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Post by Xenorama ™ on Aug 21, 2005 21:50:23 GMT -8
Norman Nesbitt - Newscaster
John Davidson - Gruber
Crane Whitley - Dirk
Charles Trowbridge - Commissioner Dryden
Hugh Sothern - Prof. Didge
Frank Reicher - Prof. Lyman
Dick Purcell - Captain America/Grant Gardner
Jay Novello - Simms
George Lewis - Matson
Edward Keane - Dr. Baracs
Russell Hicks - Mayor Randolph
John Hamilton - Hillman
Lorna Gray - Gail Richards
Robert W. Frazer - Dr. Clinton Lyman
Tom Chatterton - Henley
John Bagni - Monk
Lionel Atwill - Doctor Maldor
a Republic Serial- that means action, excellent action and LOTS of it! 15 chapters
#1 The Purple Death
the Scarab, Dr. Maldor is using the Purple Death to poison people and kill them. he is upset at not getting credit for an archeological dig. he also wants the plans for a "dynamic vibrator" that Professor Lyman made.
DA Grant Gardner is called in and promises to do something about the deaths. he's been helped in the past by the mysterious Captain America.
the Scarab's thugs go to the Prof's house and are met by Cap. naturally, a fistfight breaks out. Cap is too much for the two thugs. he calls Commisioner Drysden and reports. Drysden calls the DA's office, and Gail answers and covers for Grant.
Gail goes looking for the plant that makes the Purple Death. she eventually finds the lab and gets caught. then Grant shows up and forces the thug to show him where Gail is- rescues her and kills the thugs.
Maldor plans a trap for Cap. they kill Eddie, but Cap is doesn't fall for it. he finds out the thugs are headed over to get the Vibrator. so he races over to save the plans and the good guys. he shows up and a fight breaks out.
while battling the Vibrator is building up pressure, if it gets too high the building will collapse! he beats the thugs up (one falls out the window) and releases the prisoners as the building starts collapsing on top of him!
despite the changes to Cap and not using ANY other of the comics' cast, this is a good serial. i do wish they had kept the shield though. and i'm sorry for the gutter mind, but "Dynamic Vibrator" - hearing all the characters call it that makes me snicker.
next- Mechanical Executioner
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Post by Zone Fighter on Aug 22, 2005 4:50:19 GMT -8
It's okay, but my favorite super hero serial is Captain Marvel.
"Shazam!"
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Aug 23, 2005 23:01:54 GMT -8
i need to see Captain Marvel again, it's been many years.
Cap leaps out of the building just in time. Maldor wants Prof. Dodge to decipher his Atomic Fireball notes. he finds out where the Prof is by drugging Gail.
the Scarab's thugs want Grant to "commit suicide" and make it look like he shot himself. however, Grant tricks him and a gun battle breaks out. Grant finds out where they are holding Dodge.
the gang terrorizes Dodge into revealing the secret code. then Cap shows up and a battle is on! the surviving thug knocks Cap out and sends the tractor at him to smish him!
next- Scarlet Shroud (these are short chapters!)
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Aug 25, 2005 16:09:55 GMT -8
Cap revives just in time to roll himself and the prof out of the way. the crooks use the Electronic Firebolt to commit a lot of crimes. Dodge makes a machine to track the Firebolt and Grant is confident it will work.
Maldor sends a man to find out what Grant is up to. Gail sees the thug tampering with Grant's car and goes to warn him. the thugs sees her try to warn him but she shoots him dead (and leaves him there). she follows Grant, but he thinks it is the villains and reports her. fortunately she has her credentials and has the officer phone him a warning. Grant leaps out just in time!
Grants gives the papers a story to trick the Scarab into using the Firebolt so they can find it. sure enough, it works. Cap shows up and the battle is joined! one thug turns the Firebolt on Cap (who is battling the other thug)!
#4- Preview of Murder
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Post by celamowari on Aug 26, 2005 13:38:51 GMT -8
Is this really 1944? That seems awfully late in the game for Cap.
My theory has always been that the script was written for some other hero (an original one?) and they just made it a Captain America one rather than writing an semi-accurate script. I mean, liberties are always taken, but the serial only has the costume in common with the comic book character.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Aug 26, 2005 23:09:58 GMT -8
i agree, this seems like they could easily have been the Masked Marvel or any other masked character. it's very odd that Cap isn't fighting Nazi spies at this time period.
Cap shoots the connecting beams of the box and escapes. the villains lose the Firebolt, the robot control truck AND the platinum. Maldor wants the truck back more than anything.
unaware that the truck is monitered, Grant hides in the back when they retrieve it. they plan on crashing the truck- full of explosives- into Dodge's house. the Scarab will take care of Grant personally!
Grant breaks free and a fight breaks out. he gets free and Cap springs into action, racing to stop the truck. he gets to it and shorts the controls but still runs into the house!
they keep referring to the Mayans as MAY-ans, instead of the correct pronunciation.
next- Blade of Wrath
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Dec 21, 2005 23:59:47 GMT -8
wow, it's been a while. sorry.
Cap leaps out before the truck runs into a gazebo (gazebo- he's not wearing galoshes). Maldor plans wants Agent M-32 for a new assignment. he plans to steal the Mayan jewels for real!
Dodge gets murdered for the jewels, and Grant is after the gang. Gail is also on the trail and they hatch a plan. naturally the gang gets the drop on her and show her just how a paper cutter works- they have bad ideas for Gail! "it works just like a 'gill'-otine!"
Cap shows up and a fight breaks out! meanwhile, the paper cutter is inches away from Gail's pretty neck! during the melee, the cutter is switched on...
next- Vault of Vengeance
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Dec 29, 2005 23:53:31 GMT -8
Cap stops the blade just in time, but the villains get away. bet he wishs he had his shield this time!
Maldor arranges for Grant to come to him as part of a trap (he suspects the dual identity). they are bugging his apartment while he is gone. Gail phones Grant, Mr Henley has received an extortion note. inadvertantly, she gives Grant a clue about the trap.
Gail is going to deliver the money, but Grant is planning a trap of his own!
it works perfectly, and Cap starts a fist fight and takes the gang's car. he finds the hideout and another fight breaks out. Cap gets thrown down the well and rocks dumped on him!
next- Wholesale Destruction
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jan 14, 2006 22:30:01 GMT -8
the title is funny, as opposed to unwholesome?
Cap rolls out of the way of the bucket of rocks, but the thug naturally thinks he's done for.
Maldor finds out the money is able to be tracked. he's a bit annoyed. the Scarab puts his original plan back into action. Henley is annoyed at Grant since he is still in danger.
Grant tracks a clue to Martin's Garage, on Fifth St. he goes there, and a gunfight breaks out. he shoots the thug and finds out where the truck with the nitrogas is headed, to a plant. Cap arrives and a fight starts!
the plant blows up with Cap inside!
next- Cremation in the Clouds
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jan 21, 2006 0:21:14 GMT -8
Cap saved all the buildings save one by closing the valves with just enough time to escape.
the Scarab plans on eliminating Henley by using the ancient Mayan weapon "the Svengali blowgun". the blowgun is used, but Grant sees him, saves Henley and shoots the blower dead.
Monk (shoe shine thug) hears Gail tell Grant that the blowgun can be ID'd. they plant a bomb on pilot Gail's plane to stop her. Grant changes to Cap in broad daylight and naturally a fight in the aerodrome breaks out. as they battle the plane explodes!
next- Triple Tragedy
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jan 26, 2006 0:02:49 GMT -8
Cap defeats the thugs and calls Gail to tell her to bail out. and she does, just in time! she lives, but the blowgun is gone. Grant plans a trap for the Scarab - he plants a story that they made a plaster cast of the blowgun.
the Scarab's thugs plan a trap in a hotel room, unaware they are the trapees! it works, they take the blowgun. a fight also breaks out when a thug goes in to "take care of the DA". Grants clobbers him, and he falls out the window!
Gail follows the living thug, while Grant follows her. she gets the drop on the thugs, but they trap her and plan on blowing the barn AND Cap up as well. Cap arrives, a fight breaks out and the barn is set on fire. they battle as the barn explodes!
next - the Avenging Corpse
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jan 27, 2006 0:11:06 GMT -8
Cap knocks the villains out, rescues Gail and gets out before the barn explodes.
Grant gets invited to a scientists event that night, one Prof. Lyman is going to bring a dog back to life. naturally the Scarab (Maldor) also plans on being there. he plans to steal the Eternal Life machine if it works- and it does!
the Scarab's men break in and take the machine and plan to take Lyman. Grant shoots Dirk but the rest get away. he goes after the car, but they throw grenades at him. finally, they blow up a bridge which ends the chase.
Grant returns, but the Scarab's men have returned. the sneaky Maldor pretends to be hurt to through Grant off the track.
Gail goes to the old shack, and Cap gets the drop on the thugs. a fight breaks out (natch). Caps shoots a thug who falls on the detonator, which blows up the shack Gail is in!
next- #11 The Dead Man Returns
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Feb 21, 2006 22:28:00 GMT -8
Gail had left the shack upon hearing shots fired, so she was safe. She and Cap find Madsen (the guy Cap knocked off the tower) alive and take him to a hospital to revive him for his info on the Scarab.
the Scarab wants to kill Madsen and bring him back to life. he shows Prof. Lyman his one Milllllion volt generator that will help out with this dastardly plan.
Grant plans to have any friends of Madsen trailed if they show up at the morgue. naturally, they fail miserably, but Cap shows up to try and stop the experiments. Madsen starts to revive as the battle rages!
while the Scarab and Madsen escape one of the thugs turns the generator on- with Cap inside!
next- #12 Horror on the Highway
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 3, 2006 0:17:42 GMT -8
it's "Matson" instead of Madsen. oops.
the Scarab kills Lyman, who had destroyed the revivor machine. Cap leaps out of the generator just in time!
Matson's resurrection is broadcast over the radio. Cap can't testify due to the fact he wears a mask. i'd think with being a fed he'd be able to testify...
Grant calls Maldor to be a surprise witness against Dirk. Maldor has a trap in mind for both Grant and Dirk! the plan backfires, Dirk brings Grant to the Scarab's place. the ambush is set though. a gunfight breaks out, then a fistfight in which most of the house furniture is destroyed. the villains run, and Grant shoots at the car as they leave.
he then chases them and they trade shots while in the cars. Grant loses control and his car skids off the road!
next- Skyscraper Terror
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 17, 2006 23:19:40 GMT -8
Grant leaps out just before the car goes over the cliff. later, a new Mayan map was discovered by Prof. Hillman, who tells Grant that Dr. Maldor has the missing piece. naturally Grant tells Maldor about that, and Maldor plans to get the other piece.
Maldor's thugs find out where Hillman is staying but Grant runs into them and a gunfight breaks out. he kills the thug, then phones Gail that the Scarab knows where Hillman is.
Grant arrives, then changes to Cap when he sees the unconscious bellboy. then a fist fight breaks out! did i mention they are way up in a skycraper?
Cap gets thrown out the window!
next- The Scarab Strikes
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 19, 2006 0:26:28 GMT -8
Cap lands in the bed of a truck, fortunately full of pillows! the thugs skeedaddle with Hillman. Maldor is sure that he has nothing to worry about from the DA.
Maldor confronts Hillman about the map. meanwhile Grant and pals find a fingerprint that will help them incriminate Graham one of thugs.
Grant goes to arrest Graham, and then he goes to investigate the farm where Hillman is being held. Graham manages to get a message to Maldor. he tells his thug to fly his plane to the farm and bomb the house! Cap is engaged in fisticuffs with the thugs there as the bombs fall!
last chapter- the Toll of Doom
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 20, 2006 0:02:04 GMT -8
Cap runs out with Hillman over his shoulder right before the bomb explodes the entire house. Maldor figures out that Grant and Cap are the same man and plan to use Gail to finally put him out of the picture.
Maldor grabs Gail and threatens her with a deadly truth serum. she spills the plans! a certain Dr shows up, and Grant helps him out. i smell a trap...
Grants knows the doc is a phoney and traces the call. when he gets to the hideout a gunfight breaks out.
Maldor is furious about the trap and plans to turn Gail into a mummy. Cap shows up and the Scarab tries to bargain with him- Gail's life for the Scarab's freedom. a fistfight breaks out. Maldor is surprisingly agile and strong! Cap pummels the Scarab and rescues Gail.
Cap's ID is now known, and the Scarab and his men get the electric chair at midnight- "toll of doom for the Scarab".
overall, a very good serial, tho it could have used a little extra something. Cap's costume could have been a bit better- at least give him the boots!
the Scarab needed a costume- that would have made him cooler. he falls into the trap of not looking like Cap's equal. why they didn't use the Red Skull and Axis enemies is beyond me.
the stunts are decent, but the fight scenes could have used a bit more polishing. still, it's a good serial. it's been worth watching, for sure. odd that they let everyone know his secret ID though!
next, the rest of the Secret Empire, er Hidden, er Phantom Empire!
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Sept 5, 2007 14:43:19 GMT -8
just got a new improved copy of this fun serial. it's a nice improvement, but a real legit copy would be even nicer. wonder if it will ever get released.
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