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Two-Fisted Serial Adventure.

by grendelkhan • Created 10 years ago • Modified 10 years ago
For an entire movie generation (several, actually), movie serials dazzled the audience weekly, with stunts, thrills, mystery, and plenty of action and cliffhangers. Some are classics, some are head scratchers. I'll also throw in some films (and a bit of tv) that took their cues from the cliffhangers. Will our hero survive? Come back next week to this same cinema.
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  • 165 titles
  • 1. Arsène Lupin contra Sherlock Holmes

    19101h 32m
    4.9 (15)
    The stories revolve around the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin and his confrontations with the brilliant English detective Sherlock Holmes
    DirectorViggo LarsenStarsPaul OttoViggo Larsen
    German serial, based on the story by Maurice Leblanc, which pits his anti-hero Lupin against Sherlock Holmes. The original story is quite fun; but, it got Leblanc in trouble with Conan Doyle's lawyers.
  • Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine (1913)

    2. Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine

    191354mNot Rated
    6.9 (2.7K)
    Inspector Juve is tasked to capture the infamous criminal genius Fantômas who, ruthless and particularly elusive, changes his appearance and holds Paris' high society in a crippling grasp.
    DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené NavarreEdmund BreonGeorges Melchior
    French serial about the pulp villain, Fantomas, a super criminal who is hunted by inspector Juve and the journalist Fandor. This is more mystery and suspense than cliffhanger. Fantomas would influence many of the great supervillains (though Moriarty was there first).
  • Pearl White in The Perils of Pauline (1914)

    3. The Perils of Pauline

    19143h 19mPassed
    6.3 (1.1K)
    Pauline, a young maiden, must protect herself from the treacherous "guardian" of her inheritance, who repeatedly plots to murder her and take the money for himself.
    DirectorsLouis J. GasnierDonald MacKenzieStarsPearl WhiteCrane WilburPaul Panzer
    The grandmother of the cliffhangers, with our heroine falling into a new trap and escaping the following week. It set the template that most serials followed. This is where most of the heroine tied to buzzsaws and railroad tracks came from.
  • Musidora in Les Vampires (1915)

    4. Les Vampires

    19157h 1mNot Rated
    7.3 (5.7K)
    An intrepid reporter and his loyal friend battle a bizarre secret society of criminals known as The Vampires.
    DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsMusidoraÉdouard MathéMarcel Lévesque
    Another French mystery thriller, revolving around Irma Vep, leader of a group of criminals. It has nothing to do with monsters, despite the title. French actress Musidora was a sensation in her daring (for the time) leotard.
  • René Cresté in Judex (1916)

    5. Judex

    19165hNot Rated
    7.2 (1.2K)
    A twelve-part serial following the adventures of the masked vigilante Judex as he fights against criminals led by the corrupt banker Favrauxom.
    DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsRené CrestéMusidoraRené Poyen
    French serial, about a cloaked avenger, who targets the people who ruined his family. It's less of a cliffhanger than an episodic mystery, which was a bit more common in the earlier serials, which were aimed at adult audiences. The character of Judex predates the Shadow and other pulp heroes by a couple of decades.
  • The Spiders - Episode 1: The Golden Sea (1919)

    6. The Spiders - Episode 1: The Golden Sea

    19192h 10mNot Rated
    6.5 (1.6K)
    Kay Hoog finds a message that indicates that some Incas are still alive, but the secret organisation "Die Spinnen" wants the Incas' gold....
    DirectorFritz LangStarsCarl de VogtLil DagoverRessel Orla
    Fritz lang directed two parts of this serial and planned two more, before money ran out. An adventurer goes in search of lost Incan treasure, while a criminal gang tries to stop him and take it for themselves.
  • 7. Fantomas

    19205h 55m
    7.3 (33)
    Lost film about the master criminal Fantômas. He offers to give up his life of crime if the authorities promise not to prosecute him for his past crimes. When they refuse, he vows to terrorize the city into submitting to his demands.
    DirectorEdward SedgwickStarsEdward RosemanEdna MurphyJohnnie Walker
    American version of Fantomas, which departs quite a bit from the French original. The title was changed in France, to separate it from the classic series (there were several french Fantomas serials).
  • The Son of Tarzan (1920)

    8. The Son of Tarzan

    19204h 8m
    5.3 (151)
    Tarzan's son, Jack, escapes captivity and retreats into the jungle with an ape, where he finds love in unexpected places.
    DirectorsArthur J. FlavenHarry RevierStarsKamuela C. SearleP. Dempsey TablerNita Martan
    Movie serial featuring Jack Clayton, aka Korak, the son of Tarzan (his real one, not Boy). The plot revolves around Korak wanting to borrow the keys to the vine, for a date. Or not.
  • Elmo Lincoln and Joe Martin in Adventures of Tarzan (1921)

    9. Adventures of Tarzan

    19211h 13mApproved
    5.6 (181)
    When Jane is abducted by Arab slave traders, Tarzan comes to her rescue, only to see her kidnapped again by Queen La of Opar. To save Jane, Tarzan must battle both the queen's minions and William Clayton, who seeks Tarzan's family title.
    DirectorsRobert F. HillScott SidneyStarsElmo LincolnLouise LorraineScott Pembroke
    Elmo Lincoln stars in the first Tarzan serial (there was a Korak serial), which uses plot ideas from the Return of Tarzan and Tarzan & the Jewels of Opar. Tarzan rescues Jane from slavers and then has to rescue her again from the Queen of Opar. Jane really does get in a lot of trouble.
  • Theo Matejko in Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922)

    10. Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler

    19223h 15mNot Rated
    7.8 (9.7K)
    Arch-criminal Dr. Mabuse sets out to make a fortune and run Berlin. Detective Wenk sets out to stop him.
    DirectorFritz LangStarsRudolf Klein-RoggeAud Egede-NissenGertrude Welcker
    Fritz Lang's original Mabuse epic, set during the Weimar era. Mabuse secretly controls crime through various agents and cut-outs. The serial is a classic of German cinema and shows both the talents of Lang and the power of the character of Dr. Mabuse. The villain would reappear in Lang's The Testament of Dr. Mabuse; and, in the 1960s, The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse. There would then follow an entire series of Mabuse remakes and new films, from producer Arther Brauner. Gert Frobe appeared in several, as Inspektor Lohman, a character that appeared in both Lang's M and testament. Frobe played him in a remake of Testament, as well as The Return of Dr Mabuse. He plays a different character in 1000 Eyes. Got all of that?
  • Natalie Kingston, Frank Merrill, and Bobby Nelson in Tarzan the Mighty (1928)

    11. Tarzan the Mighty

    19285h
    6.1 (62)
    Mary and Bobby Trevor are castaways befriended by Tarzan. When Lord arrives, looking for the family heir, Black John tries to fill that role and marry Mary in England. Tarzan shows up and marries her instead.
    DirectorsJack NelsonRay TaylorStarsFrank MerrillAl FergusonNatalie Kingston
    Gymnast Frank Merrill stars as Tarzan, and pioneered the one armed swinging technique used in subsequent films. It was filmed as 12 chapters and then later expanded to 15, due to its success.
  • Frank Merrill and Lillian Worth in Tarzan the Tiger (1929)

    12. Tarzan the Tiger

    19294h 26mPassed
    5.3 (162)
    After Tarzan's estate is destroyed by Arabs Jane is sold into slavery by a man posing as a friendly scientist.
    DirectorHenry MacRaeStarsFrank MerrillNatalie KingstonAl Ferguson
    Sequel to Tarzan the Mighty, where Tarzan must obtain the treasure of Opar to save his estate in England. features the first Tarzan yell, though there is no spoken dialogue. This was a transition from the silents to talkies, with only recorded music and sound effects.
  • Rin Tin Tin in The Lone Defender (1930)

    13. The Lone Defender

    19303h 37mPassed
    4.8 (113)
    A prospector is murdered by The Cactus Kid and his gang, who hope to find the murdered man's goldmine. The miner's dog, Rin-Tin-Tin, recognizes the killers, who thereafter seek to use the dog to locate the lost mine. With the help of a government agent and a young girl, Rinty saves the mine and brings the bad guys to justice.
    DirectorRichard ThorpeStarsRin Tin TinWalter MillerJune Marlowe
    Mascot serial, which was the first talkie with Rin-Tin-Tin. A prospector is murdered by a gang looking for his mine. Now, they hunt for his dog, who also knows the location. However, I don't think they'll get him to answer too many questions.
  • The Galloping Ghost (1931)

    14. The Galloping Ghost

    19313h 46mPassed
    5.5 (211)
    Gamblers 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.
    DirectorB. Reeves EasonStarsHarold 'Red' GrangeDorothy GulliverTom Dugan
    Football star Red Grange (and fellow Illini) stars as himself, as he hunts down the leaders of a gambling ring that led to a member of his team throwing the game.
  • George Brent and Frank Lanning in The Lightning Warrior (1931)

    15. The Lightning Warrior

    19314h 10mPassed
    6.4 (115)
    A Rin-Tin-Tin serial presented in 12 episodes. The mysterious Wolf Man is terrorizing settlers in a western town. With the help of Rinty, young Jimmy Carter unmasks the Wolf Man and foils his evil plot.
    DirectorsBenjamin H. KlineArmand SchaeferStarsRin Tin TinFrankie DarroHayden Stevenson
    Rin-Tin-Tin is back, along with Frankie Darro, who plays a young man whose father and brother have been killed by the Wolfman, a masked man who is leading an Indian uprising.
  • John Wayne, James Bradbury Jr., Dorothy Gulliver, Walter Miller, and 'Little Billy' Rhodes in The Shadow of the Eagle (1932)

    16. The Shadow of the Eagle

    19323h 38mPassed
    5.4 (483)
    The 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.
    DirectorsFord BeebeB. Reeves EasonStarsJohn WayneDorothy GulliverEdward Hearn
    John Wayne stars as a carnival pilot who battles a mysterious pilot, known as The Eagle, who is trying to destroy the carnival. This was The Duke's debut in serials.
  • Edwina Booth, Lucile Browne, Jim Corey, Al Craven, Walter McGrail, and Walter Miller in The Last of the Mohicans (1932)

    17. The Last of the Mohicans

    19323h 51mApproved
    5.8 (192)
    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.
    DirectorsFord BeebeB. Reeves EasonStarsHarry CareyHobart BosworthFrank Coghlan Jr.
    Harry Carey (not the Cubs announcer) stars, along with future Billy Batson, in this adaptation of Cooper's novel. Coughlin makes an especially caucasian Uncas. Holy Cow!
  • John Wayne in The Hurricane Express (1932)

    18. The Hurricane Express

    19323h 47mPassed
    5.3 (731)
    When 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."
    DirectorsJ.P. McGowanArmand SchaeferStarsJohn WayneShirley GreyConway Tearle
    John Wayne plays another pilot, who is attempting to stop The Wrecker, who is causing train accidents.
  • Julie Bishop and Buster Crabbe in Tarzan the Fearless (1933)

    19. Tarzan the Fearless

    19331h 26mPassed
    4.8 (857)
    Mary Brooks' father, who has been studying ancient tribes, falls into the hands of the people of Zar, god of the Emerald Fingers. Tarzan helps Mary locate her father, rescues everyone from the High Priest of Zar and takes Mary to his cave.
    DirectorRobert F. HillStarsBuster CrabbeJulie BishopEdward Woods
    Buster Crabbe stars as Tarzan, in this independently produced serial. It was made at the same time as Weismuller, but was delayed in release. It is not particularly great, due to a great deal of cost-cutting. Some chapters were released separately as a feature and saw wider viewing. Tarzan tries to help a woman find her father, who has been captured by natives. Notable mainly for Crabbe as the Lord of the Apes, adding the character to his resume of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
  • Bela Lugosi and Roy D'Arcy in The Whispering Shadow (1933)

    20. The Whispering Shadow

    19333h 45mPassed
    5.3 (259)
    A mysterious criminal known as The Whispering Shadow commits crimes by means of a gang he controls by television and radio rays. Jack Norton, whose brother was murdered by The Whispering Shadow, suspects that the eerie Professor Strang - whose ghostly wax museum contains figures far too lifelike - may be involved in the crimes.
    DirectorsColbert ClarkAlbert HermanStarsBela LugosiViva TattersallMalcolm McGregor
    Bela Lugosi stars in this serial, about a villain who kills via radio control. Lugosi got $10 grand for it, higher than even Dracula. It's filled with all kinds of red herrings.
  • John Wayne and Ruth Hall in The Three Musketeers (1933)

    21. The Three Musketeers

    19333h 30mPassed
    5.2 (536)
    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.
    DirectorsColbert ClarkArmand SchaeferStarsJack MulhallRaymond HattonFrancis X. Bushman Jr.
    John Wayne and Lon Chaney Jr star in this serial, loosely based on the Dumas novel. Duke is an American pilot who rescues three Legionnaires from Arab attackers. He finds himself framed for his brother's murder and vows to find the real killer, with the help of his friends.
  • Clyde Beatty, Cecilia Parker, and Syd Saylor in The Lost Jungle (1934)

    22. The Lost Jungle

    19344h 3mApproved
    4.7 (281)
    Animal trainer Clyde Beatty heads a rescue party in search of his girl, Ruth, and her father who get lost looking for an uncharted island. His dirigible crashes into the jungles of the island. When he locates Ruth, he learns that her father has disappeared. The ensuing search is hindered by greedy gold hunters and wild animals.
    DirectorsDavid HowardArmand SchaeferStarsClyde BeattySyd SaylorCecilia Parker
    Clyde Beatty stars in this Mascot serial, with the animal trapper in a jungle adventure, on a jungle island. Cue Guns 'N' Roses...
  • Bela Lugosi and Maria Alba in The Return of Chandu (1934)

    23. The Return of Chandu

    19343h 28mApproved
    5.4 (480)
    The 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.
    DirectorRay TaylorStarsBela LugosiMaria AlbaClara Kimball Young
    Bela Lugosi stars in this serial, based on the radio series Chandu the Magician. Lugosi plays the hero, a powerful magician, who is trying to perfect his love from being sacrificed by Black Magicians to revive their dead priestess. To bad they didn't do a sequel, where they introduce his brother, Fondu.
  • Noah Beery Jr., Patricia Farr, and Maurice Murphy in Tailspin Tommy (1934)

    24. Tailspin Tommy

    19344h 8mApproved
    7.0 (76)
    A young mechanic gets a job with a small airline, which he helps win a mail contract. A rival airline plots to destroy it in order to get the contracts for itself.
    DirectorLew LandersStarsMaurice MurphyNoah Beery Jr.Patricia Farr
    Based on the aviation comic strip feature. Lots of aviation thrills, via stock footage, models, and actual stunt flying. Otherwise, it's a bit on the duller side. There was a sequel, where he pulls out of the tailspin, so they call him Steady-on-course Tommy. It gets kind of dull after that. Well, there is a sequel, anyway...
  • Sam Baker, William 'Stage' Boyd, Claudia Dell, Eddie Fetherston, Kane Richmond, and Josef Swickard in The Lost City (1935)

    25. The Lost City

    19351h 20mApproved
    4.9 (337)
    An evil scientist plots to take over the world from his base in Africa, where he has invented a machine that can cause earthquakes.
    DirectorHarry RevierStarsWilliam 'Stage' BoydKane RichmondClaudia Dell
    Early "hidden city" serial, with an evil scientist who plans to conquer the world. He's going to need to hire more staff.

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