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Tarfumes.com - Captain America 15 Episodes
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List Price: $7.99
Our Price: $18.66
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Video Treasures
Starring: Dick Purcell, Lorna Gray, Lionel Atwill, Charles Trowbridge, Russell Hicks
Directed By: Elmer Clifton, John English
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786303004846
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6303004849
Label: Video Treasures
Manufacturer: Video Treasures
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Video Treasures
Release Date: 1994-02-16
Studio: Video Treasures
Theatrical Release Date: 1944-02-05
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: American Idle
Comment: This serial has nothing to do with the original comic book Captain America but is still entertaining. Some people considered the star, Dick Purcell, to be pudgy but this is simply not so. He just had a more realistic body type than a male growth hormone guzzling freak like Sylvester Stallone. The men of Dick Purcell's era had survived the Great Depression and when they were hungry they ate meat and potatoes. Go take a look at your own gut sometime!
Overall, Purcell made a pretty good serial hero, tough enough to do the job convincingly, a reasonably good actor, not wearing his angst and self doubt on his shirt sleeve like some modern sissy boy hero. While not as great as Buster Crabbe or Tom Tyler, he was better than Kirk Alyn (sorry, Kirk).
This serial has lots of excellent fight scenes and great cliff hangers. Also, there is a sequence where Captain America rides the Republic motorcycle, which was also seen in `Spy Smasher.' The villain, Lionel Atwill, is probably one of the best serial villains, perhaps even better than Charles Middleton as Emperor Ming. Perhaps it would have been wiser to do this in the usual 12 chapters, as opposed to 15, but then again, if I minded wasting my time, why would I watch these old serials?
Overall, this is a pretty good serial, and as such it has a higher value for escapist fun than most modern super-heroic cinema. One significant criticism I will make, however, is the inexplicable exclusion of all references to WWII. When it's WWII out there, and you have Captain America, a character created to fight WWII, yet the story has nothing to do with WWII, well, that is an awefully big elephant in the room. It would be akin, say, to a nation that spends $200 million a day for 5 years on a war, with the public having no reliable knowledge of the causes, progress, or effects of the war.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Republic's Most Expensive Serial
Comment: "Captain America" (1944) bears virtually no resemblance to the original comic-book hero. However, this 15-chapter serial delivers plenty of action in the classic Republic tradition. Cap does not have his mighty shield, but his fists make a powerful impression as he takes on the evil Scarab - played to the hilt by Lionel Atwill. Though not among Republic's all-time best chapterplays, a solid cast (look for Edward Van Sloan and John Hamilton in small roles) and vigorous stuntwork remain major assets. Due to budget overruns, "Captain America" emerged as Republic's most expensive serial with a final production cost of $223,000. Long suppressed by Marvel Comics, an excellent 35mm print has yet to surface on DVD. Therefore, the Video Treasures edition is a must-have for cliffhanger enthusiasts.
Customer Rating:
Summary: "Captain America" (1944) ... John English & Elmer Clifton ... A Republic 15 Chapter Serial"
Comment: Republic Pictures present "CAPTAIN AMERICA" (1944) (250 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- is a 15-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Dick Purcell, Lorna Gray, Lionel Atwill, Charles Towbridge & George J. Lewis, relive those thrilling days week after week venue brought you to the theater, as you were mesmerized in your seat waiting for the final chapter ... exciting action within 15 episodes from the Republic Serials department, released in January 1944, the plot line follows Super hero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillian called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations ... also featured is sexy Lorna Gray as the D.A.'s assistant and check out the Captain who gives us a motorcycle exhibition in the early chapters ... good performance by our favorite character actor Lionel Atwill ... the creative hands behind Captain America were Joe Simon and Jack "the King" Kirby, who in the World of Comic Book illustrations made history ... the once fabulous Republic Studio serial machine turned out true masterpieces of action during the late 30s and early 40s ... remember this serial from the Saturday double features at our neighborhood theater ... 15 breathtaking chapters come across with all the gusto Republic Studios has to offer.
Under John English (Director), Elmer Clifton (Director), William J. O'Sullivan (Associate Producer), Jack Kirby (Creator), Joe Simon (Creator), Royal K. Cole (Screenwriter), Harry L. Fraser (Screenwriter), Joseph F. Poland (Screenwriter), Ronald Davidson (Screenwriter), Basil Dickey (Screenwriter), Jesse Duffy (Screenwriter), Grant Nelson (Screenwriter), Mort Glickman (Original Score), John MacBurnie (Cinematographer),Wallace Grissell (Editor), Earl Turner (Editor) ------ Dick Purcell (Captain America/Grant Gardner), Lorna Gray (Gail Richards), Lionel Atwill (Dr. Cyrus Maldor), Charles Trowbridge (Commissioner Dryden), Russell Hicks (Mayor Randolph), George J. Lewis (Bart Matson), John Davidson (Gruber), Norman Nesbitt (Newscaster), Tom Chatterton (J.C. Henley), John Hamilton (Hillman), Edward Keane (Scarab Agent 33), Ed Cassidy (Tec-Ni-GasCo. gate guard), George DeNormand (Pete), Kenne Duncan (Ed Graham), Al Ferguson (Detective), Terry Frost (Police broadcaster (voice),Bud Geary (Thug at Grant's Office), Fred Graham (Agent B-10/Farm Thug), Duke Green (Platinum vault thug/Nitro-gas thug), Jack Kirk (Express truck driver), Tom London (Mack, garage thug), LeRoy Mason (Bates, Florist #3), Jack O'Shea (Express truck crewman), Stanley Price (Purple Death chemist), Tom Steele (Thug at Lyman's), Ben Taggart (Police Sgt. Donovan), Ken Terrell (Dodge Bldg. thug/Gang sharpshooter/Phony Humane Society driver), Dale Van Sickel (Callbox motorcycle cop/Rick, Phony Humane Society workman), Robert J. Wilke (Thug with B-10), Joe Yrigoyen (Box Co. thug/Barn thug) ... great stunt work by the Republic stunt personnel Dale Van Sickel (stunt double: Dick Purcell), Ken Terrell (stunt double: George J. Lewis & Crane Whitley), Helen Thurston (stunt double: Lorna Gray), Bert LeBaron (stunt double: Lionel Atwill), John Bagni (stunts), Fred Graham (stunts), Duke Green (stunts), Eddie Parker (stunts), Allen Pomeroy (stunts), Tom Steele (stunts) --- don't leave the theater until the final chapter ... another winner from the vaults of Republic Serials --- this is a must watch for the serial buffs in all of us.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1. The Purple Death
2. Mechanical Executioner
3. Scarlet Shroud
4. Preview of Murder
5. Blade of Wrath
6. Vault of Vengeance
7. Wholesale Destruction
8. Cremation in the Clouds
9. Triple Tragedy
10. The Avenging Corpse
11. The Dead Man Returns
12. Horror on the Highway
13. Skyscraper Plunge
14. The Scarab Strikes
15. The Toll of Doom
BIOS:
1. Dick Purcell
Date of birth: 6 August 1908 - Greenwich, Connecticut
Date of death: 10 April 1944 - Hollywood, California
2. Lorna Gray/Adrian Booth (aka: Virginia Pound)
Date of birth: 26 July 1918 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date of death: Still Living
Special footnote, Lorna Gray/Adrian Booth was an American actress discovered by a
Columbia Pictures agent while modeling in a fashion show, she was put in the studio's B unit,
occasionally loaned out to Republic or Monogram, and when not making features was used
in several "Three Stooges" and "Buster Keaton" comedy shorts, she left Columbia and began
her long career with Republic Pictures in 1941, appearing in westerns, thrillers, horror pictures
and especially the serials in which the studio specialized ... "Deadwood Dick" (1940) ,
"Perils of Nyoka" (1942), "Captain America" (1944) and "Federal Operator 99" (1945).
3. John English (Director)
Date of birth: 25 June 1903 - Cumberland, England, UK
Date of death: 11 October 1969 - Los Angeles, California
Special footnote, directing classic serials "Zorro Rides Again" (1937),
"Daredevils of the Red Circle" (1939), "King of the Royal Mounted" (1940),
"Adventures of Red Ryder" (1940), "Jungle Girl" (1941),"Adventures of Captain Marvel" (1941),
and "Captain America" (1944), worked closely with director William Witney over the years.
4. Elmer Clifton (Director)
Date of birth: 14 March 1890 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of death: 15 October 1949 - Los Angeles, California,
If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.The Lost City (Kane Richmond, William Stage Boyd & George Gabby Hayes)
16.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
17.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
18.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
19.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
20.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
21.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
22.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
24.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
25.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
26.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
27.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
28.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
29.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 250 mins on VHS ~ Anchor Bay Video ~ (10/15/1993)
Customer Rating:
Summary: not the same as the comicbook,but a very good and fun serial
Comment: my boys and i love watching these old cliffhangers and we have a great time doing it. this one is full of great stunts and has a good(if a little cheesey)story. the transfer is good but not great,so if great transfers are what you look for then you may not want to get this.
the other thing is if you love the comicbook then be ready for this,this is not the captain america from the comic.his name is different and he isn't a product of a super soldier serum like the comic. otherwise this is great fun!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: CAPTAIN AMERICA ONLY IN NAME....
Comment: Captain America was one of the most popular comics during WWII as he battled his arch-foe the Red Skull and other stereotypical Nazi villians. He got his powers by drinking a super soldier formula.
Unfortunately this Republic serial bares little resemblance to the comics. Captain America is no longer Steve Rogers, the goldbrick soldier...he is Grant Gardner, a Discrict Attorney. He's no longer battling Nazi villians bent on world domination, but common, every day crooks....What's more is that Caps Shield is gone and in it's place is a pistol!!!
Dick Purcell does a decent job as Grant Gardner / Captain America, although he wasn't the best physical match for the part. In fact, he really looks quite flabby in the form-fitting tights. Lorna Grey makes a surprisingly sexy sidekick as they battle a villian called the Scarab, who's name is much more sinister as the villian himself.
While the action sequences are pretty good, and there are fights aplenty, it's obvious that a more trim stuntman was filling in for Purcell. The fights all become pretty repetitive after a few episodes.
The one saving grace to the Serial is the presence of Horror Heavy Lionel Atwill playing yet another mad doctor role, this time as museum curator Doctor Maldor.
As serial go...you could do much worse than Captain America but you could do much better as well.
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