This weekend I watched
Manhunt On Mystery Island. I was hoping to have the serial in time for the
weekend, but my order was late coming in. But better late than never, right?
Tom
Manhunt On Mystery Island
This 15-chapter Republic serial from 1945 stars Linda
Sterling and Roy Barcroft, with Richard Bailey (sometimes spelled Baily) in the
lead roles. Clues lead a young couple to a Pacific Isle where the two find
Mystery Island, hoping to rescue the girl’s father. He is a scientist being
held prisoner by the evil Captain Mephisto, a pirate from 200 years ago.
Mephisto uses a Transformer machine to travel forward in time and disguise
himself as one of the four owners of Mystery Island.
Linda Sterling as Tigerwoman
During WWII many of the people involved in serials,
including actors, were away from the studio, so lead actors were hard to find.
Richard Bailey wasn’t an ideal action hero for the serials, though stunt
doubles took care of the action. Linda Sterling was magnificent, as usual. She
came to Bailey’s rescue more often than he to hers. And Roy Barcroft was one of
the kings of the bad men in serials. Although in this part the character of
Mephisto was a bit weak.
Linda Sterling In Zorro’s Black Whip
For some reason a lot of extra cliffhanger scenes from
other Republic serials were used in this one, possibly to save writing more
scenes. Vehicles going off cliffs, etc. But they weren’t used as the chapter
ending, just somewhere within the chapter. It was a fun serial, though possibly
lacked some zip due to Richard Bailey, but he tried. He just wasn’t the heroic
leading man like, say Clayton Moore.
Roy Barcroft As Captain Mephisto
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