The Phantom Creeps (1939)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Directors:

Ford Beebe
Saul A. Goodkind

Writers:

Wyllis Cooper (story)
George H. Plympton (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 January 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

12 SPINE-SHIVERING ACTION THUNDERBOLTS! Sinister scientists...foreign spies...federal agents...and a pretty girl...crashing through amazing adventures!

Plot:

A military intelligence officer and a pretty reporter try to find a scientist whose inventions can destroy the world.

Plot Keywords:

Serial | Meteorite | Spy | Explosion | Robot

Cast

Bela Lugosi	...	Dr. Alex Zorka
Robert Kent	...	Capt. Bob West
Dorothy Arnold	...	Jean Drew
Edwin Stanley	...	Dr. Fred Mallory
Regis Toomey	...	Lt. Jim Daley
Jack C. Smith	...	Monk
Edward Van Sloan	...	Jarvis (spy chief)
Dora Clement	...	Ann Zorka [Chs. 1-2] (as Dora Clemant)
Anthony Averill	...	Rankin (henchman)
Hugh Huntley	...	Perkins (Mallory's lab assistant)
Monte Vandergrift	...	Henchman
Frank Mayo	...	AMI chief [Ch. 12]
Jim Farley	...	Harbornaster [Ch. 7] (as James Farley)
Eddie Acuff	...	Mac (AMI agent)
Reed Howes	...	Airplane mechanic [Ch. 9, 12]

Also Known As:

The Shadow Creeps

Runtime:

265 min (12 episodes) | USA:78 min (edited feature film version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5324-5335)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

A robot similar to the one in this film was later used by Rob Zombie in his "Hellbilly Delux" album cover art.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase the reporter is shown driving on the right side of the car, although before and after the chase plus in overhead shots she is show correctly on the left side.

Quotes:

[after surviving a car crash, Zorka notices the hitch hiker they picked up, who looks like him, is dead.]
Dr. Alex Zorka: How fortunate, this will simplify everything!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Jungle Goddess (#3.3)" (1990)

Campy fun if you don't take it seriously

Classic bad over the top mess that is pure camp and a joy to watch. Bela Lugosi plays a mad scientist who discovers a new element and uses it to make one of the most ridiculous looking robots ever to grace the screen, an invisibility belt and some explosives. It's the typical everyone thinks I'm mad (even though I really am) so I'll hide away and get my revenge on those who slighted me and at the same time I'll try to take over the world. It's a blast. Oh yea its awful, but at this point its good awful. No doubt they were playing to the kids who watched the serials only to have it change into something else. Its classic nonsense. If nothing else it's a film to watch with friends and pick apart (Mystery Science Theater 3000 did several of the chapters). The best way to know what your reaction to the film is going to be is look for a picture of the great hulking robot, if you are a mused by it then by all means watch this. If you're repulsed by it then you may want to reconsider this as a viewing option. Recommended for those who want a silly good time.

(Try not to see the feature version of the serial. While not horrible its really not that good and it lost a great deal of the charm of the serial in the removing large chunks of plot)