G-Men vs. The Black Dragon

If anyone who doesn't know much about those wondrous movie cliffhangers of the 40s should ask you to choose one for their viewing, I would take out my DVD copy of "G-Men Vs. the Black Dragon" as the ultimate best. The action and the cliffhanger endings are spectacular. You see all the classic dangers in the rip-roaring l5 chapters: exploding cars, buildings, planes, the saw-mill, the burning buildings. What really makes this serial stand out are the great production values, a tight script and a terrific cast that gives their all. Rod Cameron is incredibly like the fantasy action hero he enacts. Tall, handsome as hell, stern and serious minded, and his body movements are wonderful to watch. Assisting him are two equally outstanding crime fighters; Roland Got and the beautiful, feisty Constance Worth, an Australian actress, who proved she could handle a machine gun and a fist with the best of them all. This is one thing I've always loved about these serials: most female characters would jump right in and help out the hero, rather than fainting every few minutes or standing by and wringing their hands. With the newly restored and released "Daredevils of the West," many serial lovers are praising it as the greatest of all serials and this chapter play really delivers the goods. But it's this stunningly photographed, edited and acted--with a fantastic musical score--production that is always ready to be watched in my den. Wish this could be shown in movie theaters today along with a main feature and I'll bet the kids of today will jump into the action just as audiences of 1942 did when it was released. Bravo to Rod, Roland and Constance--fearless crime fighters all!