Bad Guy Got His Own TV Show!

 

 (imdb)

THE ADVENTURES OF DR. FU MANCHU-This TV series was produced in the 1956 by the television branch of Republic Pictures. They paid a good deal of money for the rights but only 13 episodes were made due to legal complications that lead to courtroom litigation with Sax Rohmer's estate. I know DC comics once released a comic where The Joker was the lead character and Marvel had the title "Super Villain Team-Up" but it's weird that a guy who's called "evil incarnate" in the intro would be the titular star featuring his adventures (which actually consist of spreading death and destruction). 

To top it all off, of course, Fu was played by a white actor Glen Gordon, who appeared in numerous TV episodes and movies (mostly uncredited). English actor Lester Matthews (THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON, THE RAVEN (both 1935)) is Fu's good guy arch-nemesis Nayland Smith and familiar character Clark Howatt plays Dr. Petre. Other regulars included Laurette Luez (PREHISTORTIC WOMAN (1950), JUNGLE GENTS (1954)) as Fu's evil female assistant, Carla Balenda as good girl Betty and John George (whose career started in the silent era) a Klob, Fu's subservient toady. The episodes were directed by Franklin Adreon or William Witney. The following episodes are the only ones I've seen. 

The Golden God of Dr. Fu Manchu-The doctor tries to smuggle all the gold coming into Macau. Keye Luke, Jean Willes and Rick Vallin guest star. (Episode 2)

The Vengeance of Dr. Fu Manchu-Fu tries to get a monopoly in chemicals used in munitions to use against his enemies. Philip Van Zant is his lackey. (Episode 4)

Dr. Fu Manchu's Raid-The evil one tries to create a worldwide panic so he can control the US stock market. Mel Welles plays Fu's obedient henchman. (Episode 8)

The Death Ships of Dr. Fu Manchu-This time the nefarious Fu tries to use germ warfare to start a war between China and the US. (Episode 9)

The Master Plan of Dr. Fu Manchu-Fu teams up with the still alive Hitler and has a famous plastic surgeon change his face. They plan to destroy all the US atom bombs and conquer the world. Steven Geray plays the other evil guy. (Episode 11)

The Satellites of Dr. Fu Manchu-The insidious one kidnaps 4 scientists including Petrie. He seems to have his eyes on space. Smith traps Fu but to save Petrie and the others, has to let him go. Otto Waldis plays a scientist. (Episode 12)

The Assassins of Dr. Fu Manchu-The devilish doctor tries to sabotage the group working on a secret jet fighter. Also thrown in is Fu's adopted son George, who is being trained to follow in his "father's" footsteps. Michael Whalen, John Eldredge, Frank Wilcox and Henry B. Thomas are in it. (Episode 13-last of the series)

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Vampire in Africa

 

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THE VAMPIRE'S GHOST-1945-In deepest Africa, the natives are restless and practicing voodoo (?). On a plantation owned by Mr. Vance (Emmett Vogan), he, his daughter Julie (Peggy Stewart) and her husband Roy (Charles Gordon) seek the advice of local white guy Webb Fallon (John Abbott), who saves Roy during a bar brawl. Fallon seems nice enough but suffers a spell when Father Gilchrist (Grant Withers) touches him. He also casts no reflection in the mirror and when shot at, the bullet goes right through him. 

The natives don't like it because there have been several "vampire killings" around the village. Two natives plan on killing Fallon and fail but Roy learns Fallon's secret! He's a 400-year-old vampire who drinks blood and preys on young people. He puts a spell on Roy and makes him his slave and sets his sights on Julie much to the annoyance of Lisa (Adele Mara), a dancer at the local gin mill. After killing her and a sea captain (Roy Barcroft), Fallon plans to run away with Julie. At the temple of death, he plans to make her un-dead but jungle drums, a cross and a spear spell his doom. 

Quirky horror quickie from Republic directed by Lesley Selander, usually more at home with westerns, who also later directed CATMAN OF PARIS (1946) and FLIGHT TO MARS (1951). Olympic medal winner Jim Thorpe appears unbilled as a sailor. 

Star Abbott, usually a memorable supporting actor, was also in the Sherlock Holmes entry PURSUIT TO ALGEIRS the same year. Co-star Grant Withers had been Captain Street in the "Mr. Wong" series with Boris Karloff. I couldn't find a death date for lead actor Charles Gordon. If he's still alive he would be 99 at the of this writing. 

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The Old West

 

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RAIDERS OF OLD CALIFORNIA-1957-Low budget Republic western about unscrupulous ranchers pushing Mexicans off their own land. Capt. McCain (Jim Davis) is their leader and his gang includes Ric Vallin, Lee Van Cleef and Marty Robbins! When a circuit judge (Louis Jean Heydt) and a marshal (singer Faron Young) investigate, McCain uses intimidation and violence to get his way. He also kills his ex-partner Lt. Johnson (Harry Lauter). 

McCain searches for Sebastian (Lawrence Dobkin), a Mexican who supposedly granted McCain his land and has to fight savage Indians. In a shootout of the country-western singers Young beats Robbins. Douglas Fowley is a semi-comical old sheriff. A flashback filled trial and a stampede cap the finale in which McCain is killed by his own cattle. Gerald Mohr is the narrator. 

Director Albert C. Gannaway also made DANIEL BOONE, TRAILBLAZER which also featured Faron Young.

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Vampire?

THE VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES-1946-Dopey Dr. Evans (Robert Livingston) romances nurse Susan Drake (Adrian Booth aka Lorna Gray) . Their boss Dr. Maynard (Charles Trowbridge) tells them blood is missing from their supply. Later that night Maynard is visited by an ex-patient Oraman Merks (Ian Keith) who says he takes some kind of voodoo drug that brought him back from the dead and now he needs blood to survive. He kills the doctor. Then we learn that Maynard's chemist (Earle Hodges) is Merks' brother who'd been stealing the blood. Merks kills him too and embalms both bodies. Detective Blair is sure Evans and Susan are the killers. The pair go to the old Merks home and discover Merks' coffin empty. Eventually Merks kidnaps Sarah making her his hypnotized slave. Just when it looks like Sarah will kill Evans, Blair shoots Merks and he falls to his death. 

This crazy little Republic studios short film (57 minutes) directed by Phillip Ford doesn't make much sense. Ian Keith was one of the handful of actors considered for the title role in the original DRACULA before Lugosi.

Oh yeah...and no zombies!

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Clyde Of The Jungle

THE LOST JUNGLE-1934-Lion tamer Clyde Beatty has problems with a new lion and his girlfriend Ruth (Cecilia Parker) who leaves him to go to South America with her father Capt. Robinson (Edward LeSaint) who's taking Professor Livingston to look for a lost civilization called Kenmor. He also has an assistant Sharkey (Warner Richman) who tries to sabotage his efforts. Later Clyde previews his newest act, mixed animals all in one cage for his boss and manager Larry (Syd Saylor)). 

Three months later his new act is a huge hit but he's not happy having never heard from Ruth. And with good reason the ship she was on got wrecked on a jungle island! They send an SOS by carrier pigeon and Clyde joins the dirigible rescue party that's going after them but it crashes leaving only Beatty and Larry alive. Although the no good Sharkey parachuted out before the crash. He stumbles upon the entrance to the lost city. We know this because the title “The lost city of Kenmor” pops up on the screen! 

Sharkey finds the dying professor (Cauford Kent) who mentions finding a treasure which excites his greed. Clyde arrives in time to save Ruth from a lion attack but their tender reunion is short lived as Clyde botches his reasons for coming to Kenmor. Meanwhile the crew lead by first mate Kirby (Wheeler Oakman) want to mutiny against Capt. Robinson who won't leave till he hears from the professor. Despite their predicament, Clyde seems intent on bringing back a man eating tiger. The uppity crew gains new respect for their predicament when thye see Clyde capture the tiger. They all agree to go look for the professor. Sharkey just happens to be outside the fence and hears the plan. He lets the tiger loose. Clyde winds up in a pit with the tiger who he somehow puts to sleep and Larry saves him. Then the lion invades the camp and kills Sharkey. After Clyde hog ties the lion, Livingston's map is found. Finally Clyde picks Ruth over wild beasts. 

This is the movie version of a 12 part Republic serial.

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The Alamo

THE LAST COMMAND-1955-Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden) arrives in the Texas/Mexican territory just in time for an uprising of Texicans against Mexico. William Travis (Richard Carlson) tries to convince a committee to resist Mexico's iron fist. When Santa Ana (J. Carroll Nash) rejects the Texicans demands Austin (Otto Kurger) decides it's time to take up arms against them. But when his wife and kid die Bowie becomes a wanderer. Later he and his small group (including Jim Davis and Slim Pickens) decide to fight. Ernest Borgnine is a tough guy named Mike who has a knife fight with Bowie at the beginning of the story and later they become friends. Edward Franz (THE FOUR SKULLS OF JONATHAN DRAKE) is the Mexican representative living with The Texicans. Anna Maria Albergetti (an actress I only remember for doing salad dressing TV commercials in the late '60's)is the senorita love interest who comes between Bowie and Travis. Things really get rowdy when Davey Crockett (Arthur Hunnicutt) shows up. Great battle finale at The Alamo. I won't reveal what happens...

Roy Roberts, Virginia Grey, John Russell and Morris Ankrum also have roles.

THE LAST COMMAND was once of the most expensive pictures ever produced by the low budget Republic Pictures studio. It was suppose to star John Wayne as Bowie but he also wanted to direct it. However when the studio hired the workman like Frank Lloyd (IF I WERE KING, BLOOD ON THE SUN) instead Wayne bolted. He'd get his chance to star in and direct his own version several years later with THE ALAMO (some argue THE LAST COMMAND is more historically accurate).

This version has lots going for it. Action, a strong cast and good direction.

Here's Lorne Greene's version of the historical battle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZu5T1VbVs

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Early Wilder

Mr. Fowley

YANKEE FAKIR-1947- Long before he became the notorious “auteur” of KILLERS FROM SPACE and other dreck director W. Lee Wilder made this funny western for Republic Pictures about two traveling salesmen (Douglas Fowley and Ransom Sherman). It was his second film.

When a border patrol sheriff is murdered, the duo are suspected and thrown in jail. They manage to get out and investigate. They concoct a scheme to catch the real killer involving an old prospector (Chem Bevins) posing as a millionaire and offering $50,000 to the person who can expose the worse character in town.

Joan Woodbury (the mini-bride of Henry VIII in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) is the victim’s daughter who runs the local boarding house.

Frank Reicher is a bank manager. Marc Lawrence (who was in Cecil B. DeMille’s UNCONQUERED with Gary Cooper & Boris Karloff the same year) runs the local saloon and reports to a mysterious, unseen boss. Also with little Tommy Bernard.

Fowley was the father of “Nutrocker” composer Kim Fowley! He was in SCARED TO DEATH (with Lugosi) the same year and had roles in many later movies like MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949), CAT-WOMEN OF THE MOON (1953) & THE NAKED JUNGLE (1954) and TV too. He produced and directed the voodoo tinged MACUMBA LOVE in 1960.

Reicher of course was the ship captain in KING KONG (and SONG OF KING) and had directed many silent movies. His last role was in SUPERMAN VS. THE MOLE MEN (1951). He died in 1965.

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Daniel Boone Was a Man...

DANIEL BOONE TRAIL BLAZER-1956-Low budget, color western from Republic Pictures features Bruce Bennett (who was in LOVE ME TENDER the same year) as the famous "trail blazer" trying to convince The Indians (lead by Lon Chaney as Blackfish) that the white man means no harm and just wants to live in peace with them. Trouble is started by a renegade French soldier. Many settlers get scalped.

It's rather violent and graphic for the time but beware! This film includes characters singing!!! Country Western singer Faron Young co-stars. Two directors are credited. One, Ismael Rodriguez directed THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN the same year.

In fact, 1956 was a busy year for Chaney (who would co-star in the TV show LAST OF THE MOHICANS the next year). He also made THE BLACK SLEEP, MANFISH and THE INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN. Bruce Bennett, a silver medal winner in the 1928 Olympics, was once known as Herman Brix and played the lead role in the Edgar Rice Bourroughs backed THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN. He and Chaney would meet again in THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE in '59.

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The Fur Flies

WHO KILLED DOC ROBBIN?-(1948)-This is a Technicolor haunted house mystery produced by Hal Roach and starring a bunch of "Little Rascals" wannabes. There's a freckled face coward, a smart guy, the tough leader, 2 girls and two younger black kids "affectionally" called Dis & Dat which takes ethnic stereotyping to new heights (or depths). "The Gang" spends a lot of time in the haunted home of a dead scientist, where they are terrorized by an ape (guy in a costume ), trap doors and other nonsense. In a flashback we learn "Doc" is a suspicious doctor (George Zucco) who wants the invention of an old man who is a friend of the brats. Although it is dated 1948 some "war time" references to Japan seem to say it might have been made earlier.

If you want to see low budget color mysteries watch SCARED TO DEATH instead. Not only does it have Zucco but it's Bela Lugosi's only color film...and it's narrated by a dead woman!!!!

CATMAN OF PARIS-(1946)-Republic Studios was best known for their low budget westerns and serials but occasionally ventured into adventure, action or like this entry, horror.

Carl Esmond (a US actor born in Austria who had a short Hollywood career) plays author Charles Rene who may turn into a catman due to a bout with tropical fever. Douglas Dumbrille plays his friend. Lenore Aubert (later in ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN) is his fiance'. He has bouts of amnesia and can't remember where he was when a murder occurs (so you know right away he ain't the killer!).

He has a wild fight in a cafe with four guys (including Anthony Caruso and John Dehner). It turns out that the cat like creature appears every once in the while when the planets are aligned a certain way. Massacre of Christians, Middle East wars and the victims of Ivan The Terrible are all blamed on him! The wild police team of Gerald Mohr and Fritz Feld try to figure it all out.

A creature does show up at the end ("It really is a catman" declares Mohr) with furry face, fangs and pointy finger nails. Everyone has terrible French accents. Director Lesley Selander was an assistant director from 1925 to 1936 before he directed his first film. He made over 130 movies until his retirement in 1968. Star Esmond was later in low budget stuff like FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON and AGENT OF H.A.R.M. Douglas Dumbrille usually played villains or corrupt officials several times against The Marx Bros. and Abbott & Costello. Gerald Mohr was an actor and narrator who voiced "Reed Richards" in the first FANTASTIC FOUR cartoon show in the '60's.

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