Men with Steel Faces (1940)

Re-edited feature version of serial The Phantom Empire (1935). Singer Gene Autry discovers a race of advanced humans living beneath the earth.

Directors:

Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason

Writers:

Hy Freedman (story), Gerald Geraghty (story),

Stars:

Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Smiley Burnette

Cast

Cast overview:
Gene Autry	...	Gene Autry (archive footage)
Frankie Darro	...	Frankie Baxter (archive footage)
Smiley Burnette	...	Oscar (archive footage) (as Lester 'Smiley' Burnette)
Betsy King Ross	...	Betsy Baxter (archive footage)
Dorothy Christy	...	Queen Tika (archive footage)
Wheeler Oakman	...	Argo (archive footage)
Charles K. French	...	Mal (archive footage)
Warner Richmond	...	Rab (archive footage)
J. Frank Glendon	...	Prof. Beetson (archive footage) (as Frank Glendon)
Peter Potter	...	Mike (archive footage) (as William Moore)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Dr. Cooper (archive footage)
Jack Carlyle	...	Saunders (archive footage)

Storyline

Re-edited feature version of serial The Phantom Empire (1935). Singer Gene Autry discovers a race of advanced humans living beneath the earth.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | feature version of serial | b western | robot | ranch | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Radio Ranch

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mascot Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited from The Phantom Empire (1935)

User Reviews

BUCK ROGERS with six shooters and singing men on horses.

This was the classic tale of GENE AUTRY and his singing horse routine as he tried to cash in on the BUCK ROGERS serials which were popular at this time. Autry a rip off artist???, far from it. THE PHANTOM EMPIRE, was just another hollywoods studio system attempt to cash in on the serialized science fiction trend of the 1930's and 40's (they do this to this day). The notable changes in the autry venture was the addition of singing cowboy autry, horses and convnetional "old west" firearms to battle a supernatural science fiction menace. Before HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE MARLBORO MAN or WESTWORLD decades later, Autry and the produtcion staff behind him meshed science fiction and old west films genres for a popular weekly serial which featured a female lead villain. A interesting old film serial edited here. Of note is the interest to Autry fans and wild west and science fiction fans alike.