"This collection
offers a single chapter from [seven] serials, almost all of
which are pull-out-your-wallet fantastic."
-- The
DVD/Laserdisc Newsletter, June 2009
SerialFest DVD Magazine Issue #2
February 2009
Beatrice
Fairfax (1916) Episode 7: A Name
for a Baby
Unwed mother Madge Minturn writes
Beatrice asking her for help in getting her newborn child a
last name. Her wealthy boyfriend Waldo (Allan Murnane)
would rather pay her off to go away than marry her, so he
can wed beautiful, unspoiled Margaret instead. When that
doesn't work, things turn a bit nasty as Waldo hires a
local outcast to kidnap the child and force Madge to his
will. A very interesting episode, including themes quite
daring for their time. Apparently the leading female
character in this episode was cast based on her winning a
contest, the prize of which was her role in the episode.
Harry Fox as Jimmy the reporter actually ends up in a real
fist-fight in this episode. Filmed on location in Ithaca,
New York. Color-tinted according to the instructions on the
original negative and restored. New musical score by
compiled exclusively from vintage piano roll music.
Isle
of Sunken Gold (1927) Chapter 4: The Volcano's
Pit
Long-thought-lost and frankly totally
unheard-of late Mascot silent jungle/island serial chapter
which begins with a wild thunderstorm at sea, then moves on
to further danger on the beach and the lava pits of the
angry god Pele. Princess Kala and her friend, a seaman,
have a treasure map and a vindictive rival princess, the
chief of an aboriginal tribe, and a gang of mutineers all
want it. A chapter ending on a real cliff winds this one
up. Comedy relief is provided here by Curtis "Snowball"
McHenry and his friend, a chicken. Scored quite thoroughly
and painstakingly with full natural sound effects and
music, and with reconstructed opening titles.
Nick
Carter, Detective: A Cry at Midnight
Tom Carrigan plays Nick Carter in this
detective action short so rare it's not even on the IMDB,
and we don't even know the year it was filmed, either. In
this episode intrepid detective Nick survives a waterfall
deathtrap and first encounters his future assistant Chick.
New all-piano-roll musical score.
The Masked Rider (1919) Episode 2: In the
Hands of Pancho
Little Blanche has been abducted and is
dragged away on horseback by Pancho's men and the Masked
Rider in this episode, and Harry, Jack, and Ruth ride
desperately to rescue her. Contains the very first existing
screen appearance of Boris Karloff as a roughneck in a
saloon, where Paul Panzer and Harry Myers spout out some
profound insults at each other and all hell eventually
breaks loose. Featuring Ruth Stonehouse, Harry Myers, Paul
Panzer, George Chapman and Blanche Gillespie. Note: this is
the original Episode 2 as it appeared theatrically with
accurately reconstructed intertitles and original start and
end points.
The Voice from the Sky (1930) Chapter 2: The Cave
of Horrors
The very first sound cliffhanger serial,
which was originally filmed by Ben Wilson (who died soon
after it was first presented), and given limited
distribution, presented once again from all the authentic
original material that's left of it. In this episode we
discover how Jean escaped Ballin and his henchmen and
survived the deadly car crash, the Voice from the Sky
fulfills his threat, and for the first time we meet the
mysterious "Man from Nowhere."
The
Mystery Trooper (1931) Chapter 2:
Path of Peril
Another very
early sound serial, the original material of which exists
in very poor condition. But with new Squadron restoration
techniques, the nasty jitter originally present has been
minimized, and absolutely awful quality original sound
brought back to at least reasonably listenable condition.
Enjoy a new, refreshed version of this chapter in the best
condition possible!
"The Eagle" in
The Vigilantes are Coming (1936) Chapter 2: Birth of
the Vigilantes
Robert Livingston first appeared on the
serial screen as the Zorro-like masked avenger "The Eagle"
in this serial, which was released by Republic with a noisy
soundtrack. The nasty audio buzz has been removed in this
new restored presentation.
The
Green Hornet (1940) Chapter 8:
Dead or Alive
The first onscreen appearance of the Lone
Ranger's nephew's kid, as played by Gordon Jones, and his
assistant Kato (Keye Luke), in an excellent transfer of one
of very few existing high-quality, very sharp 16mm
reduction prints of this fun and episodic serial. The Black
Beauty speeds through the city streets once more -- in the
sharpest, clearest, video quality you'll ever see
anywhere!
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