Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) User Reviews

Shazam! This is great!

[orsino44 · 8/10 · 27 August 2005]

One of my favorite Republic serials, along with Zorro's Fighting Legion and Spy Smasher. Adventures of Captain Marvel is slick, fast-paced and action packed. Of course, it has the usual failings of most serials -- low budget, short shooting schedule, a few bumps and wrinkles along the way -- but if that bothers you, you are probably one of those viewers who complain about the plots of Jackie Chan films. Frank Coughlan, Jr., does creditable work as Billy Batson, while Tom Tyler (Stagecoach, Red River) makes a robust Captain Marvel. Fans of Indiana Jones will love this, especially the sets in Chapter One. The best part about Capt. Marvel is his occasional shortage of a sense of fair play. (When was the last time you saw Superman machine gun three guys in the back as they ran away?) This is one super hero who doesn't play around. I also love Tyler's evil grin as bullets bounce off his chest and his propensity for pimp-slapping the bad guys when they don't answer his questions quickly enough. Also, look for Reed Hadley (Zorro) as one of the bad guys; unmistakable due to his superb voice. Hadley narrated A-bomb training films for the US government and had high level security clearance for the job. The other big plus of Capt. Marvel is the ground-breaking flying effects by the Lydeckers, using wires, dummies, reversed film and the leaping skills of stuntman Dave Sharpe. If you love adventure serials, you'll love The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Highly recommended is the DVD release from Artisan.

Serials Definitely Can Be Additive!

[BaronBl00d · 8/10 · 29 July 2006]

This is my first full-length serial, and, I must confess surprisingly, that I truly enjoyed each and every minute of it. The story tells of a young man named Billy Batson and how he, having refused to enter the tomb of an ancient people with a curse while being part of an archaeological/treasure hunting team, is bestowed great powers by Shazaam. Batson turns into Captain Marvel when he utters the word Shazaam. This serial is a lot better crafted than I initially thought it would be. The sets used in this Rebublic Pictures production are very good and believable. The acting is very adequate with Frank Coghlan Jr. Giving a very honest and sincere performance as Billy albeit somewhat corny perhaps. Tom Tyler plays his alter ego Captain Marvel - and while looking somewhat haggard is acceptable. All the other performers are good with John Davidson standing out as Tal Chotali - a native guide for the group. The 12 chapters of this serial tell of how each investor in the team was given a special lens of a gold scorpion found in the ancient tomb. When all the lenses are placed properly on the scorpion, it can make gold out of anything. Well, a villain named the Scorpion comes into the mix. He is covered from head to foot in a mask and costume so as not to reveal his identity because he is one of the men in the team. Each episode tells of various plots the scorpion invents to secure the lenses and thwart Captain Marvel. In true serial fashion, each chapter ends with a thrilling and exciting cliffhanger of sorts. Originally these were shown weekly with pictures and made to be exciting and suspenseful so as to entice movie-goers to return each week. Directors William Witney and John English succeed in making the viewer want to see what happens. Each chapter was packed with action and mystery. Plenty of red herrings are thrown at you so as to confuse you to who could or would be the real identity of the Scorpion. It was so refreshing to see Captain Marvel be a real super hero. He doles out real justice to real crooks. No feminization of Captain Marvel here. Sure, some of the story is pretty hokey, and, yes, some plot twists totally unrealistic(how about the scene where Betty Wallace,Batson's pseudo-love interest, is careening around one bend after another in a garage while knocked out), but the product as a whole was very compelling. I had to watch all 12 chapters in one sitting just to find out who the script chose to be the Scorpion. This serial made me a believer and makes me want to check out some of these rather forgotten films of the past.

The first comic book superhero movie

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 2 January 2023]

This is a 12-chapter serial from Republic Pictures and directors William Witney and John English. An American archaeological expedition in a remote region discovers a long-hidden temple that contains an ancient weapon of incredible power, a scorpion shaped statue that can fire a deadly laser beam. Not long after arriving back in the U. S., a mysterious masked figure calling himself the Scorpion sends his minions out to claim the weapon. However, while at that temple, one of the expedition members, a young man named Billy Batson (Frank Coghlan Jr.) encounters a wizard who imbues Batson with the powers of Captain Marvel (Tom Tyler). Billy has only to say the name "SHAZAM!" and he's transformed into the larger, older, costumed hero with powers of flight, super strength, and nearly invulnerability.

This marks the first comic book superhero movie, and it came after Republic spent quite a bit of time and money trying to get a Superman movie made, only to have that character's rights owners refuse it. So instead, Republic went with the similar Captain Marvel, turning out one of the best serials of the era. It's corny, very silly, and often unintentionally amusing. It's also well-made, with groundbreaking effects and stunt work. Tyler makes a great looking superhero, although the more he keeps his mouth shut, the better. Coghlan's voice, as the young Batson, is high and wheedling and often funny.

Watching Captain Marvel toss the bad guys around like dummies (which they obviously are) is a highlight, as is when he unintentionally causes more than one of them to die. Tyler sometimes looks like he enjoys punching a little too much. The character of Captain Marvel/Shazam was at one time a bigger seller than Superman, although he's become fairly obscure to modern audiences.

This serial IS all it's cracked up to be

[Barney Bat · 3 October 2000]

This serial has a reputation, that of being the greatest serial ever made, that is a greatly deserved one. The plot is complex, but not muddled, the actors are extremely competent, and the characters(this is very rare in serials)take on a life of their own. Most serial fans are familar with the plot, and besides, it is posted right here on the internet, so I will go on to the cast. Tom Tyler, probably more familar to film buffs as Luke Plummer in John Ford's classic STAGECOACH, looks the part of Captain Marvel to perfection. He has relatively few dialog scenes in the serial, however, and to some people this is an added bonus, as his extremely gravelly voice is not to everyone's taste Young Frank Coghlan Jr. is remarkably good as Billy Batson, and deserves additional acclaim as Republic's only juvenile serial hero. The incomparable William Benedict provides unobtrusive comedy relief, as he was to do the following year in NYOKA AND THE TIGERMEN. Benedict is my all-time favorite serial sidekick, even though he only did these two. Louise Currie, who was also to make a return date three years later in THE MASKED MARVEL, is a very likable heroine, and as for the Scorpion, he has got to be the best villain in serials, thanks largely to Gerald Mohr's voice. His closet competitors are probably Dr. Satan(Eduardo Cianelli), Captain Mephisto(Roy Barcroft) from MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND) and Jim Belmont(George J. Lewis) from FEDERAL OPERATOR 99. Kenne Duncan gives a good performance as Barnett, the Scorpion's chief henchman, and Reed Hadley also stand out as Rahman Bar, the Scorpion's Siamese cohort. The supporting cast includes silent serial great Jack Mulhall, and, as suspects for being the Scorpion, Harry Worth, Robert Strange, George Pembroke, Bryant Washburn, Peter George Lynn, and the wonderful scene-stealer John Davidson as the superstious Siamese, Tah Chotali. The special effects are positively astonishing, and hold up a lot better than modern high-tech effects do. After watching the serial, you simply have to conclude that Captain Marvel CAN fly. This certainly deserves its reputation as the greatest serial ever made. SHAZAM!

Almost but not quite.

[wkozak221 · 7/10 · 19 February 2022]

Spoiler alert. Contains spoilers. This is my opinion. It seems Captain Marvel is more vindictive than Superman. He will toss bad guys off high cliffs, he will almost choke someone. Also, it takes big liberties. When Betty is hit a big ceiling beam she only gets a slight headache. The biggest letdown? By deliberately disguising the villain's voice.

review

[tomwal · 10/10 · 19 February 2002]

I was seven years old when I saw this serial in a theater in 1941.

I now own 49 titles of Republic serials,mostly tapes and a few on DVD.This serial is my favorite.For those who have not saw this serial,I won't give away any secrets.The plot concerns a group of scientists and an ancient artifact with lenses that can turn any matter to gold,thus the owner could rule the world.A mortal ,Billy Batson ,is given the power to become Captain Marvel.The Captain fights the arch villain,the Scorpion,for 12 exciting chapters,to keep him from getting the lens.Marvel is played by former cowboy star,Tom Tyler in fine fashion.David Sharpe does the leaps and landings in realistic style.Flying scenes still look great today,with excellent special effects by the Lydecker brothers.The Scorpion is voiced by another actor,and should keep the viewer guessing until the final reel.Music by Cy Feurer,William Lava and others add more excitement to a fine serial.Whitney and English directed.

old fashion serial

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 9 August 2017]

It's the Valley of Tombs in remote Siam. John Malcolm leads an archaeological expedition in search of the lost secret of the Scorpion Dynasty. Tal Chotali is their guide. Local tribesmen fight for a prophecy against white men in the valley. Despite the threat, Malcolm pushes into the tomb. Young Billy Batson gets separated from the group. Wizard Shazam anoints him Captain Marvel. By repeating his name Shazam, Billy is turned into Captain Marvel. He battles evil forces and keep the Golden Scropion from falling into the hands of the masked Scorpion. He is given the wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles, and speed of Mercury. The group decides to divide up the Golden Scorpion amongst themselves.

This is an old fashion kids' comic book adventure serial. It's divided into 12 chapters with each chapter ending in a cliffhanger. The story and production is all old style melodrama. It can be clunky in that way. The most impressive is the amount of big time action. There are lots of fights and every kinds of action. It's the high end of Republic Pictures and one of the best of this genre in that era.

Probably the best serial I've ever seen

[kcirone · 9/10 · 31 August 2004]

Captain Marvel is one of the best serials available and a true credit to the genre. It offers plenty of the old-school, two-fisted action that you'd expect from an action serial, in addition to state-of-the-art (for the time) flying effects. The production value of the series is fantastic, including great stuntwork, fight sequences, and innovative cliffhangers. It also offers a great running mystery as to the identity of The Scorpion...which is ruined if you happen to read the cast list closely above :(

If you're a fan of serials or old action movies in general, you'd do well to pick this up as it truly is a classic.

First superhero

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 5 May 2022]

Created the year after Superman by C. C. Beck and Bill Parker, Captain Marvel is the alter ego of newspaper boy Billy Batson, who gains the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury when he says "Shazam!"

He was created when Fawcett Comics' circulation director Roscoe Kent Fawcett said, "Give me a Superman, only have his other identity be a 10- or 12-year-old boy rather than a man."

During the 40s, his comic book - Captain Marvel Adventures - claimed the "Largest Circulation of Any Comic Magazine" and was selling fourteen million copies a year.

This certainly didn't make National Periodical Publications - the home of Superman - happy.

Republic made this serial was because Paramount Pictures successfully tied up rights to Superman and only made cartoons, not live action movies. Republic kept trying to get those rights and kepty getting turned down. They took the script they had written for their Superman serial and changed it to The Mysterious Dr. Satan.

Then, they started talking to Fawcett and this became the first licensed live action comic book adaption.

National attempted legal action to prevent Republic from even making this serial, citing Republic's failure at gaining the right for Superman. This would come back to haunt Fawcett, as litigation continued for seven years with National Comics Publications, Inc. V. Fawcett Publications, Inc. Heading to trial in 1948.

While the presiding judge decided that Captain Marvel was an infringement, DC hadn't copyrighted several of their Superman daily newspaper strips and basically had abandoned their Superman copyright. You can only imagine of Siegel and Schuster, who created Superman, felt after selling the rights to their character for $130. That said, the first court case went in Fawcett's win column.

National appealed and secured the Superman copyright. In 1952, Judge Learned Hand did not find that the character of Captain Marvel itself was an infringement, but rather that specific stories or super feats could be infringements. Yet instead of a retrial, an exhausted Fawcett chose to settle, permanently cancelling all of the Captain Marvel-related comics and paying National $400,000 in damages.

Fawcett creators Otto Binder and Kurt Schaffenberger ended up at DC, working on Superman. Hoppy the Marvel Bunny was sold to Charlton, British reprints became Marvelman instead of Captain Marvel for another decade. In 1972, DC Comics began licensing all of the Captain Marvel characters, except that Marvel was now around - which is why Marvelman became Miracleman but that's another long story - which meant that now, Captain Marvel was Shazam. C. C. Beck did the first ten issues before quitting, saying "As an illustrator, I could, in the old days, make a good story better by bringing it to life with drawings. But I couldn't bring the new stories to life no matter how hard I tried."

For years, Shazam and his family lived on Earth-S, until the Crisis on Infinite Earths made all DC Comics take place on one Earth, which lasted for a few years until we came right back to a multiverse. By 1991, DC owned the characters outright and while they may have struggled to fit in to their larger universe, the character has remained popualr enough to get his own TV series in the 70s - this writer had a homemade costume as a child that he wore as soon as he got home from school - and the 2019 movie, which was released the very same year that Marvel had a Captain Marvel movie.

The serial changes up the origin somewhat. During an archaeological expedition to find the lost secret of the Scorpion Kingdom in the Valley of the Tombs, the Golden Scorpion is found inside a crypt. Only one person hasn't entered the crypt, respecting the warning: Billy Batson, who is given the powers of Shazam by the ancient wizard with that very same name.

When the aracheologists come back to America, the villain known as the Scorpion starts killing them and stealing parts of the Golden Scorpion. Now, Captain Marvel must protect the surviving scientists and stop the villain from using the treasure for evil.

Directed by William Whitney - Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan: "Easily the most violent movies ever made for children were made by Witney (I say that as a badge of honor; get 'em while they're young). That would include many of his serials: Drums Of Fu Manchu, Spy Smasher, Dick Tracy Returns. And especially The Adventures of Captain Marvel, which easily contains in Tom Tyler's Captain Marvel, the most homicidal berserker superhero of cinema. (Most of the gags and set pieces that Spielberg restages for Raiders of the Lost Ark are taken from Witney's chapter plays)" - and John English, this is a fun serial, often looked at as one of the better examples of these short adventures. As for the effects, well, they used a weighed cape and a dummy to make it look like flight. People were amazed in 1941, though.

Best Comic Book Movie Ever Made.

[Mike-764 · 10/10 · 7 February 2001]

A criminal known only as the Scorpion, who one of 5 archeologists, is trying to acquire all of the lenses of a golden Scorpion idol, which can turn ordinary rocks into gold, and can unleash a powerful death ray. Billy Batson, during the dig, is given the powers of Captain Marvel by the enigmatic wizard Shazam to prevent the scorpion idol from being used for evil purposes. So when Billy Batson says the word Shazam, he is transformed into Captain Marvel. In my opinion it is not the greatest serial ever made, but it is without a doubt the greatest comic book adaptation in the media ( TV included. ). Tom Tyler looks just like the character and coupled with David Sharpe during the stunt scenes ( which look better than anything ever tried today in this type genre ) elevates it from a kiddie serial into serious watching. Rating, based on serials 10 out of 10.

Superhero Serial Before Netflix

[max4movie · 6/10 · 9 February 2018]

Full review on my blog max4movies: Adventures of Captain Marvel is an entertaining adventure movie with a fun and thrilling main story arch. Evaluating this superhero adventure partly depends on the expectations the viewer holds: as a series of short movies the plot is a blast - if dated in execution; as a single movie, it has a repetitive structure and several tedious moments, as well as bland, almost interchangeable characters. However, as this serial sports a more ingenuous superhero plot than most of today's offerings, it does have its charm.

Probably the best serial ever made

[Rod-39 · 10/10 · 25 March 1999]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable serial. The special effects in this film are extraordinary, especially the "flying sequences" and especially considering that this was done in 1941 (as a comaprison, watch the two Superman Serials, shot serveral years later, with the late Kirk Allen, where suddenly Allen turns into a cartoon when he takes off). Tom Tyler was perfect as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" (aka "The Big Red Cheese" as Marvel was known in the comics), properly stoic. This is definitely the best of the "super hero" serials. This should be enjoyed by young and old alike. A definite 5 star serial. Highly recommended!!!

Loved Captain Marvel when I was 10 but ...

[morteew · 2/10 · 23 February 2007]

to be honest, the acting and direction is awful. Capt Marvel usually looks left, then right before flying; The dialogue sounds like they are reading. In one scene, the villain is hiding on the running board of the car Betty is driving, then opens the door, points a gun at her telling her to move over and she does this so matter-of- factly as if she is expecting this. She is not at all surprised there is someone there.The flying and stunts are great! Tom Tyler looks the part, but short on dialogue. The cave set looks a bit phony. Billy Batson smiles for no reason. Whitey is a very good sidekick. Reed Hadley's voice is excellent as always and his acting is very professional. John Davidson is believable and I liked his acting. The henchmen's hats stay on during the fight scenes, just like cowboy westerns, but the actual fights seemed to be staged well. The story was very good; it carried my interest in each chapter. The cliffhangers were probably the best of all serials. They really made you want to see the next one. The music was absolutely wonderful. I can close my eyes and hear the sound of strings when Captain Marvel flies. Although I report some negative aspects, I can understand that this is the best serial. I still love it and will buy some DVD's for gifts. I know quiet a few people who will love them.

Unexpected Sensation

[richard.fuller1 · 10/10 · 1 August 2005]

When TVland began running the 1970s Saturday morning Shazam a year or so ago, I learned of this old serial.

I decided to compare the two and had not an ever-lovin' clue what to expect.

There are the usual cliffhanger bits, I thought.

Then the tied up Billy and Betty are in the shed about to be bombed.

"I'll call Captain Marvel on the radio," Betty says. "Captain Marvel! Captain Marvel!" We hear the planes overhead.

Bill struggles with the ropes. Unlike Betty, his mouth is gagged.

"Captain Marvel! Captain Marvel!" The planes fly nearer. Billy struggles more.

"CAPTAIN MARVEL! CAPTAIN MARVEL! CAPTAIN MARVEL!" Then it went to the cliffhanger. I had already stopped doing what I was doing on the computer and just stared.

It had to be murder for kids to watch these things, I concluded.

We are given a masked villain, and five likely suspects.

In truth, which one of them was the villain was irrelevant.

There was just so much more fascinating stuff to this series.

Betty is unconscious on a boat. Billy must save her. He stands holding her as the ship sinks. Cliffhanger.

Don't expect the obvious. Nothing worked out or played out anywhere near the way we might think it did.

The only thing that disappointed me after all this brilliance was the cheap folding down film bit when Shazam was changed back to Billy at the end.

But this must stand as one of the all-time top five most underrated programs ever.

Fascinating note.

Frank Coglan Jr, who played Billy Batson, would be working at a zoo in the seventies, and when it was learned Coglan was nearby, he got a cameo in an episode of the seventies series.

Too much fun.

The absolute best chapter-serial ever made!

[vonbruno · 10/10 · 23 December 2004]

"The Adventures of Captain Marvel" (1941) is quite simply the best of its genre. Period.

Directed by John English and William Witney this 12-part serial really moves and maintains a generally high standard of quality. And the special effects were truly top-notch. Sure, there were times when the models looked like ... well ... models, but there were also sequences that would make folks believe a man could fly some 37 years before "Superman: The Movie." Frank Coughlan, Jr. made an outstanding "Billy Batson." Young, adventurous, and conscientious. He was no Clark Kent/Peter Parker wallflower. He also has a wonderful chemistry with his sidekicks Louise Currie ("Betty") and William Benedict ("Whitey"). This trio could have easily carried the movie without the super-hero gimmick.

Of course Tom Tyler made a terrific "Captain Marvel." Stoic, gallant, and (surprisingly) edgy. Some folks may be startled to see a super-hero dispensing 1940s justice with a definite 1940s sensibility. Its great.

Anyway, I saved the best for last ... it is now officially for sale on DVD for less than 10 bucks making it, IMO, the most under-rated and under-valued movie out. It's a classic for all the right reasons.

For what "The Adventures of Capt. Marvel" was and designed to be it is a perfect creation.

A MARVELous Adventure!

[onediscovery · 10/10 · 1 February 2012]

I watched this online by accident looking for another film and stumbled across this film instead. I said to myself as to what type of a superhero movie they could make back in 1941. I decided I'll watch it to get a couple of laughs at their attempt to make one, knowing the limitations in cinema during the 1940's than compared with what we have today. Needless to say, I was quite impressed by what was done. It was truly a marvel to watch how much thought was considered in the production of this film.

The good writing along with some subtle twist of plots and cliff hangers on each of the 12 segments, were done in such a way to hold an audience interest. The flying scenes were more than adequate to fool an audience(kids), even if we could see a pulley line used in a few instances(in fact a pulley was used as part of the story for the characters within a scene, probably the same one in filming the visual effects, a little irony). The thought of miniature models for special effects by the Lydecker Brothers production of cars and volcanoes, were done so cleverly with different camera angle shots, it just demonstrated that they were really ahead of their time.

Even if the same plot device was constantly repeated, this was so Billy wouldn't be recognized when he turned into Captain Marvel, it fitted the limitations of a 1941 film of a superhero movie. I enjoyed the fact this was made a serious tone for the most part, there were no real attempts to be funny from the villain or his henchman. Captain Marvel in his role here was strictly business. He rarely talked much, and was quite brutal in fighting, throwing men around without much a blink of an eye of their fate.It was also unusual towards the end of the serial did a character asked him to identify who he was.

Of course, the characters speech rhythm, its story pace and a few comical character stunts are present of this films' era, but it doesn't detract from their attempt for a good production. I would go on to say I prefer this over Daredevil, both HULK movies(although the last one was better), the Ghost Riders series, who have far superior cinema technology for them to make a better superhero film.

I recommend it for anyone who enjoys old films, the superhero genre, and curious how films like this were created, to go seek the time and view this serial picture.

Very, very good old serial!

[fsbel · 10/10 · 25 May 2003]

In my opinion, it is the finest serial ever mode. Highlighting the serial were the fabulous flying sequences. Combining a wired dummy photographed against real backgrounds in natural sunlight, with spectacular take-off leaps and landings, the final effects are still fascinating today as they were in 1941.

SURPRISINGLY GOOD

[daredevil88 · 13 September 2000]

The distributor has given this material the respect it deserves.

Perhaps, the best comic book feature ever made! This was the original. Like the earlier 1930's serial "Flash Gordon", there is a sincere attempt at translating a comic book to the screen. And it's fun for both kids and adults!

While, screen serials like "The Shadow" did not manage to live up to it's radio original, this one is a winner. I would guess that Steven Spielberg saw this, prior to making "Raider's Of The Lost Ark".

The guy, Captain Marvel, does look silly running around in a cape...but, this is surprisingly good entertainment. Anyone who passes on this, has missed a good action offering. Possibly, superior to Tim Burton's "Batman"; the "Superman" movies, which featured Christopher Reeve; and, it's NOT bloody violence, like the action films of today.

Highly recommended.

Serial Gold: Smoke and Mirrors

[Cineanalyst · 5/10 · 20 September 2019]

I'm not a fan of serials, whether it be comics, radio programs or films. Many of them, such as this one, "Adventures of Captain Marvel," are largely engineered to appeal to young boys, which is why a great proportion of them are Western shoot-'em-ups, pulpy detective mysteries and exotic adventure yarns or otherwise based on comic strips and books about male heroes with the damsels-in-distress they must rescue as they combat dastardly villains with their clandestine criminal organizations--generally with a cliffhanger to end each episode. Some chapter-play aficionados, however, claim this one in particular to be one of the best of the bunch. Indeed, although it is much of the same, from chapter to chapter and from serial to serial, there is an interesting aspect to this one involving its particular adventure and hero.

This one starts out with some standard, derivative Orientalism: the white colonialist archaeologists trespassing in an ancient tomb in some exotic Eastern land and the superstitious natives defending said tomb in a centuries-long tradition and who are ready at a volcano's-eruption-notice to start slaying the infidels. Whether Egypt or Siam, the location doesn't seem to matter to the filmmakers. Case in point, this instance seems to mostly be lifting from the Universal Mummy series (including the 1932 original, but more so the 1940s Kharis entries). From those films, this one adopts, among other things, the business with a scroll. This is the first part of that interesting aspect in this one, where a series of different media are self-referentially included. The superhero Captain Marvel began in the comic-books--picture stories, like hieroglyphs (or other logographs), drawn and written. The scroll, in particular, provides instructions for the scorpion artifact--a device that is rather analogous to cinema in its system of lenses that transmutes real-world objects and people into something else. The scroll, like the comics to the film proper, serves as a sort of script to the scorpion camera-like apparatus within the film.

In the following episodes, the third popular media for serials, the radio, repeatedly becomes an important plot device. The first instance involves Billy Batson telling the story of the first episode for his radio program. I'm a fan of this sort of meta-narrative construction, and I like that Billy works in radio. The Superman comics include a similar framework with Clark Kent's day job as a newspaper reporter--another storyteller of the stories of his super-powered alter ego. Likewise with Spiderman as photographer Peter Parker.

Captain Marvel is an intriguing comic-book character, too. He's basically a rip-off of Superman, and, in fact, DC sued over this before the Marvel character came under their roof--and has since been remade as the 2019 feature "Shazam!" That blockbuster, too, rather cleverly referenced the film it largely imitated, "Big" (1988), which is also about a boy transformed into an adult's body through magic. There's one big difference between Marvel/Shazam and Superman, though, which is that the boy Billy Batson (although, in this serial he's played by a young adult) turns into the muscular manly man in cape and tights. Since the main audience for this stuff were young boys, this was a rather ingenious ploy to fold the comic-book reader and movie-going spectator into the hero. It's effective character identification. Batson makes Marvel more relatable than an alien-turned-god from Krypton or, say, a millionaire-turned-billionaire from Gotham. It's no wonder, as reported, that Captain Marvel was for a time the most popular comic-book superhero.

Additionally, while the production values for serials tend to be exceedingly cheap, the man flying here isn't badly done considering when and for what it was made. It's better than the rear-projection shots involved in car rides, which were also common in big-budget features back then. Marvel's super-strength also aids brevity for some of the numerous and repetitive fistfights, and the business of bullets bouncing off of him is played amusingly. Employing smoke for the transitions between Billy and Marvel is economically effective, too. After all, this entire endeavor consists of smoke and mirrors: cliffhangers re-edited and elaborated upon to achieve resolution; red herring after red herring to keep the Scorpion mystery going; character duality, stuntman duplicity and photographic doubling; the transmutation of the real into fantastic illusion; making a serial formula etched in stone into gold.

I Wish They Were All This Good

[skallisjr · 9/10 · 14 August 2005]

Many movie serials were pretty silly, with characters going to crisis to crisis almost pro forma. This one's much better, with some intelligent plotting, so the actual storyline flow seems far more natural.

Possible spoiler: One very nice touch appears in the early chapters. Captain Marvel learned some of his powers by experiencing them. The first time he gets shot at, he's genuinely and pleasantly surprised to discover he's bulletproof.

However, like most serials, the scripters had to mess with the original material. The wizard Shazam was originally from Egypt, not Siam. That aside, the reason for Billy Batson gaining the powers was different from the comic.

Nitpicks aside, though, this is a very superior serial. Many of the serials show little thought and a lot of action; this one, by contrast, is literate. It is tighter than the first Flash Gordon, and not one word is wasted.

Lots of fun

The best chapter-play serial ever made

[SeñorAl · 10/10 · 6 February 1999]

I saw this serial for the first time in 1954 under the name of The Return of Captain Marvel. In Spanish, the title was "Capitán Maravilla, el Poderoso". I´ve seen it today as a middle-aged person and I´ve enjoyed it the same. My kids and friends who have seen it, think that the special effects are "amazing" considering that it is was made in 1941.

Lots of fun thats only familiar because everyone has stolen from it

[dbborroughs · 8/10 · 30 June 2008]

Considered the pinnacle of all serials this is certainly a grand epic adventure. Telling the story of how Billy Batson becomes Captain Marvel in order to save the members of his archaeological party and then how he must uses his powers to prevent the villainous Scorpion from using the scorpion statute that they found for evil. Seeing the serial again divorced of the initial hype with which I watched it, I found it's a much better serial than I first took it for. Its action packed with lots of neat cliffhangers and all the things you think of when you hear "serial". It is one of the best cinematic translation of a comic book to the big screen. And keep in mind if the adventures seem a tad familiar its because movie makers and comic artists have been raiding the film for the sixty plus years since it was made-you've seen this before because everyone stole from it. (It also shows the peril of having a superhero as serial lead-how do you make it exciting when the hero can't be hurt. It was a problem Columbia wrestled with when they did Superman several years later) A must see not only for the history but also for the adventure.

Better Than Superman.

[flapdoodle64 · 10/10 · 31 January 2008]

This is one of the 2 best movie serials of all time. I would recommend that any fan of escapist cinema and classic movies see at least a couple of the chapters, since it is such a fine example of what a good serial could be. It is fast paced, has good fight scenes, and, for the time period, excellent special effects. In fact, until perhaps the 1978 film 'Superman,' there were no superior the flying sequences anywhere on TV or cinema. Along with these legendary sequences, the screen presence and performance of Tom Tyler really make this a magical experience.

At the time of this serial, Tom Tyler was a veteran (and underrated) movie actor, entering the downward slide of a career. Besides having about 15 years of fight scenes on his resume, he had been both a lumberjack and a champion weight lifter, so that he had a lean, athletic physique and carried himself like a strong and tough man. Also, his chiseled facial features, dark hair and steely eyes projected determination and formidability. Although given very few lines, Tyler was completely believable and magnetic in the role. Tyler's Captain Marvel is truly one of the most awesome serial heroes, right up there with Buster Crabbe's Flash Gordon. Frank Coghlan Jr. is perfect as Cap's alter ego, Billy Batson, and the rest of the supporting cast is good as well.

Fans of the comic book and TV versions of Captain Marvel should be warned that this serial is, in several significant ways, very different from the Cap they remember. Part of this is due to the fact that whenever Republic Pictures adapted a comic strip, they took some liberties. The other factor is that this serial was filmed when the Captain Marvel comic strip was only 1 year old, before the tone and spirit of Captain Marvel had been established (the Captain Marvel comics did not really develop a consistent style or sensibility until about 1943 or so; it isn't till around that time that the really classic Captain Marvel stuff started coming out).

Without spoiling too much, viewers should be warned that on at least 2 occasions, Captain Marvel summarily dispatches some of the minor villains. Dispatch, as in sending them to meet their maker. This is understandable within the context of the times and 1930's ideal of a hero. In 1941, comic book heroes had not settled into their now ubiquitous code of non-lethality. The forerunners of the super-heroes, the pulp heroes such as the Shadow and the Spider, had no reservations toward casually gunning down a few thugs. Likewise, audiences in 1941 were of a generation that witnessed law enforcement officers summarily executing Bonnie & Clyde as well as John Dillinger.

Captain Marvel's readiness to kill might also serve as a rationale for Billy's hesitancy to use his alter ego. In this version, Billy gets into fistfights with thugs, even when he is outnumbered, rather than turning into Cap. For dramatic purposes, this makes sense because it allows for various death traps to be set and keeps the fight scenes exiting. But it also fits into a subtext that perhaps Captain Marvel has too much power, that he is perhaps like genie from a bottle, a quasi-demonic expression of the Id. This Captain Marvel, who gets a little too violent sometimes, and who Billy Batson only reluctantly calls upon, could be considered an early forerunner of the Incredible Hulk.

Despite this Captain's occasional lapses into vigilantism, the overall spirit of this serial keeps within the norms of the era and the genre, and so is great fun and escapism. Moreover, the total experience of this serial truly captures the expansive sense of magic, power and possibility of the early period of comic book superheroes. This is vastly superior to either of the Superman serials (1948 & 1950) as well as the Captain Marvel 'Shazam!' TV series of the 1970's. On an ultra low budget and long before CGI, this serial captured the magic of the comics.

Focused

[tedg · 19 July 2006]

Its hard for me to know just how these things were made up. Even the worst of them is a cool adventure. I like the earlier ones better. They are more adventurous, generally and therefore more influential. And there's no mistake that some of those early ones were very big influences.

This is late in the genre for me, but it surely the apogee of a certain type of serial. The idea of having two different actors play the two identities, the mystical Arabian context, the almost perfect cliffhangers...

The sexual content is lower than usual for these things.

One thing that's striking is how inventive the production is in how it is conceived. The trick in these things is explaining the superpowers and then showing them. Superman was cursed by being a comicbook character first, so his superpowers even today don't translate well to the screen. And his origin and the explanation of his powers was bit tortured.

This is the exact opposite; The explanation of powers is succinct and even makes a sort of sense. The powers themselves are cleverly designed around the limits of the camera.

If you are going to watch any of these old serials for fun and you don't have any particular fetish, this may be the best you will find.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

One of the best from Republic Studios.

[rwendler939-1 · 10/10 · 8 June 2006]

This was without a doubt the best superhero serial ever made. Although most serials were made for children, this one also catered to adults. This was one of the top serials from Republic Studios, the top serial maker. The directors, William Witney and John England, were two of the best. The action scenes were very believable and the cliffhangers didn't cheat you. The flying sequences were way ahead of the time. The actors put 100 percent into their roles. The evil villain, the Scorpion, is one of my favorite bad guys. If you have never seen a serial cliffhanger before go with one the early Republic Studio ones, especially this one. You can't go wrong.