This is not 'The Phantom' you want to see. This one is of historical interest only. You want the serial version of Lee Falk's 'The Phantom' (1943) with Tom Tyler, or the feature version 'The Phantom' (1996) with Billy Zane, or even the totally different Murnau 'The Phantom' (1922).
Of the 77 movies made by independent Action Pictures, this one is probably the most famous. Some think it's passable in the manner of 'The Cat and the Canary' (1927) but it's full of early thirties tedium--characters being scared when anything moves or is heard, or when a man in a black cape suddenly appears. It is an historical curiosity because the star, Allene Ray, was a victim of the transition to sound movies. A popular and beautiful serial star who did her own stunts, she had a high voice that didn't carry over well into sound films. This film was it for her. This was the kind of true story satirized by Jean Hagan in 'Singing in the Rain' (1952). Although credited as the star here, Allene hardly appears in it, and often doesn't speak, pretending to be 'unconscious.' Another victim of sound was Georgia Hale, the female lead in Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush' (1925) who made her last film in 1931.
The real star, 'Big Boy' Guinn Williams, seen in western serials and films as well as 49 TV episodes of 'Circus Boy' (1956-1957), does battle with 'The Phantom,' who, in fact is not even in a disguise.
Other than Allene's funny voice, there's nothing to recommend here. Just make sure Netflix doesn't send this to you when you want action or excitement with Lee Falk's 'The Phantom.'
I give it a 3.
Of the 77 movies made by independent Action Pictures, this one is probably the most famous. Some think it's passable in the manner of 'The Cat and the Canary' (1927) but it's full of early thirties tedium--characters being scared when anything moves or is heard, or when a man in a black cape suddenly appears. It is an historical curiosity because the star, Allene Ray, was a victim of the transition to sound movies. A popular and beautiful serial star who did her own stunts, she had a high voice that didn't carry over well into sound films. This film was it for her. This was the kind of true story satirized by Jean Hagan in 'Singing in the Rain' (1952). Although credited as the star here, Allene hardly appears in it, and often doesn't speak, pretending to be 'unconscious.' Another victim of sound was Georgia Hale, the female lead in Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush' (1925) who made her last film in 1931.
The real star, 'Big Boy' Guinn Williams, seen in western serials and films as well as 49 TV episodes of 'Circus Boy' (1956-1957), does battle with 'The Phantom,' who, in fact is not even in a disguise.
Other than Allene's funny voice, there's nothing to recommend here. Just make sure Netflix doesn't send this to you when you want action or excitement with Lee Falk's 'The Phantom.'
I give it a 3.