Tag: Columbia Pictures

Aug112012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “The Doom of the Rising Sun” (Batman 1943, Chapter 15)

Saturday Serials: “The Doom of the Rising Sun” (Batman 1943, Chapter 15)

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This is it! This is the final thrilling chapter in the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman serial film. At last, all of our perseverance and dedication will be paid off, for surely Batman and Robin will triumph over the evil Japanese would-be saboteur Dr. Daka and his sinister henchmen. Right? Yes, of course. Don't be silly. But first the Caped Crusader must escape imprisonment in his wooden coffin. Looks like it'll be up to the Boy Wonder to save the day! But not before Batman can spew a little period racism... I like how Batman immediately tries to un-zombify Linda Page, without first testing the device on someone less, uh, necessary. Anyway, stay tuned to this column for another exciting vintage serial! As soon as  I figure out which one to do next...
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Aug42012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “The Executioner Strikes” (Batman 1943, Chapter 14)

Saturday Serials: “The Executioner Strikes” (Batman 1943, Chapter 14)

Movies
And so we've arrived at the penultimate chapter of the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman serial film. In the last chapter, the lovely Linda Page -- Bruce Wayne's fiancée -- was turned into one of Dr. Daka's mindless zombie slaves, and Batman found himself in a classic Looney Tunes trap: the wall of spikes. Boy, if I had a nickel for every time that happened to me! Only the fortuitous arrival of Robin saves the Caped Crusader from becoming a shish kebat. But will the duo finally be able to thwart Daka once and for all? My guess is no, since there's still one more chapter left, but I've been wrong before. Maybe the last part is just 15 minutes of Bruce and Dick Grayson gloating over Daka's corpse or something. Related articles Saturday Serials: "Eight Steps Down" (Batman 1943, Ch
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Jul282012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “Eight Steps Down” (Batman 1943, Chapter 13)

Saturday Serials: “Eight Steps Down” (Batman 1943, Chapter 13)

Movies
And just like that, it's Saturday again, which can mean only one thing -- it's time for another edition of Saturday Serials, currently showing the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman feature starring Lewis Wilson as the Caped Crusader. Today we look at the thirteenth chapter in our saga, "Eight Steps Down." After completely failing to rescue Linda Page in the last chapter, Batman does some legit detective work to track her down. I love the quaintness of Batman having to stop by a call box on the street to talk to the police. Ah, simpler days. We also get a lesson in etiquette, as Daka informs Linda that you should address people from Japan as "Nipponese" and not "Jap." So what does that "Eight Steps Down" mean anyway? Well I'm not sure, even after watching this. But I can say that the c...
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Jul212012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “Embers of Evil” (Batman 1943, Chapter 12)

Saturday Serials: “Embers of Evil” (Batman 1943, Chapter 12)

Movies
We're so close! After this week, there are only three chapters left in the 1943 Batman serial film! Sadly, Daka's henchmen still haven't figured out that blowing up a building is a less than effective way to kill Batman and Robin. That's lucky for us I suppose, since otherwise this series would've ended weeks ago. One of the shortcomings of the serial format is fairly clear to me now. There really are only so many ways to end each segment with a cliffhanger putting the hero's life in danger. This is at least the second or third time Batman's been trapped in a burning building or wreck in this series. It does start to feel worn out at a certain point. I don't know, maybe it felt fresher 70 years ago. Related articles Saturday Serials: "A Nipponese Trap" (Batman 1943, Chapter
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Jul142012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “A Nipponese Trap” (Batman 1943, Chapter 11)

Saturday Serials: “A Nipponese Trap” (Batman 1943, Chapter 11)

Movies
And just like that, we've come upon the eleventh thrilling chapter in the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman serial, starring Lewis Wilson as the Caped Crusader and Douglas Croft as Robin the Boy Wonder. Will this be the week that the Dynamic Duo finally put a stop to the evil plans of Dr. Daka? Well no, actually. But you knew that, as we still have four more chapters to go. Related articles Saturday Serials: "The Bat's Cave" (Batman, 1943)(grayflannelsuit.net) Saturday Serials: "Lured by Radium" (Batman 1943, Chapter 8)(grayflannelsuit.net) Saturday Serials: "The Phoney Doctor" (Batman 1943, Chapter 7)(grayflannelsuit.net)
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Jul72012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “Flying Spies” (Batman 1943, Chapter 10)

Saturday Serials: “Flying Spies” (Batman 1943, Chapter 10)

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With this, the tenth pulse-pounding entry in the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman serial, we're two-thirds through the saga. And once again, that kooky Daka just can't wait to get his mitts on some radium. So let's not waste a minute more, for action awaits! Related articles Saturday Serials: "The Bat's Cave" (Batman, 1943) (grayflannelsuit.net) Saturday Serials: "The Phoney Doctor" (Batman 1943, Chapter 7) (grayflannelsuit.net) Saturday Serials: "Lured by Radium" (Batman 1943, Chapter 8) (grayflannelsuit.net)
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Jun232012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “Lured by Radium” (Batman 1943, Chapter 8)

Saturday Serials: “Lured by Radium” (Batman 1943, Chapter 8)

Movies
According to my calculations we've now passed the midway point on our journey through 1943's Batman serial. It's been a wild ride so far, hasn't it? Well, no, it hasn't really. But it has been a fascinating glimpse into a part of Batman history many fans don't even know about. So anyway, chapter 8 is here and it's called "Lured by Radium." If you've been watching up until now you know that radium is a key element in Dr. Daka's quest to pave the way for a Japanese conquest of America in World War II. But every time he gets close, the Caped Crusader gets in his way once again. Well that and colossal ineptitude. How else to explain the wise decision to send men wearing nothing but suits into a mine to gather a radioactive element? For the answer to this, and some other excellent decis...
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Jun162012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Saturday Serials: “The Phoney Doctor” (Batman 1943, Chapter 7)

Saturday Serials: “The Phoney Doctor” (Batman 1943, Chapter 7)

Movies
Just when you thought your heart couldn't take one minute more of the 1943 Columbia Pictures Batman serial, we're back with another chapter! As we pick up the action from last week, Batman and Robin swoop in to save poor, addle-brained Alfred (William Austin), whom the Dynamic Duo bravely used as bait to lure Dr. Daka's henchmen out into the open. Fists fly and office furniture takes a beating! I love the rather casual attitude the police have toward vigilantism by private citizens. When Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson admit to personally investigating the case, they receive little more than a decidedly limp admonition from the police captain. Of note is the part of Ken Colton, played by Charles B. Middleton. Middleton enjoyed a long and productive acting career, and is especially re...
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