Post by richardvasseur on Jun 27, 2019 21:04:01 GMT
Movie serial title: Adventures of Captain Marvel
Republic Pictures
1941
12 chapter series first shown at movie theaters
226 minutes in Black and white
Starring: Tom Tyler, Frank Coghlan, Jr. Louise Currie, William Benedict
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online
What I thought was amazing about this serial was it beat Superman to serial form by several months. The rights for Superman just could not be obtained in early months since 1938 publication. There were hardly any issues published when Republic Pictures obtained rights for Captain Marvel. This was real life not cartoon form. There really was not much history in Captain Marvel character. He only was published in couple issues of WHIZ comics. I liked how showed how Shazam wizard gave Billy Batson powers of Captain Marvel. The version was different than comic book version shown in WHIZ # 2. It still stayed true to core idea that Wizard knew Billy Batson and instructed Billy to use magic word of Shazam to turn into Captain Marvel. I liked way Billy turned into Captain Marvel. I also liked how serial episodes always ended in cliff hanger like many comic book stories do to bring reader back for next episode. The villain of story was named Scorpion. I also liked seeing Captain Marvel fly through air. This was really imaginative for 1941. The series is set in 1940’s. It did not have high budget movie budget of today’s movies. I imagine viewers watched in amazement as Captain Marvel was shot by bullets by Scorpions gang and not injured.
The movie serial has been released in DVD format. I got through inter-library loan service. Captain Marvel is a fictional adventure serial. I thought had very satisfying conclusion. This serial is before any other the other Captain Marvel family members like Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. were part of comic book series. I think kids to adults would like to see early history of Shazam in Adventures of Captain Marvel. The costs are varied on internet. I saw Amazon have even Blu Ray format.
www.amazon.com/Adventures-Captain-Marvel-Chapter-Blu-ray/dp/B073LWR973
The back cover says:
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Considered to be one of the finest serial ever made. The adventures of captain marvel chronicles the exploits of ”The World’s Mightiest Mortal” as he combats The Scorpion, a hooded villain intent on obtaining six optical lenses that, when aligned properly turn ordinary stones into gold! Highlighting the serial were the fabulous flying sequences by Republic’s ace special effects team, Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Combining a wired dummy photographed against real backgrounds in natural sunlight, with spectacular take-off leaps and landings supplied by action ace, David Sharpe, the final effects are still fascinating today as they were in 1941. The Adventures of captain Marvel marked the first time a comic book superhero’s exploits were transferred to the silver screen, and the resulting 12 chapters have yet to be equaled for excitement and entertainment.
Allen Klingelhoets