hoooo boy

[ericcoleman]

I have added to my, so far meager, collection of old movie serials. This time the very first Batman serial.

I have it on in the background on my work computer ... it's bad ... really bad ... as old movies serials are. There was a cut version a decade or so ago that had some of the wildly offensive racial stereotypes cut out (it was made during WWII), this one is apparently complete. And yeah, just met the villain ... not QUITE politically correct.

So, are there any other fans of old movie serials out there? What is your favorite?

I love the original Flash Gordon, as should be clear from my icon, and the original Buck Rogers.

I need to add to my collection just a little

Comments

[eeknight.livejournal.com]

I'd like to have the one with the undersea world and "Crash" Corrigan that MST3k did during one of their shorts, but I haven't gone to the trouble to look for it anywhere but con video tables.

[ericcoleman]

I find that you can get serials on Amazon generally really cheap. There are two versions there now of Undersea World, one for 18 bucks and the other for 13. I may have to add that to the ever growing list of stuff I want

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Ah. I know just the place. Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee, in North Hollywood. Of course they have an online catalog: http://www.ebsmvideo.com

[ericcoleman]

There's a rental catalog, but it is a bit of a drive for me.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Funny man. They do sales as well.

[ericcoleman]

Hmmmm ... the website only mentions rentals ... They have quite a collection

[eeknight.livejournal.com]

I'm very impressed with Eddie's recommended viewing list. Lots of favorites of mine there, and some I'll have to check out.

[stephanieb.livejournal.com]

The World O' Crap blog has been making excellent fun of the Batman serial for a while now: http://world-o-crap.com/blog/?cat=2

[ericcoleman]

"As you may recall, last week The Batman started a brawl in a Japanese laundry, then turned into a floppy mannequin and was tossed down an elevator shaft."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[stephanieb.livejournal.com]

WOC is a pretty reliable source of guffaws.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

J-Men Forever!

[ericcoleman]

I do have that on DVD ...

[wyngarde.livejournal.com]

And I thought that was lost forever!

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

Do you have Superman vs Atom Man? I have it on 2 VHS tapes, and can be convinced to do a very extended loan of it to you if you need it. I liked most of it, I think there was only cliffhanger/resolution that I did not like (I won't spoil it beyond saying it was one of the middle of the story challenges for Superman).

[wyngarde.livejournal.com]

CAPTAIN MARVEL!

One of the greatest serials ever made. Captain Marvel is just mad through the thing, fighting bad guys. Great casting. They will not top this one, ecept maybe in effects.

Best Part: He questions one thug and gets answers. In return, Marvel drops him and does not beat him. The guy picks up a gun and shoots at the bullet-proof Marvel. Marvel stops, turns around, looks at him with this awesome look of "Why did you do that? Now I have to go back and beat the living hell out of you." and the guy screams in terror as Marvel turns around and advances...Must be seen to be loved!

"Spy Smashers" is another great one as well.

As for the Batman ones, a lot of the Batman mythos had yet to be created, which makes an interesting take on Batman. Have you seen both serials?

"Superman" is one I'd like to get.

[ericcoleman]

I haven't seen the Batman at all, which is why I got this one. I may end up getting Batman And Robin as well

[ericcoleman]

Of did you mean Capt Marvel and Spy Smasher ???

I have seen CM, but it's been years