Classic Movie Serials
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, are short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film.
They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction.
Also known as "chapter plays", they were extended motion
pictures broken into a number of segments called "chapters" or "episodes".
Each chapter was screened at the same theater for one week and ended with a cliffhanger in which the hero and heroine found themselves in a perilous situation with little apparent chance of escape.
Viewers had to return each week to see the cliffhangers resolved and to follow the continuing story.
Serials were especially popular with children and for many youths in the first half of the 20th century a typical Saturday at the movies included a chapter of at least one serial along with animated cartoons, newsreels, and two feature films.
(Info taken from wikipedia)
They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction.
Also known as "chapter plays", they were extended motion
pictures broken into a number of segments called "chapters" or "episodes".
Each chapter was screened at the same theater for one week and ended with a cliffhanger in which the hero and heroine found themselves in a perilous situation with little apparent chance of escape.
Viewers had to return each week to see the cliffhangers resolved and to follow the continuing story.
Serials were especially popular with children and for many youths in the first half of the 20th century a typical Saturday at the movies included a chapter of at least one serial along with animated cartoons, newsreels, and two feature films.
(Info taken from wikipedia)
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- DirectorJames W. HorneStarsVictor JoryVeda Ann BorgRoger MooreThe Shadow battles a villain known as The Black Tiger, who has the power to make himself invisible and is trying to take over the world with his death ray.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsHenry BrandonWilliam RoyleRobert KellardThe nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world. His nemesis, Dr. Nayland Smith, and his associates fight to keep the evil doctor from getting his hands on the keys.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsCharles QuigleyBruce BennettDavid SharpeUsing a diabolical disguise, Harry Crowel embarks on a vengeful career of destruction...opposed by three heroic daredevils.
- DirectorsJames W. HorneRay TaylorStarsWarren HullIris MeredithRichard FiskeA crime fighter known as The Spider battles a villain called The Octopus, who is out to sabotage America and install his own government.
- DirectorsFord BeebeAlan JamesStarsBuster CrabbeFrances RobinsonEdna SedgewickA famous detective sets out to discover who stole $2 million in bonds.
- DirectorRay TaylorStarsBela LugosiMaria AlbaClara Kimball YoungThe cult of Ubasti, headquartered on the isle of Lemuria, believes that Princess Nadji of Egypt is a reincarnation of their long-dead goddess, Ossana, and intend to sacrifice her so that Ossana may be resurrected.
- DirectorsColbert ClarkArmand SchaeferStarsJack MulhallRaymond HattonFrancis X. Bushman Jr.Tom Wayne rescues Clancy, Renard and Schmidt in the Arabian desert and they join him in going after El Shaitan, a bad guy who is never seen as he tries to wipe out the Foreign Legion.
- DirectorAlbert HermanStarsJack MulhallRex LeaseMae BuschA scientist discovers a formula for making synthetic gold.
- DirectorsRay TaylorMack V. WrightStarsMalaRexBuck the DogA 14-episode serial in which Mala, a Polynesian in the employ of U.S. Intelligence investigates sabotage on Clipper Island. A gang of spies causes the eruption of a volcano, for which our hero is blamed. He convinces the local Princess Melani of his innocence and helps her ward off a takeover by rival high priest Porotu.
- DirectorsB. Reeves EasonJoseph KaneStarsGrant WithersAdrian MorrisAnn RutherfordU.S. Marines, attempting to build a landing field on Halfway Island in the Pacific, unwittingly endanger the secret hideout of a mysterious figure known as The Tiger Shark. The Tiger Shark therefore begins a program of sabotage and murder against the Marines.
- DirectorsEdward LaurierVin MooreSpencer Gordon BennetStarsBobby CoxJim VanceCarter DixonTwo Boy Scouts win an around-the-world trip with a crack aviator, and find themselves crash-landed in the South American jungles after the ace forgets to refuel in Ecuador.
- DirectorsFord BeebeB. Reeves EasonStarsJohn WayneDorothy GulliverEdward HearnThe Eagle uses sky writing to make threats against a corporation. Nathan Gregory owns a traveling fairground and is thought to be the Eagle. Craig McCoy is a pilot who goes looking for the Eagle when Gregory turns up missing.
- DirectorsJ.P. McGowanArmand SchaeferStarsJohn WayneShirley GreyConway TearleWhen his father is killed in a train wreck, Larry Baker vows to unmask a mysterious criminal called "The Wrecker," who has targeted the L&M Railroad for deadly" accidents."
- DirectorsFord BeebeClifford SmithStarsGrant WithersBetty Jane RhodesRaymond HattonTwo safaris enter the African jungle intent on finding a white girl who is the heiress to a fortune. One tries to help her and the other one wants to kill her.
- DirectorB. Reeves EasonStarsHarold 'Red' GrangeDorothy GulliverTom DuganGamblers at Mogul Taxi scheme to fix college football games by targeting star player Red Grange. They pressure his friend Buddy, who's secretly married against team rules, as they try to prevent both from winning.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsBruce BennettMalaMonte BlueAn expedition arrives on an uncharted jungle island to rescue the local natives, led by a jungle boy, from a volcano that is about to erupt.
- DirectorsB. Reeves EasonJoseph KaneStarsClyde BeattyManuel KingElaine ShepardA 15-episode serial in which Beatty goes to darkest Africa to rescue the Goddess of Joba, who is being held by the high priest.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsLee PowellBruce BennettEleanor StewartThe US marine corps must battle a would-be world conqueror who uses electricity as a weapon.
- DirectorRay TaylorStarsEvalyn KnappCraig ReynoldsJames DurkinA famous scientist and his beautiful daughter travel to Indochina to find an ivory disc that has the formula for a deadly gas engraved on it. An evil doctor and his gang are also looking for it.
- DirectorsFord BeebeB. Reeves EasonStarsHarry CareyHobart BosworthFrank Coghlan Jr.Natty Bumppo, known as Hawk-Eye, is a frontiersman in the American wilderness. Together with his Indian friends Chingachgook and Uncas, he fights battles against nefarious white soldiers as well as the vicious Indian Magua and his cohorts.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsReed HadleySheila DarcyWilliam CorsonThe masked hero leads a fighting force to fight a villian who plots the conquest of The Republic of Mexico.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsJohn CarrollNoah BeeryRichard AlexanderThe California-Yucatan Railroad, being built for the good of Mexico, is under siege by a gang of terrorists hoping to force its sale; no one can prove their connection to profiteer Marsden. Manuel Vega, aged co-owner, calls in the aid of his nephew James, great-grandson of the original Zorro. Alas, James seems more adept at golf than derring-do; but after he arrives, Zorro rides again! Can one black-clad man on horseback defeat a gang supplied with airplanes and machine guns?
- DirectorRay TaylorStarsClark WilliamsJean RogersDelphine DrewDashing aviator Tommy and his sidekick Skeeter try to foil an unscrupulous plan concocted by Manuel Casmetto and Horace Raymore to steal Nazil Island's valuable oil reserves.
- DirectorsFord BeebeClifford SmithStarsScott KolkJean RogersDavid OliverA secret agent goes after the gang that stole the crown jewels of a European monarchy.
- DirectorsClifford SmithLew LandersStarsDonald BriggsJean RogersJohn 'Dusty' KingA 12-episode serial in which scholastic sports star Frank Merriwell leaves school to search for his missing father. His adventures involve a mysterious inscription on a ring, buried treasure, kidnaping and Indian raids. He saves his father and returns to school just in time to win a decisive baseball game with his remarkable pitching and hitting.
