NOTES: Dedicated to "The United States Marines — vigilant guardians of our flag at home and abroad."
Shot in only 20 days at a negative cost of only $92,569, this one ranks as Republic's least expensive serial bar only "The Vigilantes Are Coming". Two cost-cutting episodes, 7 and 11, which reprized previous material, helped keep the budget $2,087 below its budgeted estimate. Shooting started on 10 March 1938 and finished on 29 March 1938.
VIEWER'S GUIDE: Suitable for all.
COMMENT: Plenty of excitement in this far-fetched yet nonetheless vastly entertaining adventure serial. The directors get the dialogue clichés delivered as fast as possible so they can concentrate on some splendid action footage. Particularly stunning is a motorcycle chase after the villains' roadster which even background projection and a lame jump cannot spoil.
Some of the compositions are also handled with photographic style, notably an interrogation sequence with truth serum. The special effects are not bad at all and there is an exciting sequence in which the heroes tangle with asbestos-clad henchmen.
One of the editors shows a commendable interest in trick wipes. Indeed, production values, including some fine photography by William Nobles, are generally good.
On the other hand, the acting is entertainingly abysmal, though Miss Stewart makes an attractive heroine.
At least one of the episodes ("Tides of Trickery") ends on a novel note, even though the hero's escape is pretty lame.
The music direction is of a higher standard than usual.
A cleverly cut-down feature version was released to TV in 1966 under the title "Torpedo of Doom".
Shot in only 20 days at a negative cost of only $92,569, this one ranks as Republic's least expensive serial bar only "The Vigilantes Are Coming". Two cost-cutting episodes, 7 and 11, which reprized previous material, helped keep the budget $2,087 below its budgeted estimate. Shooting started on 10 March 1938 and finished on 29 March 1938.
VIEWER'S GUIDE: Suitable for all.
COMMENT: Plenty of excitement in this far-fetched yet nonetheless vastly entertaining adventure serial. The directors get the dialogue clichés delivered as fast as possible so they can concentrate on some splendid action footage. Particularly stunning is a motorcycle chase after the villains' roadster which even background projection and a lame jump cannot spoil.
Some of the compositions are also handled with photographic style, notably an interrogation sequence with truth serum. The special effects are not bad at all and there is an exciting sequence in which the heroes tangle with asbestos-clad henchmen.
One of the editors shows a commendable interest in trick wipes. Indeed, production values, including some fine photography by William Nobles, are generally good.
On the other hand, the acting is entertainingly abysmal, though Miss Stewart makes an attractive heroine.
At least one of the episodes ("Tides of Trickery") ends on a novel note, even though the hero's escape is pretty lame.
The music direction is of a higher standard than usual.
A cleverly cut-down feature version was released to TV in 1966 under the title "Torpedo of Doom".