Post by celamowari on Jul 15, 2004 13:12:50 GMT -8
Megaloman
Posts: 19990
(6/6/04 11:33 pm)
The Serial Box Presents... Radar Men From the Moon
Starring George Wallace as "a new character- Commando Cody" (although this is the second serial...) and Clayton Moore as a henchvillain.
Special effects recycled from the previous serial, but new stuff also done by the excellent Lydecker Brothers. These guys are unsung heroes. I still don't think flying men have ever been done this well still.
Megaloman
Posts: 19991
(6/6/04 11:50 pm)
#1 "Moon Rocket"
The gov't wants Commando Cody and his pals to look into the sabotage- it's an atomic ray machine. They figure someone on the moon is using it! They are glad Cody's flying suit is still working.
It's really strange to hear the Lone Ranger's voice come out of a villain's mouth.
Cody interupts the villains' plan to destroy a train. These flying effects are astounding. He scares 'em off and takes the ray gun. Krog (the moonman) is upset at them, and orders them to get the atomic chamber from the captured gun. Fisticuffs ensue- even the scientist battles the villains, if not very well. The fight is well staged, though. The villains take the chamber, but leave our heroes alive.
Meanwhile, on the moon, Krog calls Retik to warn him about the rocketship arriving on the moon in five days.
The rocket is a pretty typical "Flash Gordon" affair, although much sleeker in design.
Our heroes, Cody, Hank, Ted and the chick, who's name I don't know just yet, take off for the moon. That is one spacious ship inside! They aren't surprised to see a city on the moon as they get ready to land. Cody takes off to look over the city. He must have oxygen in his helmet. A voice tells him he can come inside and how to get in. He and Retik meet for the first time. All moonmen are required to speak English. They are invading the Earth because the atmosphere is too thin on the moon. It's lunarium that powers the atomic weapons.
Cody pulls a gun on Retik, but it's taken away. Cody heads out and a battle begins. Retik is considerate enough to NOT shoot his own men with his atomic gun and shoots Cody!
Chapter two- Molten Terror
celamowari
Posts: 5699
(6/7/04 4:44 pm)
Re: #1 "Moon Rocket"
If I may be a continuity geek...
This actually IS the first appearance of "Commando Cody", as the earlier KING OF THE ROCKETMEN is a completely different character (Jeff King, I think) in that way-cool space suit. There was something or other with Cody after this, but the subsequent serial ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE is another new character in the "Rocket Man" suit.
Megaloman
Posts: 19998
(6/7/04 4:47 pm)
sure
Well, I thought I had read recently that Commando Cody was in the previous one as well as the third one, but heck, I've not seen either of them for a LONG while. I think there was a tv show as well called Commando Cody and it starred the same guy who was in ZOMBIES... but again, I read that recently and don't know if that is verbatim.
But I believe you that this is Cody's first appearance. Later he became a rock'n roller and sang about "Two Triple Cheese" food stuffs.
celamowari
Posts: 5700
(6/8/04 3:36 pm)
Re: sure
Yer trivia :
KING OF THE ROCKET MEN (feature title : LOST PLANET AIRMEN) - Tris Coffin as Jeff King
RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON (feature title : RETIK THE MOON MENACE) George Wallace as Commando Cody
ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE (a great title, as is the feature title SATAN'S SATELLITES) - Judd Holdren as Larry Martin. Yes, that's right - Larry Martin.
However, Holdren did indeed play Commando Cody in the 1953 TV series. He also played Captain Video in the movie serial of that classic TV hero. Confusing, no?
And amusingly, Commander Cody varied his name a little from the serial star, though its origin is obvious. I mean, his band WAS the "Lost Planet Airmen"!
Megaloman
Posts: 20013
(6/8/04 3:59 pm)
sure
There was also regular Marvel letterhack Commander Quotey and his Lost Marvel Madmen (think he's got a letter or two in Marvel's Godzilla series).
But thanks for the info. Cody's the best name of the bunch- is Cody his first or last name?
celamowari
Posts: 5703
(6/9/04 5:03 pm)
Re: sure
Man, you are asking me more than I think anyone knows!
I'm betting it was never specified.
Megaloman
Posts: 20024
(6/9/04 5:32 pm)
no way, eh
You know all this stuff!
But I reckon you are right. On to more chapters.
Megaloman
Posts: 20038
(6/10/04 10:14 pm)
#2 "Molten Terror"
Man, we got more replies for just ONE episode than the previous two serials!
Retik completely misses Cody, and then has to reload- twice! Cody put his helmet on and goes outside to return to the ship. He has no gloves on...
He tells the crew what Retik plans. He then plans to retrieve a gun from Retik's lab by using nitrous oxide to put the moonians to sleep. They are worried the gun may be too heavy on the moon, where the gravity is one fifth of the Earth's so he will dismantle it.
Cody flies over the Moonian city, which is a gorgeous miniature. and puts the nitrous oxide in the ventilating system. He gets inside, gets the gun, but then of course has to battle Retik and his minions. Good thing Americans are more powerful and greater at fighting than ANYone else!
Nice to see Retik fighting as well- a good leader!
Cody gets the gun back to the ship, but Retik sends a small "Dreadnaught" out to get them. It chases them clear to Bronson Caverns! I mean, into a moon cave.
Thwarted, the villains plan to melt the cave and bury our heroes alive! THe molten rock flows right at them!
next chapter- "Bridge of Death"
We now resume your movie serial, already in progress...
Posts: 19990
(6/6/04 11:33 pm)
The Serial Box Presents... Radar Men From the Moon
Starring George Wallace as "a new character- Commando Cody" (although this is the second serial...) and Clayton Moore as a henchvillain.
Special effects recycled from the previous serial, but new stuff also done by the excellent Lydecker Brothers. These guys are unsung heroes. I still don't think flying men have ever been done this well still.
Megaloman
Posts: 19991
(6/6/04 11:50 pm)
#1 "Moon Rocket"
The gov't wants Commando Cody and his pals to look into the sabotage- it's an atomic ray machine. They figure someone on the moon is using it! They are glad Cody's flying suit is still working.
It's really strange to hear the Lone Ranger's voice come out of a villain's mouth.
Cody interupts the villains' plan to destroy a train. These flying effects are astounding. He scares 'em off and takes the ray gun. Krog (the moonman) is upset at them, and orders them to get the atomic chamber from the captured gun. Fisticuffs ensue- even the scientist battles the villains, if not very well. The fight is well staged, though. The villains take the chamber, but leave our heroes alive.
Meanwhile, on the moon, Krog calls Retik to warn him about the rocketship arriving on the moon in five days.
The rocket is a pretty typical "Flash Gordon" affair, although much sleeker in design.
Our heroes, Cody, Hank, Ted and the chick, who's name I don't know just yet, take off for the moon. That is one spacious ship inside! They aren't surprised to see a city on the moon as they get ready to land. Cody takes off to look over the city. He must have oxygen in his helmet. A voice tells him he can come inside and how to get in. He and Retik meet for the first time. All moonmen are required to speak English. They are invading the Earth because the atmosphere is too thin on the moon. It's lunarium that powers the atomic weapons.
Cody pulls a gun on Retik, but it's taken away. Cody heads out and a battle begins. Retik is considerate enough to NOT shoot his own men with his atomic gun and shoots Cody!
Chapter two- Molten Terror
celamowari
Posts: 5699
(6/7/04 4:44 pm)
Re: #1 "Moon Rocket"
If I may be a continuity geek...
This actually IS the first appearance of "Commando Cody", as the earlier KING OF THE ROCKETMEN is a completely different character (Jeff King, I think) in that way-cool space suit. There was something or other with Cody after this, but the subsequent serial ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE is another new character in the "Rocket Man" suit.
Megaloman
Posts: 19998
(6/7/04 4:47 pm)
sure
Well, I thought I had read recently that Commando Cody was in the previous one as well as the third one, but heck, I've not seen either of them for a LONG while. I think there was a tv show as well called Commando Cody and it starred the same guy who was in ZOMBIES... but again, I read that recently and don't know if that is verbatim.
But I believe you that this is Cody's first appearance. Later he became a rock'n roller and sang about "Two Triple Cheese" food stuffs.
celamowari
Posts: 5700
(6/8/04 3:36 pm)
Re: sure
Yer trivia :
KING OF THE ROCKET MEN (feature title : LOST PLANET AIRMEN) - Tris Coffin as Jeff King
RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON (feature title : RETIK THE MOON MENACE) George Wallace as Commando Cody
ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE (a great title, as is the feature title SATAN'S SATELLITES) - Judd Holdren as Larry Martin. Yes, that's right - Larry Martin.
However, Holdren did indeed play Commando Cody in the 1953 TV series. He also played Captain Video in the movie serial of that classic TV hero. Confusing, no?
And amusingly, Commander Cody varied his name a little from the serial star, though its origin is obvious. I mean, his band WAS the "Lost Planet Airmen"!
Megaloman
Posts: 20013
(6/8/04 3:59 pm)
sure
There was also regular Marvel letterhack Commander Quotey and his Lost Marvel Madmen (think he's got a letter or two in Marvel's Godzilla series).
But thanks for the info. Cody's the best name of the bunch- is Cody his first or last name?
celamowari
Posts: 5703
(6/9/04 5:03 pm)
Re: sure
Man, you are asking me more than I think anyone knows!
I'm betting it was never specified.
Megaloman
Posts: 20024
(6/9/04 5:32 pm)
no way, eh
You know all this stuff!
But I reckon you are right. On to more chapters.
Megaloman
Posts: 20038
(6/10/04 10:14 pm)
#2 "Molten Terror"
Man, we got more replies for just ONE episode than the previous two serials!
Retik completely misses Cody, and then has to reload- twice! Cody put his helmet on and goes outside to return to the ship. He has no gloves on...
He tells the crew what Retik plans. He then plans to retrieve a gun from Retik's lab by using nitrous oxide to put the moonians to sleep. They are worried the gun may be too heavy on the moon, where the gravity is one fifth of the Earth's so he will dismantle it.
Cody flies over the Moonian city, which is a gorgeous miniature. and puts the nitrous oxide in the ventilating system. He gets inside, gets the gun, but then of course has to battle Retik and his minions. Good thing Americans are more powerful and greater at fighting than ANYone else!
Nice to see Retik fighting as well- a good leader!
Cody gets the gun back to the ship, but Retik sends a small "Dreadnaught" out to get them. It chases them clear to Bronson Caverns! I mean, into a moon cave.
Thwarted, the villains plan to melt the cave and bury our heroes alive! THe molten rock flows right at them!
next chapter- "Bridge of Death"
We now resume your movie serial, already in progress...
