"The Lost City" is another of those "mad scientist wanting to rule the world" serials. This one was independently produced by Sherman S. Krellberg and Directed by Harry Revier. The set pieces especially the laboratory equipment I thought, were quite impressive by poverty row standards.
The story has electrical engineer Bruce Gordon (Kane Richmond) tracking the source of global electrical disturbances, which he discovers to be originating from central Africa. He mounts an expedition which includes fellow scientists Reynolds (Ralph Lewis) and Colton (William Millman) and his pal Jerry (Eddie Fetherstone). Arriving in Africa, they go to a trading post run by the slave trader Butterfield (George F. Hayes). Gordon soon discovers that the disturbances are coming from a nearby mountain.
Inside the mountain are evil scientist Zolok (William "Stage Boyd") who along with his assistants the hunchback Gorzo (William Bletcher) and muscleman Appolyn (Jerry Frank), plan to rule the world with the help of an army of zombie like giants created by Dr. Manyus (Josef Swickard). Manyus and his daughter Natcha (Claudia Dell) are being held prisoner by Zolok and forced to do his will.
Soon Gordon's party is lured to the lost city. Once there Reynolds and Colton see the possibilities of the giants and kidnap Manyus and take him into the jungle where they meet up with evil slave trader Ben Ali (Gino Corrado) who also sees the possibilities. Meanwhile Butterfield through his cohort Andrews (Milburn Moranti) also learns of the giants. All wish to capture Manyus and force him to do their evil deeds. Then later on there enters the evil slave trader, Queen Rama (Margot D'use) who also has designs on the giant maker and on Bruce Gordon as well.
Gordon and Jerry do all they can to prevent Manyus' capture and ward off the assorted villains. Finally they defeat the villains and save the world from a fate worse than death.
There's an interesting sequence where we learn that Manyus also has the power to turn black men into white. Wonder how that made it pass the censors. Also there is a "death ray" which looks a lot like a laser beam several decades before such a beam was invented. The advanced television system also foretold of similar such systems in the future.
Willam "Stage" Boyd had been in films since 1913. He used the name "Stage" to avoid confusion with the "other" William Boyd who was playing Hopalong Cassidy at the time. Sadly, this was Boyd's final film for he passed away shortly after its completion.
George F. Hayes is of course the infamous "Gabby" Hayes who would enjoy a long career in "B" westerns playing the crusty old sidekick. Oddly enough, Hayes worked with both William Boyds.
