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Customer Reviews of The Masked Marvel

THE MAKSED MARVEL
This was the first serial I ever saw as a kid, and it's one of the best I have seen. The plot is about a masked agent and his attempts to thwart the diabolical Sakima and his thugs. Along the way are plenty of action packed fights and suspensful cliffhangers to keep you coming back for more! This is a great movie for the kids, who will especially love the tense action.

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Thrills! Chills! Action!!! One of the best serials ever made
Recently, I was lucky enough to be presented with a copy of this 1943 classic. Made during the dark days of W.W.II, this fast moving espionage thriller is a first rate example of the serial format at it's best.

The story: The film opens with a series of very impressive explosions and fires carried out by a saboteur by the name of Sakima in order to hurt the US war effort. Not only are these acts of espionage causing problems for America on the home front, but they are also costing the World-Wide Insurance Company hundreds of thousand of dollars. The president of World-Wide, Warren Hamilton, informs the press that he has been contacted by the Masked Marvel and that he is willing to help stop the saboteurs. Hamilton also states that he will be meeting with Marvel to give him some important documents about the case.

Sakima, in league with a traitor within World-Wide's ranks, knows where and when to stop Hamilton from delivering the papers. Two of his henchmen confront Hamilton while he is on his way to meet the Masked Marvel. The thugs are successful in stealing the documents, but they gun down Hamilton in front of his daughter and World-Wide's VP, Martin Crane, in the process.

The murdered man's daughter, Alice, is contacted by the Masked Marvel, his face hidden beneath a black mask. The Masked Marvel offers his assistance in capturing Sakima and his espionage ring and explains that he will be sending four special agents (Bob Barton, Frank Jeffers, Terry Morton, & Jim Arnold) to help out on the case. Only Alice is to know that he is one of the four young men.

After many more breathtaking perils and major revelations, the Masked Marvel is finally able to track Sakima to his hidden headquarters. Forcing his way past one of Sakima's remaining henchmen, the Masked Marvel enters Sakima's secret lair and confronts the spy chief. Sakima quickly douses the lights and a shoot out begins. The Masked Marvel positions himself behind a very large urn while Sakima finds himself pinned behind his large desk. The Masked Marvel shoots off six quick rounds, and Sakima, believing his nemesis is out of ammunition, triumphantly steps from behind his desks and slinks toward the unarmed hero, and then...

Well, you wouldn't want me to spoil the ending for you, would you?

While sticking to the long established serial formula for the most part, this film does very in one unique way. Rather, than was the case in many cliffhangers, the villain being a masked or unknown character in the story, in The Masked Marvel, it is the hero who remains unknown until the final chapter.

This is an interesting and effective story devise, even if the studio didn't play fair with the audience. Whereas the Masked Marvel was suppose to be one of the four young insurance agents in disguise, all of the Masked Marvels scene, except for the unmasking in CHAPTER TWELVE: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK were played by an uncredited Tom Steele.

Tom Steele, born Thomas Skeoch on June 12th, 1909 in Scotland, was a legendary stunt man whose career stretched from stunt doubling on Flash Gordon (1936) through Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles (1974). Not only did Steele play the Masked Marvel in this film; he also doubled three other characters and played a bit part as one of the heavies, all while he was also stunt coordinator and 'ramrod' (boss) of the stunt organization at Republic. Steele held that a post he held from June 1943 through June 1944.

While some of the acting in The Masked Marvel may not be completely first rate, I can guarantee to you that all of the fights and action sequences certainly are.

Behind the camera was a talented and efficient crew, lead by longtime director Spencer Gordon Bennet.

Bennet, born on January 5th, 1893, started his career in film as a "stuntman and bit part player in Edison action pictures." Eventually, Bennet began directing serials, beginning with 1925's Play Ball. In all, Bennet is reported to have directed fifty-two serials by the time he retired in the mid sixties, including such classics as Zorro's Black Whip (1944), Son of Zorro (1947), Superman (1948), Batman and Robin (1949), Atom Man Vs. Superman (1950) and Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere (1951).

Bennet's experience is an obvious asset, and his skill truly shows with smoothness and self-assuredness in the way this film is directed. Truly journeyman directing at it's very best.

Along with an effective script, first rate cinematography and musical score, fantastic SPFX by the gifted Lydecker brothers, fast moving editing, all of the behind the camera workers truly pulled together to help make The Masked Marvel into a top rate cliffhanger that surely ranks among the best serials ever made.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this film to anyone interested in serials and old movies. The Masked Marvel is both an excellent film for experienced serial watchers looking for an action packed cliffhanger to add to their collection, as well as being one heck of a joyride for the serial novice looking for that special first cliffhanger to give serials a try.

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the masked marvel
For thrills it rocks! It had even my wife, who can't take anything comic booky stuck to the end. Like who is the masked Marvel? How does he fight and still keep is had on? The stunts are top notch Republic(ah, what they could have done to Superman) expose this to your kids in small doses or one a night. they will really dig it -if they can get past the black and white. I really liked the actor Richard Farnum as "the know it all guy".