The famed serial that is often said to have a "pre-Darth Vader" character called The Lighting.
Being a massive science fiction fan, I turned to this serial for one reason and for one reason only - to see the masked villain who has often been reported as being the roots of Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977).
As revealed on the main IMDb page for this title, in the photos he looks so much like Vader! But here is the problem - he sure as hell does not sound like him! In fact, when they finally cut to The Lighting actually talking, I found myself laughing, because his simple-Simon-sounding voice just did not fit the look! But considering this serial was made all the way back in 1938, please don't confuse this as an attack on the serial - Hollywood was still in the early days of sorting out what goes with what. So all is cool with The Fighting Devil Dogs.
Eleven years later, another old time B&W movie serial - Columbia's Batman and Robin (1949) - did a much better job with a masked villain who resembles Darth Vader - The Wizard. Granted, The Wizard looks less like Vader than The Lightning does, but The Wizard has a deep commanding voice that has a touch of James Earl Jones - so the creepy nature of the guy comes together better.
In regards to the whole Fighting Devil Dogs serial as a whole, I did not like it, but as stated above I am a science fiction fan first. So perhaps I am just the wrong viewer for this serial. I am sure many others will love it.
Being a massive science fiction fan, I turned to this serial for one reason and for one reason only - to see the masked villain who has often been reported as being the roots of Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977).
As revealed on the main IMDb page for this title, in the photos he looks so much like Vader! But here is the problem - he sure as hell does not sound like him! In fact, when they finally cut to The Lighting actually talking, I found myself laughing, because his simple-Simon-sounding voice just did not fit the look! But considering this serial was made all the way back in 1938, please don't confuse this as an attack on the serial - Hollywood was still in the early days of sorting out what goes with what. So all is cool with The Fighting Devil Dogs.
Eleven years later, another old time B&W movie serial - Columbia's Batman and Robin (1949) - did a much better job with a masked villain who resembles Darth Vader - The Wizard. Granted, The Wizard looks less like Vader than The Lightning does, but The Wizard has a deep commanding voice that has a touch of James Earl Jones - so the creepy nature of the guy comes together better.
In regards to the whole Fighting Devil Dogs serial as a whole, I did not like it, but as stated above I am a science fiction fan first. So perhaps I am just the wrong viewer for this serial. I am sure many others will love it.