 "Undersea Kingdom serial" | 2009-09-16 |
| - Reviewed By A.E. Woodham from Alabama U.S.A. |
Real good copy Of Republic's first serial after Mascot Studio
merged with one or two other studios to form Republic and was produced by Nat Levine who was the producer for Mascot. If you have a copy of Clyde Beatty's serial and look close
at the main batman in the same scenes with the evil high priest, you will recognize this same Ray "Crash" Corrigan who
appears in this serial as the hero. Thatnks for the timely delivery. |
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 "groom still waiting at the altar" | 2009-04-03 |
| - Reviewed By Thomas James Long |
| as of april 3rd still have not received this undersea kingdom , i look forward to it's arrival though |
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 "Fun romp into the past" | 2009-02-18 |
| - Reviewed By Henry T Blewer III from Binghamton NY |
This is really a fun video experience. The story is good enough even by todays adventure standards.
I did find the kid a little annoying, but his participation in the series is essential. |
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| "If you loved "Phantom Empire"......" | 2008-06-23 |
| - Reviewed By The Old Grottomaster from Lucasville, OH USA |
This is the same sort of fun stuff as the "Phantom Empire" serial, starring Gene Autry... only this one mostly takes place at the bottom of the ocean.
The hero is Ray "Crash" Corrigan, a revered young U.S. Naval officer who is called in to investigate the cause of a rash of various natural disasters which appear to have happened unexpectedly around the planet. Of course the evil Unga Kahn is literally at the root of the problem in his undersea city. He plans to eventually emerge from his Atlantis and take over the earth after he has brought everyone to their knees by using his ingenious machine which causes the earth to shudder under these various natural disasters.
The whole story evolves into a "sci-fi undersea western" of sorts, complete with horses, chariots, helmeted warriors, rockets, and very cool robots ("Volkites," who gad about with ray guns in a speedy Juggernaut), once Corrigan gets to the scene of the action via submarine. There is a "good faction," the nemesis of Unga Kahn, in the undersea civilization and Corrigan teams up with this group in an effort to overcome the sinister tyrant. Two featured stars whom viewers may connect with include Monte Blue (Unga Kahn) and Lon Chaney, Jr. (as Kahn's minion).
This fine old Republic serial (1936) was originally marketed in two separate volumes (still available), each in its own packaging. Here, you get both discs in one package. The film runs for a total of 230 minutes over 12 chapters.
Of course this one is shot in black-and-white and the aspect is full screen. Yes, it's campy and ludicrous, but I love it!
My highest recommendation to appropriate viewers. |
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| "Crash cheats!" | 2006-01-16 |
| - Reviewed By Great Scott from Tampa, FL, USA |
I almost gave up on this serial in the first chapter. I thought an undersea kingdom where they're obviously running around under a clear blue sky was ludicrous. But then I realized that Republic almost never produced a really bad serial, and found people saying some good things about it, so I gave it another shot. I decided to take it at face value and treat it like any other science fiction (such as "Flash Gordon"), and it became palatable. I guess Universal's production values in 1936 weren't too good.
Crash Corrigan (1902-1976) was originally a movie stunt man, doubling for Johnny Weissmuller in the "Tarzan" films. Republic gave him the name "Crash" (note the similarity to "Flash.") He became best known for Republic's "Three Mesquiteers" series of Westerns and Monogram's "Range Busters." Crash Corrigan was the first star to appear on a Wheaties box!
Chapter Eight contains probably the biggest cheat in the history of serials. Corrigan is tied onto the Juggernaut, a vehicle that looks like a tank, and goes crashing through closed gates, wood splintering and flying everywhere, no possibility the hero could live through it. In Chapter Nine the resolution is that someone actually opened the gate just before the vehicle would have crashed it!
Monte Blue, a veteran character actor, is fine as the evil dictator Unga Khan (I'm surprised they didn't go all out and call him Unga Bunga). William Farnum, another familiar bad guy, is the high priest Sharad. Montague Shaw, who seems to appear in every serial during this period, is Professor Norton, and Lee Van Atta his young son Billy. Smiley Burnett is there for comic relief and doesn't succeed, but fortunately he isn't around very much. Lon Chaney, Jr. played lots of small henchman parts in those days.
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| ""The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Undersea Kingdom (1936)"" | 2005-12-04 |
| - Reviewed By Mr. Jim from Missouri-USA |
VCI Entertainment and Republic Pictures present Nat Levine's "Undersea Kingdom" (1936) (Dolby digitally remastered), 12 Chapters of vintage serial loaded with action sequences featuring Crash Corrigan who can do just about everything that each episode requires...Corrigan graduated from Annapolis only to be recruited by Professor Norton to venture beneath the ocean depths with Diana a go getting reporter, Norton's son Billy and Briny Deep as the take a ride in a rocket submarine...will they locate the "Lost City of Atlantis"...can Naval Lieutenant Crash Corrigan escape the war monging Atlanteans and save Professor Norton from the spell that Unga Khan has cast upon the Professor...there is a war between Khan's Black Robe Guards and the White Robed followers of Sharad...which side will Crash choose and can he use his exceptional skills and power to defeat the evil villains in every chapter...the White Robe's need a leader, will Crash be chosen for that high office and become commander...Professor Norton is working on his priming powder that will be used to propel Unga Khan's tower to the upper world and conquer all who stand in his way...what threatening calamity awaits Crash during these 12 Republic Serial chapers or can he device a plan to turn the tables and good triumph over evil...some interesting special effects by John T. Coyle, Howard Lydecker and Theodore Lydecker, not to mention the production team of Barney A. Sarecky and Sol C. Siegel...the outlandish costumes that Crash and other cast members were wearing is by Robert Ramsey (costume designer)...the exciting original musical score by Arthur Kay, Leon Rosebrook and none other than the "Music Man" himself Meredith Wilson......don't miss any of the 12 exciting chapters.
Under director's B. Reeves Eason and Joe Kane, producer Nat Levine with original story by Tracy Knight and John Rathmell, screenplay by Oliver Drake and Maurice Geraghty ...the cast include Ray Corrigan (Crash Corrigan), Lois Wilde (Diana Compton), Monte Blue (Unga Khan), William Farnum (Sharad), Boothe Howard (Ditmar), Raymond Hatton (Gasspon), C. Montague Shaw (Prof. Norton), Lee Van Atta (Billy Norton), Smiley Burnette (Briny Deep), Lon Chaney Jr (Capt. Hakur), Lane Chandler (Darius), John Merton (Moloch), Jack Ingram (Khan's Guardsman), Eddie Parker (Khan's Guardsman), Tom Steele (Khan's Guardsman), Frankie Marvin (Salty)... Corrigan got his chance with this vehicle as his first starring role, less we forget his role as Tuscon Smith in the long running "Three Mesquiteers" B-Western series...keep your eyes peeled for Smiley "Frog Millhouse" Burnette (Gene Autry & Charles Starrett sidekick in early B-Westerns), Raymond Hatton ("Rough Riders" series and Johnny Mack Brown's old timer sidekick of B-Westerns), Lon Chaney Jr (Universal's "Wolf Man" Series), Lane Chandler (John Wayne sidekick in early B-Westerns), John Merton (clean shaven Merton is the hero in this feature, normally one of the best villains in the picture business), Jack Ingram (another great character actor and villain) and a very young John Barrymore Jr. who goes uncredited in the cast listings...Republic Pictures stuntwork is always terrific and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Beneath the Ocean Floor
2. The Undersea City
3. Arena of Death
4. Revenge of the Volkites
5. Prisoners of Atlantis
6. The Juggernaut Strikes
7. The Submarine Trap
8. Into the Metal Tower
9. Death in the Air
10.Atlantis Destroyed
11.Flaming Death
12.Ascent to the Upperworld
SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1. Ray Corrigan (aka Raymond Bernard)
Birth Date: 2/14/1907 - Milwaukee, WI
Died: 8/10/1976 - Brookings Harbor, OR
2. Lois Wilde
Birth Date: 9/20/1907 - Minnesota
Died: 2/16/1995 - Attleboro, MA
3. Joseph Kane (Director)
Birth Date: 3/19/1897 - San Diego, CA
Died: 8/25/1975 - Santa Monica, CA
4. B. Reeves "Breezy" Eason (Director)
Birth Date: 10/02/1886 - Friar Point, MS
Died: 6/09/1956 - Sherman Oaks, CA
ORIGINAL SERIAL TRAILERS:
"Undersea Kingdom" (Ray "Crash" Corrigan, Lois Wilde, Raymond Hatton, Monte Blue, Lone Chaney Jr. & Smiley Burnett)
PHOTO GALLERY:
(stills of the "Undersea Kingdom" in color and B&W - Lobby Cards)
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
4. Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
5. The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
6. Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
7. Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
8. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
9. Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
10.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)
11.Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
12.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
13.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
14.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
Own them now on DVD....if you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...if you enjoyed this serial check out another release from VCI Entertainment as they present Alex Raymond's "Jungle Jim " (1936) (digitally remastered), 12 cliffhanging chapters that will keep you on the edge of your seat... really outstanding scenes between a lion and tiger in a to the death fight...high production from Universal's serial department...each episode chuck full of scenes loaded with cliffhanger adventure...gotta love it!
Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Undersea Kingdom" (1936), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time: 226 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8378 ~ (5/25/2004) |
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Expedited Available
