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Republic Movie Serials
 3  0  6.7 1936. Genre: Jungle.
Sequel of sorts to The 1934 Mascot Pictures Corporation serial The Lost Jungle. Mascot was a minor film company that in 1935 was one the six Poverty Row studios that merged to form Republic Pictures. Darkest Africa was re-released in 1966 for televison renamed as Batmen of Africa, to capitalise on the Batman craze of the time. 
1 7 4.3 1936. Genre: Science Fiction.
Undersea Kingdom was intended to rival Universal's Flash Gordon & the star of the serial was named Crash Corrigan because it sounded similar to Flash Gordon. The serial is parodied in the Star Trek: Voyager episode; The Adventures of Captain Proton. escafeld's rating:
 
0 0 5.9 1936. Genre: Maritime.
This was the first Republic serial to feature a 'Re-cap Chapter' in which events of the previous chapters are repeated & possibly the first instance of this concept now prevalent in modern TV shows such as '24'. 
5 6 6.9 1937. Genre: Crime.
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'. There were three sequels to this serial. They were all permitted by an interpretation of the original contract, which allowed for a "series or serial". That meant that Dick Tracy creator, Chester Gould was only paid for the rights to produce this serial but not for any of the sequels! 
5 5.5 6.3 1937: Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. 
1 0 6.6 1938: Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'. 
0 0 6.8 1938. Genre: Science Fiction.
The Fighting Devil Dogs features The Lightning, the very first costumed supervillain. 
4 6 7 1938. Genre: Crime.
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'. As with the other three serials in the Republic series, Tracy is depicted as a West Coast FBI agent rather than the local police detective for a large Midwestern city he is in the original comic strip. 
0 0 7.1 1938. Genre: Jungle.
Based on the novel by William L. Chester. 
1 0 6.6 1939. Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'. 
4 0 6.9 1939. Genre: Crime
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'. 'G-Man' is a contemporary slang term for an agent of the FBI. In the comic strip, Dick Tracy is actually a detective in the police force of an unnamed Midwestern city resembling Chicago. This was changed for the serial. 
5 6.5 7 1939. Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. This is the serial that featured an identical death each episode. Each informant, trying to reveal the identity of the main villain would utter the phrase "Don del Oro is..." and then be shot by a golden arrow (wielded by Don del Oro himself, hidden behind a curtain) and die with a grunt before being able to name the villain's alter ego. 
1 0 6.9 1940. Genre: Yellow Peril.
Based on Fu Manchu created by Sax Rohmer. 
0 0 7.1 1940. Genre: Western.
Based on the comic strip 'Red Ryder'. 
1 0 6.9 1940. Genre: Northern.
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'. Northern genre films are similar to Westerns but the action occurs in the Canadian North and typically features Mounties instead of, for example, Cowboys or Sheriffs. Opening caption, "Although the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are few in number, they successfully guard a vast dominion of the British Empire. From the United States border to the Arctic ice pack and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the red coat of the Mountie is the symbol of law and order and a promise that justice will prevail. To these gallant men, "King of the Royal Mounted" is respectfully dedicated." 
0 0 6.8 1940: Genre: Superhero.
Originally intended as a Superman serial but DC Comics withdrew permission because of changes Republic incorporated into their character's backstory. This was the first original Superhero film. 
16 9 7.2 1941. Genre: Superhero.
Based on the Fawcett Comics character 'Captain Marvel'. This serial was the first film adaptation of a comic book superhero. 
1 0 6.9 1941. Genre: Jungle.
Based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs but bears almost no resemblance to the novel, which was about an Asian princess, not a white woman living in Africa. Jungle Girl was the first sound serial to have a female lead. 
0 0 7.3 1941. Genre: Western.
Although the serial's plot involves Nazi agents in Texas, this serial predates America's entry into World War II. The Nazis are never named as such but it is strongly implied within the serial 
2 0 6.9 1941. Genre: Crime.
Based on the comic strip 'Dick Tracy'. 
5 8.5 6.9 1942: Genre: Spy & War.
Based on the Fawcett Comics character 'Spy Smasher'. 
0 0 6.9 1942. Genre: Jungle.
Sequel to Jungle Girl & loosely based on the book of the same name by Edgar Rice Burroughs. However Republic did not want to pay licensing fees to Burroughs again so it avoided any repetition of the term 'Jungle Girl' to which he had the rights. Instead 'Nyoka' the name of the main character in the first film was placed in the title of the sequel, because that name was an original creation of Republic's writers, not of Burroughs. 
0 0 7.4 1942. Genre: Northern.
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'. 
2 0 7 1943. Genre: Spy & War.
G-Men vs. The Black Dragon was commissioned based on the success of the serial Spy Smasher, although the production team preferred to have a non-costumed character. 
0 0 6.4 1943. Genre: Jungle.
Sequel to G-Men vs the Black Dragon released earlier in 1943. 
0 0 6.8 1943. Genre: Superhero.
The Masked Marvel is a reverse of the 'old mystery villain theme.' The identity of the Masked Marvel is kept secret from the audience until the last chapter. 
20 8.2 6.3 1944. Genre: Superhero.
Very loosely based on the Timely Comics character 'Captain America'. Republic was notorious for making arbitrary changes in their adaptations. This occurred with Captain America more than most. Timely were unhappy with these changes & the wrangles went on so long that Republic said the serial was well into production and they could not return to the original concept without expensive retakes and dubbing. They also pointed out that they, Republic, was under no contractual obligation to do so. 
0 0 7.2 1944. Genre: Maritime.
Based on the novel by Ewart Adamson. This was the last adaptation by Republic & also the last jungle serial for nine years. 
3 3 6 1944. Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. Despite the title the name 'Zorro' does not appear in the film. The Zorro-like character is referred to throughout as The Black Whip and is actually female. 
1 0 6.6 1945. Genre: Science Fiction.
This was the first post-war science fiction serial. The Purple Monster costume was re-used in Flying Disc Man from Mars & Radar Men from the Moon. 
4 4 6.9 1947. Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. 
2 0 5.8 1949. Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. |
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Comments
escafeld
Posted: 4 years, 3 months ago at Feb 7 16:16
There's no notes yet for each entry, but there soon will be. They will blow your mind. Some awesome trivia is on it's way. Be sure check back soon. :-)
escafeld
Posted: 4 years, 3 months ago at Feb 9 17:30
Notes added. Not so sure they are 'awesome' though. :-P
AFIoscar
Posted: 3 years, 11 months ago at May 25 14:39
What an interesting list this is. I am going to have to rent some of these.
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