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The Phantom Empire (1935 serial)

 
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Bud Brewster
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 4:45 pm    Post subject: The Phantom Empire (1935 serial) Reply with quote



I enjoyed Gene Autry on television in the early 1950s, but this 1930s serial sounds like more fun than it really is. I've seen parts of it, and it certainly doesn't measure up to serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. Sad

The worst thing about it is that the scenes of the so-called "underground" civilization were filmed in open country, with no attempt by the filmmakers to explain why the "caverns" it supposedly took place in had open skies above! Rolling Eyes

Here's IMDB's summary of this serial.
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When the ancient continent of Mu sank beneath the ocean, some of its inhabitant survived in caverns beneath the sea. Cowboy singer Gene Autry stumbles upon the civilization, now buried beneath his own Radio Ranch.

The Muranians have developed technology and weaponry such as television and ray guns. Their rich supply of radium draws unscrupulous speculators from the surface. The peaceful civilization of the Muranians is corrupted by the greed from above, and it becomes Autry's task to prevent all-out war, ideally without disrupting his regular radio show.

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Obviously the makers of cheap serials like this one had a low opinion of their audiences' intelligence. Sad



___________ The Phantom Empire - Chapter 01


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:00 am; edited 2 times in total
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Gord Green
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Joined: 06 Oct 2014
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As imperfect as this serial is to contemporary viewers it was a bold attempt to combine the Western genre with a Science Fiction one. Coming in 1935 it preceeded the genre by a few months.

The Phantom Empire with Gene Autry (1935)

Undersea Kingdom with Ray Corrigan (1936)

Flash Gordon (Universal, 1936)

Buck Rogers (Universal, 1939)

The closest to it was UNDERSEA KINGDOM which followed on it's heels to combine the "Navy" heroes with the sci-fi lost world genre.

Don't be so hard on the producers of PE...It was basicly a western with ray guns in place of six shooters...and, who knows...maybe there's enough atmosphere in those Lemurian caves to have visable clouds!

Besides...You're supposed to be a 10 year old with your nickle bag of popcorn with your nickle plated six shot cap gun screaming at the silver screen while Gene and the boys are doing their best to beat the crap out of the bad guys!

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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gord Green wrote:
. . .you're supposed to be a 10 year old with your nickle bag of popcorn with your nickle plated six shot cap gun screaming at the silver screen while Gene and the boys are doing their best to beat the crap out of the bad guys!

Gord, you're absolutely right. Criticizing serials like this one because they don't impress me now — an old man living in the 21st century — is like wondering why I was so excited about getting a brand new bike on Christmas morning in 1955!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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