Customer Reviews

Spy Smasher [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Years after I saw the "Spy Smasher" video, I found a reprint of one of the comic books that inspired it. To my surprise, the comic wasn't that good. Republic improved the character vastly, even giving us two heroes for one (Kane Richmond, an earlier hero of one of the worst serials ever made, "The Lost City," redeems himself playing twins in what is arguably the best serial of all time). Direction by that unsung titan of action film, William Witney, and spectacular stunts by the likes of David Sharpe and Tom Steele don't hurt, either.

This must have the most exciting first chapter of all time. It doesn't waste time with exposition but gets right into the action with two or three jaw-droppers right off the bat. And it never lets up in a single chapter. William Witney, easily the all-time best serial director, really outdoes himself here, even without his long-time associate Jack English. Maybe this was his going-away present to serial fans as he had enlisted in the Navy and was waiting to be called up, or maybe he was getting his licks in on the Germans before he left. He lets it all hang out here, that's for sure. As soon as we think we know where he's headed, we don't. He eschews cliches and constantly surprises us. When we think a cliffhanger is imminent, it isn't. And the cliffhangers are just terrific. The fire chasing Spy Smasher as he races through the tunnel on a hand-car at the end of Chapter One is a classic, as is the way he deals with it. And Chapter Two. And Chapter Three. I could go on. They're imaginative and clever, and they leave you truly wondering how in the world he's going to get out of this one.

"Spy Smasher" was yet another comic book hero brought to life in the serials. Republic didn't pay the big bucks necessary to obtain the rights to the most popular ones, so it didn't get the big names like "Superman," "Batman," et al; it just did a much better job with the ones it did bring to the screen than Universal or Columbia did. This has great camera work by Witney's long-time cinematographer Reggie Lanning, and Mort Glickman's music is also terrific, including his lively treatment of Beethoven's Fifth (which was the musical symbol for Allied victory in WWII) at the beginning and end of each chapter. Howard Lydecker is better than ever with his special effects miniaturization. As usual Witney has Davy Sharpe doing the brunt of the stunt work, and Davy is elegant in the fight scenes with his flying leaps and efficient dispatching of the enemy. His athleticism is amazing to watch. The fight in the wine cellar at the Acme Cafe at the end of the first chapter is a wonderful portent of things to come, such as Chapter Eight where he takes on four opponents in a warehouse and bests them all through sheer cleverness.

Kane Richmond has the ironic distinction of having starred in the best (this one) and worst ("The Lost City," 1935) serials of all time. He's just about perfect here in the dual role of Allen Armstrong, the dashing, cape-clad Spy Smasher, and his twin brother Jack (another irony, as "Jack Armstrong" was mediocre at best), and manages to give each brother a slightly different air. Richmond starred in many B-movies in the 1930's and 40's, including several "Green Hornet" films (but not the serial). He retired from acting in 1948, then went on to make a fortune in the fashion business.

Marguerite Chapman (1918-1999) was a discovery of Howard Hughes. As a younger variation of the boozy broad character usually portrayed by Claire Trevor, she worked steadily at 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, and especially Columbia. She popped up all over the place in the first decade of television, and for her TV work she is recognized in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sam Flint played lots of doctors and fatherly types in his career, and he's very good as the heroine's father, Admiral Corby. Hans Schumann, born in Stuttgart, was in great demand during the War for his German accent and fierce looks, and he's a fine villain as The Mask. Tristram Coffin as Drake, a TV broadcaster (yes, TV in 1942!) who's actually one of the spies, adds to his long career in which he appeared in hundreds of movies (including "Nyoka and the Tigermen.") All three were excellent character actors for many years, and are used to good advantage here.

A couple of other things to look for: Notice how clevery Witney has a double fill in for one of the brothers when both are in the same scene, so that each one looks exactly like Kane Richmond, never more effectively than in Chapter 9 when they're riding on a motorcycle together. Also in Chapter 9, look for the fake billboard that advertises another of Witney's serials, "Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc."!

If this isn't the best serial ever made, I don't know what is. Everything comes together to make one terrific serial that even manages a message beyond simply good versus evil: Self-sacrifice for a higher cause.

The number one serial from Republic the best serial maker of them all. In 1942 I saw the chapter that Spy Smasher is about to be torpedoed and guess what: the dictator of Brazil, my country, prohibited admission for children in the movie theatres and I waited up to 1951 to review it. In 1966 I rented it from MGM in 16 mm but shortly after they expired the licence and destroyed the copy. Kane Richmond is the best good guy ever.As bad guy I elect Anthony Warde and as bad girl Carol Forman, good girl is Kay Aldrich and the four best serials are: 1-Spy Smasher, 2-The adventures of Captain Marvel, 3-Perils of Nyoka,4- The Black Widow. Please open a new site only for serials lovers at amazon.com.

Republic Pictures had a good reputation for movie serials and Spy Smasher is one of the reasons why. The pacing is fast and furious and the production quality is as good as it gets. The stunts are effective and there's plenty of outdoor shots. If you like movie serials,I recommend Spy Smasher as one of the best for its well executed non-stop action.

Okay, CITIZEN KANE this is not, but among serials, THE SPY SMASHER deserves its five3-star rating. It is arguably the very best of the serial adventures. Kane Richmond is very good in the role of twin brothers, and the Second World War backdrop is effective. I first saw this cut and re-patched as THE SPY SMASHER RETURNS on TV in New York when I was a kid. I loved it then, but this version is much better. It keeps the original serial format, and its production values (again, for a serial) are quite good. The Mask is a bit of an inconsistent villain, but Nazis make great bad guys. The fight scenes are terrific (not only for serials, but for all films of this era). Wonderful choreography and very exciting. It will definitely bring out the excited little kid in you.

I agree with the previous reviewer: the greatest serial ever made! I was 6 or 7 when I first saw it, in a small town outside Buenos Aires, in 1943 or 1944 while Europe was being demolished during WWII.

Every Tuesday my "gang" made up of rascals of my age, ran back from school to the small theater around the corner were we paid 10 cents to see the next chapter.We were not afraid of going without our parents; no child molesters in those times. The 'gang' itself was a very pacific bunch.

We roared every time Spy Smasher won over the spies, and went home happy but anxious to see the following week how the hero would escape the flames.

The outfit the reviewer from South Bend found hillarious, we at 'the gang' found AWESOME!! This was for us "the greatest movie ever". I kept it all these years in that fantasy corner that all we adults keep hidden in our busy brains.

I am now 62, and I have seen most of the great masterpieces, from "Gold Rush" and "City Lights" to "La vita e bella"; but I never forgot Spy Smasher (in Spanish:"El Terror de los Espias"). I recently found it at Amazon, bought it, and finally, after 57 years,saw it again. Believe me: it was a rejuvenating experience, a wonderful trip down memory lane, and with all respect due to the genius of George Lucas, I would never trade "Spy Smasher" for all the computerized "Star Wars" in the world...

The old-time movie serials should never be judged by the same criteria of other films, even those made at the same time period. The serials were invariably outrageous, over-the-top, often ridiculous. But unlike Adam West's `Batman' the serials were never self-conscious or deliberately campy. Although many serials featured a mildly humorous characters such as Jimmy Olsen or Whitey Whitney to provide occasional comic relief, on the whole, the actors and directors played everything straight and extremely earnest, no matter how absurd the situation or the scene. They did their best at every test.

The old movie serials were made with practically zero budget and at a forced-march pace, shooting in two days what would take 6 months under modern conditions. Those factors, combined with the primitive special effects then available and outdated cinematic conventions, give movie serials a look and feel unlike anything made in the last 52 years.

The final thing a modern person should know before watching an old serial is that 1940's movies had a more realistic vision of the male body than modern Hollywood. The men of this era had survived the depression (and later, WWII). When they were hungry, they ate meat and potatoes. The tough guys of this period lifted barbells and did push-ups, but they didn't have Soloflex, Nautilus, implants or steroids. Think about the last time you went to the beach: how many real world guys were built like Daniel Craig?

In summary, it is best to watch the old serials from the perspective that you are looking at some kind of alternate reality, so as to suspend some of the prejudices of the modern cinema. Or perhaps as though one were a tourist in a foreign country: rather than seeing the differences as bizarre or deficient, but instead as being novel, interesting, and sometimes wondrous.

I have seen about 11 serials in my life, and `Spy Smasher' is hands-down the best. Kane Richmond made an excellent hero and pulled off the double (or is it triple?) role very nicely. The action is well-paced, the special effects and sets, are, by serial standards, excellent. The fight scenes, cliff-hangers, and escapes are all the absolute best I have seen in any serial. The creativity and ingenuity used to choreograph the fight scenes are truly wondrous. If you are familiar with the `Indiana Jones' films, you can literally see numerous instances where Spielberg borrowed and extrapolated from Spy Smasher.

And although the fight scenes are masterfully choreographed and have great stunt-work, they are much more plausible (therefore more interesting) than the kind of CGI/steroid-assisted stuff you see in modern action movie, in which human beings no longer seem bound by any biological or physical limits, being instead endowed with the powers of a video game.

There are a number of dramatic surprises as well, including some understatedly somber moments. Without spoiling too much, I will say that mortality is a factor.

The opening credits to each chapter, which feature the Morse Code signal for Victory, the opening notes of Beethoven's 5th, and an image of searchlights crossing the sky, accurately evoke the Churchill/Roosevelt mentality of the dark early days of WWII, the summoning up of righteous courage. This undercurrent of the real war, the outcome of which could not yet be known, gives Spy Smasher a resonance not found in other serials. But despite the influence of the historical moment, Spy Smasher is still predominately an escapist joy ride. Which is a good thing.

Republic Pictures present "SPY SMASHER" (1942) (215 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- is a 12-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Kane Richmond as Spy Smasher, Marguerite Chapman as Eve Corby, Sam Flint as Adm Corby, Hans Schumm as The Mask, 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 12 episodes the Republic Serials department, story line has Kane Richmond, aka Spy Smasher, battling "The Mask" a Nazi villain who is the leader of an international gang of saboteurs spreading destruction on American soil..

Under William Witney (Director), William J. O'Sullivan (Associate Producer), Ronald Davidson (Screenwriter), Norman S. Hall (Screenwriter), William Lively (Screenwriter), Joseph O'Donnell (Screenwriter), Joseph F. Poland (Screenwriter), Mort Glickman (Original Score), Reggie Lanning (Cinematographer), Tony Martinelli (Editor), Edward Todd (Editor), John Victor Mackay (Art Director), Morris Braun (Set Decorator) Bob Mark (Makeup), Howard Lydecker (Special Effects), Theodore Lydecker (Special Effects) ------ the cast includes Kane Richmond (Alan Armstrong (Spy Smasher)/Jack Armstrong ), Marguerite Chapman (Eve Corby), Sam Flint (Adm. Corby), Hans Schumm (The Mask), Tristram Coffin (Drake), Franco Corsaro (Capt. Pierre Durand), Hans von Morhart (Capt. Gerhardt), Georges Renavent (Gov. LeComte), Rudolph Anders (Dungeon Col. Von Kohr), Henry Zynda (Lazar), Paul Bryar (Lawlor), Tom London (Crane), Richard Bond (Henchman Hayes), Crane Whitley (Hauser), John James (Henchman Steve), Yakima Canutt (Armored Car Driver), John Daheim (Clayworks Thug ), James Fawcett (Thug), William Forrest (Gerald Douglas), George J. Lewis (Stuart, Warehouse Spy), Carey Loftin (Launch Heavy), Loren Riebe (Pipeworks Thug), Buddy Roosevelt (Lieutenant), David Sharpe (Warehouse Sniper), Tom Steele (Clayworks Thug), Duke Taylor (First Sentry at HQ), Ken Terrell (Second HQ Sentry), Robert J. Wilke (Chief Government Agent), Bud Wolfe (Craig, Second Warehouse Cop) ------ the serial Spy Smasher is in the top five of the best ever released and Republic Pictures gets the credit ... taken from Whiz Comics who gave us Captain Marvel, Spy Smasher is flesh and blood with no super powers and is action packed with adventure that is non stop with cliffhangers galore ... Kane Richmond as Spy Smasher is perfect playing dual roles as his twin brother Jack, with beautiful Marguerite Chapman and another serial favorite Tristram Coffin as Drake ... together they battle the evil and treacherous villain known only as "The Mask", who as a German agent is spreading havoc and corruption throughout the United States ... great fight scenes by the Republic stunt personnel Carey Loftin (stunt double: Kane Richmond), David Sharpe (stunt double: Kane Richmond), Ken Terrell (stunt double: Crane Whitley), Bud Wolfe (stunt double: Richard Bond), Yakima Canutt (stunts), John Daheim (stunt double), James Fawcett (stunts), Loren Riebe (stunts), Duke Taylor (stunts) ... will Kane Richmond save the world and prevail once again, certainly a cliffhanger if ever I saw one ... the suspense is riveting inclusive with exciting scenes as everyone is having fun with this classic ... don't leave the theater until the final chapter "V..." ... another winner from the vaults of Republic Serials --- this is a must watch for the serial buffs in all of us.

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. America Beware
2. Human Target
3. Iron Coffin
4. Stratosphere Invaiders
5. Descending Doom
6. The Invisible Witness
7. Secret Weapon
8. Sea Raiders
9. Highway Racketeers
10.2700(Degree) Fahrenheit
11.Hero's Death
12.V...

BIOS:
1. Kane Richmond (aka: Fred Bowditch)
Date of birth: 23 December 1906 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of death: 22 March 1973 - Corona Del Mar, California

Special Footnote, Kane Richmond an American actor began as a supporting player during the 30's and 40's in standard Hollywood films and rugged star of "B" adventure two-reelers, features and cliff-hanger serials... "The Lost City" (1934), "The Adventures of Rex and Rinty" (1935), "Charlie Chan in Panama" (1940), "Spy Smasher" (1942), "Haunted Harbor" (1944), "The Shadow Returns" (1946), "Behind the Mask" (The Shadow) (1946), "The Missing Lady" (The Shadow) (1946) ... many fans of the chapter-play genre consider Richmond's dual role in Spy Smasher (1942) as his best work.

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.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.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) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") 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: 215 min on VHS ~ Republic Video ~ (5/30/1995)

Trust the reviews as I did and you will be rewarded with easily the best serial made. While the general story line borders on standard, the photography, direction, acting, locations,unique cliff hanging situations, and above all, the action scenes and oh those stunts are superior. I often found myself rewinding and going into slow motion just to marvel at the reality of the leaps, jumps, and bumps. Great fun and entertainment!

The Fawcett Comics wartime hero comes alive in this landmark Republic serial. From a technical standpoint, "Spy Smasher" (1942) remains the greatest chapterplay of all time. Propelled by William Witney's vigorous direction, the 12-episode tour de force showcases impressive stunt work from Dave Sharpe, the Lydecker Brothers' masterful special effects, and Mort Glickman's rousing score. Kane Richmond delivers the performance of his career in the title role (he also plays the crime fighter's twin brother), with Tristram Coffin supplying traditional villainy. Decades later, the cliffhanging scenarios in "Spy Smasher" are a pleasure to behold. Republic's thrill-a-minute classic deserves a legitimate DVD release.