneck chases, shoot-outs and fist fights, our hero is left dangling over a cliff, with the words "To be continued next week!" The serial was a unique form of cinematic storytelling, stringing a saga along for twelve to fifteen chapters, one a week over the course of several months. A key ingredient was the "cliffhanger," which left the stars in seemingly hopeless peril at the end of each chapter. They would miraculously scrape through next Saturday, often through a "cheat" whereby they were seen to jump from that exploding plane, or to catch a handy rope just before falling into that lava pit. The art form died out with the production of the last serial in 1956, but happily the serial lives on in video format. The Port Washington Public Library is proud to offer over 100 hours of danger, chills, spills, stunts, and last-minute rescues. Have fun at the serials, and be sure to come back for more next week!

Adventures of Captain Marvel. Shazam! Puny Billy Batson (Frank Coghlan, Jr.) transforms into the high-flying Captain Marvel (Tom Tyler), as he races to stop his arch enemy, The Scorpion. William Witney and John English co-directed. 12 chapters. 1941. 216 min. VH2/ADVE-0008.

Atom Man vs. Superman by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The Man of Steel (Kirk Alyn) clashes with Lex Luthor (Lyle Talbot), a.k.a. Atom Man. Noel Neill is Lois Lane, Tommy Bond is Jimmy Olsen, and Pierre Watkin is Perry White. 15 episodes. 1950. 252 min. VH2/ATOM-0001.

Batman and Robin. When the Wizard brings Gotham City to its knees, who can save the day but Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (John Duncan)? Spencer Gordon Bennet directed. 15 installments. 1949. 252 min. VH2/BATM-0001.

Buck Rogers. Pilot Buck Rogers (Larry "Buster" Crabbe) and sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) wake from suspended animation in the 25th century. They must recruit help from Saturn to battle the criminal regime of Killer Kane (Anthony Warde). Favorite chapter title: "Revolt of the Zuggs." Ford Beebe and Saul Goodkind directed. 12 parts. 1939. 237 min. VH2/BUCK-0002.

Call of the Savage by Louis Friedlander. Jan of the Jungle (Noah Beery, Jr.), Mona (Dorothy Short) and Chicma the Chimp explore the lost African kingdom of Mu. Beware of "The Plunge of Peril," "The Hidden Monster" and "The Avenging Fire God"! 12 chapters. 1935. 224 min. VH2/CALL-0001.

Cliffhangers!: Adventures from the Thrill Factory. Leonard Maltin hosts Bill Coggon and Mark Lamberti's salute to the Republic Pictures serials. Guests include Gene Autry, Clayton Moore, William Witney, Linda Stirling and Frank Coghlan, Jr. 1993. 46 min. VH2/CLIF-0001.

The Crimson Ghost. Charles Quigley and Linda Stirling try to prevent the title character, a skull-faced criminal mastermind, from securing an atomic-powered cyclotrode. A William Witney adventure. 12 chapters. 1946. 168 min. VH2/CRIM-0001.

Darkest Africa by Breezy Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane. Animal tamer Clyde Beatty and jungle boy Baru (Manuel King) brave Bat-Men and Tiger-Men in their quest to rescue Valerie, the Goddess of Joba (Elaine Shepard) from the Hidden City. 15 episodes. 1936. 270 min. VH2/DARK-0001.

Dick Tracy. The ace detective (Ralph Byrd) sets out to stop a clubfooted criminal known only as The Lame One, who plans to destroy the new Bay Bridge by bombarding it with sound waves from his aircraft, The Wing! Kay Hughes, Smiley Burnette, Carleton Young and Francis X. Bushman co-star in Ray Taylor and Alan James' 15-part chapterplay. 1937. 291 min. VH2/DICK-0001.

The Epic Story of the Cliffhangers. Phillip Dye salutes Saturday matinee serials. 1996. 60 min. VH2/EPIC-0001.

Flash Gordon. Flash (Larry "Buster" Crabbe), Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) and Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) journey to the planet Mongo, where they tangle with Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton), the bewitching Princess Aura (Priscilla Lawson), and a gauntlet of monstrous attackers. Favorite chapter title: "Captured by Shark Men." Frederick Stephani's masterpiece is the most expensive, most popular, and possibly the best serial ever made! 13 installments. 1936. 242 min. VH2/FLAS-0001.

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe. Can Flash ("Buster" Crabbe), Dale (Carol Hughes) and Zarkov (Frank Shannon) stop Ming (Charles Middleton) from wiping out humanity with the Purple Death? Beware of "The Palace of Horror" and "The Pool of Peril"! The third of the series was helmed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. 12 parts. 1940. 220 min. VH2/FLAS-0002.

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. Ford Beebe and Robert Hill directed the second Flash Gordon serial, in which Flash ("Buster" Crabbe), Dale (Jean Rogers), Zarkov (Frank Shannon), and Happy (Douglas Kerr) encounter Ming (Charles Middleton), Azura, Queen of Magic (Beatrice Roberts) and the Clay People. Who would not covet "The Black Sapphire of Kalu"? 15 chapters. 1938. 280 min. VH2/FLAS-0003.

Flash Gordon. Four features culled from the preceding serials: Spaceship to the Unknown, The Deadly Ray from Mars, The Peril from Planet Mongo and The Purple Death from Outer Space. 1936-1940. 195 min. VH1/FLAS-0002 through -0005.

Flying Disc Man from Mars. Only aviator Kent Fowler (Walter Reed) and his secretary Helen (Lois Collier) can prevent Mota the Martian (Gregory Gay) from taking over the Earth. Fred C. Brannon directed. 12 episodes. 1950. 167 min. VH2/FLYI-0002.

The Green Archer. Victor Jory, Iris Meredith and James Craven star in James W. Horne's 15-chapter serial, set in an English castle. Based on an Edgar Wallace mystery novel. 1940. 302 min. VH2/GREE-0002.

The Invisible Monster. Can investigators Richard Webb and Aline Towne prevent the Phantom Ruler from dominating the world with his invisible army? Find out in Fred C. Brannon's 12-part chapter play. 1950. 167 min. VH2/INVI-0002.

Jungle Drums of Africa. Rugged explorer Clayton Moore and missionary's daughter Phyllis Coates face lion attacks, a deadly wind tunnel, voodoo vengeance, enemy agents, and a murderous hunter with his eye on a valuable uranium mine. Fred C. Brannon directed this 12-chapter serial. 1953. 167 min. VH2/JUNG-0003.

Jungle Girl. Nyoka (Frances Gifford) and Jack (Tom Neal) face alligator-filled lakes, man-eating lions, quicksand, poison gas, and much more in William Witney and John English's adaptation of an Edgar Rice Burroughs yarn. 15 installments. 1941. 262 min. VH2/JUNG-0001.

Jungle Queen. Lothel (Ruth Roman), the mysterious Queen of the Jungle, helps Bob, Chuck and Pamela (Edward Norris, Eddie Quillan, Lois Collier) fight Nazis in the wilds of Africa. Watch for "The Flaming Mountain" and "Wildcat Stampede"! Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins directed. 13 parts. 1945. 240 min. VH2/JUNG-0002.

Junior G-Men. When inventor Russell Hicks disappears, G-Man Phillip Terry investigates, with the help of the Dead End Kids (Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsley). Will they withstand "The Blast of Doom"? Ford Beebe and John Rawlins directed. 12 chapters. 1940. 232 min. VH2/JUNI-0001.

Junior G-Men of the Air. In Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins' sequel, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall and Gabriel Dell must brave "The Plunge of Peril," "The Tunnel of Terror" and "Flaming Havoc" to stop Japanese saboteurs Lionel Atwill and Turhan Bey. 12 episodes. 1942. 231 min. VH2/JUNI-0002.

King of the Rocketmen by Fred C. Brannon. With his jet-propelled rocket suit, two-fisted research scientist Tristram Coffin and photojournalist Mae Clarke pursue criminal mastermind Doctor Vulcan. 12 installments. 1949. 167 min. VH2/KING-0014.

The Last Frontier. Newspaperman Lon Chaney, Jr. tries to stop unscrupulous traders from selling arms to the Indians in Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas L. Storey's western. 12 parts. 1932. 209 min. VH2/LAST-0009.

The Last of the Mohicans. White trapper Hawkeye (Harry Carey, Sr.) and his Indian blood-brother Uncas (Frank Coghlan, Jr.) risk their lives to protect Cora (Edwina Booth) and Alice (Lucille Brown) in the American wilderness. Breezy Reeves Eason and Ford Beebe's 12-chapter serial is drawn from the James Fennimore Cooper book. Look for master stuntman Yakima Canutt as Black Fox. 1932. 214 min. VH2/LAST-0011.

Les Vampires. French filmmaker Louis Feuillade follows a reporter (Edouard Mathe) as he tracks a gang of murderous jewel thieves, led by the Grand Vampire (Jean Ayme) and Irma Vep (Musidora). Silent with musical score. Color tinted. 10 chapters. 1915. 400 min. VH2/LESV-0001 through -0004.

The Lost City. Electrical engineer Kane Richmond flies to Africa's Magnetic Mountain to foil mad wizard William "Stage" Boyd's plan to take over the world with an army of zombie giants. Harry Revier directed this 12-part chapterplay. 1935. 240 min. VH2/LOST-0019.

Lost City of the Jungle. Can Red Stanton (Russell Hayden), Marjorie Elmore (Jane Adams) and Tal Shan (Keye Luke) prevent war-monger Sir Eric Hazarias (Lionel Atwill) from obtaining Meteorium 245 in the mythical land of Pendrang? Beware of "Fire Jet Torture" and "Zalabar Death Watch"! Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins directed. 13 episodes. 1946. 265 min. VH2/LOST-0014.

Mandrake the Magician. Can Mandrake (Warren Hull) stop The Wasp from stealing Professor Houston's radium-energy machine? Find out in Sam Nelson and Norman Deming's 12-chapter sci-fi mystery. 1939. 215 min. VH2/MAND-0001.

Mysterious Doctor Satan by William Witney and John English. Bob Wayne (Robert Wilcox) dons the mask of The Copperhead to prevent criminal mastermind Doctor Satan (Edward Ciannelli) from taking over the world with his remote-controlled robots. 15 installments. 1940. 267 min. VH2/MYST-0003.

Nyoka and the Tigermen (a.k.a. The Perils of Nyoka). Nyoka (Kay Aldridge) and Larry (Clayton Moore) clash with villainous Vultura (Lorna Gray) and the nefarious Cassib (Charles Middleton) in their quest for the Lost Tablets of Hippocrates. This tale of the tropics was lensed by William Witney. 15 parts. 1942. 258 min. VH2/NYOK-0001.

Panther Girl of the Kongo by Franklin Adreaon. Phyllis Coates vows to expose the chemist who has transformed common crayfish into gigantic monsters. A 12-chapter thriller. 1955. 167 min. VH2/PANT-0001.

The Perils of Pauline. Evalyn Knapp faces explosions, snakes, kidnapping, collapsing buildings, native rituals, and walking mummies in Ray Taylor's remake of the Pearl White silent serial. Can Pauline escape "The Typhoon of Terror" and "The Flaming Tomb"? 12 chapters. 1934. 233 min. VH2/PERI-0003.

The Perils of Pauline. Betty Hutton stars as serial actress Pearl White in a musical biography directed by George Marshall. 1946. 96 min. VH1/PERI-0001.

Perils of the Darkest Jungle. (a.k.a. The Tiger Woman). The White Goddess (leopard-suited Linda Stirling) and trouble-shooter Allen Saunders (Allan Lane) clash with oil profiteers in the South American jungle. Spencer Gordon Bennet and Wallace Grissell directed. 12 episodes. 1944. 196 min. VH2/PERI-0002.

The Phantom. Can The Phantom (Tom Tyler) protect the Lost City of Zoloz from international criminals? This twelve-chapter serial by Breezy Reeves Eason includes "The Mystery Well" and "The Chamber of Death." 1943. 260 min. VH2/PHAN-0003.

The Phantom Empire. Singing cowboy Gene Autry and his Junior Thunder Riders must defend Radio Ranch from attack by Queen Tika (Dorothy Christie) of the underground empire of Murania. Can you withstand "The Lightning Chamber" and "Jaws of Jeopardy"? A rowsing sci-fi western from Otto Brower and Breezy Reeves Eason. 12 installments. 1935. 250 min. VH2/PHAN-0002.

Pirates' Harbor (a.k.a. Haunted Harbor). Kane Richmond must solve a murder, recover gold bullion and rescue Kay Aldridge in Spencer Gordon Bennet and Wallace Grissell's 15 chapter serial. 1944. 243 min. VH2/PIRA-0002.

The Purple Monster Strikes. Can Sheila (Linda Stirling) and Craig (Dennis Moore) prevent Martian invader The Purple Monster (Roy Barcroft) from taking over the Earth? A sci-fi series from Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon. 15 parts. 1945. 209 min. VH2/PURP-0001.

Queen of the Jungle. Can Joan Lawrence, "Daughter of the White God" (Mary Kornman) and her childhood friend David Worth (Reed Howes) escape the clutches of Kali (Lafe McKee), high priest of the Lion Men? A 12-part chapterplay by Robert Hill. 1935. 210 min. VH2/QUEE-0002.

Radar Men from the Moon by Fred C. Brannon. Commando Cody, Sky Marshal of the Universe (George Wallace) and his assistant, Joan Gilbert (Aline Towne) fend off an alien invasion led by lunar ruler Retik (Roy Barcroft). 12 chapters. 1952. 288 min. VH2/RADA-0001.

The Return of Chandu. Will Frank Chandler (Bela Lugosi), "known in the Orient as Chandu, the Magician," rescue Princess Nadji (Maria Alba) from sacrifice to the Ubasti cult's cat god? Watch out for "The Terror Invisible" and "The Crushing Rock"! Ray Taylor directed. 12 episodes. 1934. 206 min. VH2/RETU-0004.

The Shadow by James W. Horne. Lamont Cranston (Victor Jory), a.k.a. super-sleuth The Shadow, disguises himself as Chinese merchant Lin Chang to infiltrate the Black Tiger's crime ring. 15 installments. 1940. 285 min. VH2/SHAD-0004.

Superman. Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr reveal the origins of the Man of Steel (Kirk Alyn) and pit him against the Spider Lady (Carol Forman) and her relativity reducer ray. With Noel Neill as Lois Lane, Tommy Bond as Jimmy Olsen and Pierre Watkin as Perry White. 15 parts. 1947. 249 min. VH2/SUPE-0004.

Tarzan the Tiger. In Henry MacRae's jungle saga, the Ape Man (Frank Merrill) must rescue Jane (Natalie Kingston) from slave traders. Beware "The Vengeance of La" and "Tantor the Terror"! Silent with musical score. 15 chapters. 1929. 266 min. VH2/TARZ-0001.

Terry and the Pirates. Terry Lee (William Tracy) and his pals (Granville Owen, Joyce Bryant, Allen Jung, Victor De Camp) grapple with the evil Fang (Dick Curtis) and the Dragon Lady (Sheila Darcy) in James W. Horne's 15-chapter serial. 1940. 270 min. VH2/TERR-0001.

Tim Tyler's Luck. Tim Tyler (Frankie Thomas) and Lora Lacey (Frances Lacy) pursue master criminal Spider Webb (Norman Willis) to Africa in Ford Beebe and Wyndham Gittens' adventure.12 episodes. 1937. 230 min. VH2/TIMT-0001.

Undersea Kingdom. Two-fisted Navy lieutenant Ray "Crash" Corrigan and his fellow explorers are caught between warring factions in the lost kingdom of Atlantis. Look out for that Juggernaut! Loads of sci-fi fun from Breezy Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane. 12 installments. 1939. 226 min. VH2/UNDE-0001.

The Whispering Shadow. Each time a radio-dispatched truck is called upon to transport one of Professor Strang's wax figures, its driver is murdered by "The Whispering Shadow." Find out why in this 12-chapter mystery, directed by Albert Herman and Colbert Clark and starring Bela Lugosi and Henry B. Walthall. 1933. 228 min. VH2/WHIS-0002.

Wild West Days. Kentucky Wade (Johnny Mack Brown) and his pals battle outlaws and Indians in Ford Beebe and Cliff Smith's 13-chapter serial. Beware "The Brink of Doom" and "Walls of Fire"! 1937. 265 min. VH2/WILD-0006.

Zombies of the Stratosphere by Fred C. Brannon. Rocket-powered interplanetary patrolman Judd Holdren battles Martian invaders Marex (Lane Bradford) and Narob (a young Leonard Nimoy!). 12 parts. 1952. 167 min. VH2/ZOMB-0002.

Zorro's Black Whip. Feisty newspaper reporter Linda Stirling assumes the masked identity of her murdered brother, The Whip. This 12-part serial was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Wallace Grissell. 1944. 225 min. VH2/ZORR-0001.

To learn more about these marvelous movies, read William C. Cline's In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials (791.4375 C) and Serials-ly Speking: Essays on Cliffhangers (791.4375 C), R.M. Hayes's The Republic Chapterplays: A Complete Filmography of the Serials Released by Republic Pictures Corporation, 1934-1955 (791.4375 H), Kalton C. Lahue's Bound and Gagged: The Story of the Silent Serials (791.4375 L) Ken Weiss and Ed Goodgold's To Be Continued... (791.4309 W), which lists 231 chapterplays with more than 400 photos, and William Witney's memoir, In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase (791.4302 Witney).

List compiled by Jonathan Guildroy, October 2002