Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

John English
William Witney

Writers:

Ronald Davidson (original screenplay) &
Norman S. Hall (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN CARTOONLAND BECOMES THE STRONGEST MAN ON THE SCREEN! All others pale in the light of this human fortress who finds no barrier too great in his amazing fight for justice.

Plot:

To protect a magic talisman from being used for evil, a boy is given the power to become an adult superhero with a single magic word.

Plot Keywords:

Idol | Scorpion | Shazam | Superhero | Based On Comic

Cast

Tom Tyler	...	Captain Marvel
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Billy Batson (as Frank Coghlan, Jr.)
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Whitey Murphy (as William Benedict)
Louise Currie	...	Betty Wallace
Robert Strange	...	John Malcolm
Harry Worth	...	Prof. Luther Bentley
Bryant Washburn	...	Harry Carlyle [Ch. 1-3]
John Davidson	...	Tal Chotali
George Pembroke	...	Dr. Stephen Lang [Ch. 1-9]
George Lynn	...	Prof. Dwight Fisher [Ch. 1-6] (as Peter George Lynn)
Reed Hadley	...	Rahman Bar [Ch. 1,11-12]
Jack Mulhall	...	Howell [Ch. 1]
Kenne Duncan	...	Barnett (chief henchman) [Ch. 2-10] (as Kenneth Duncan)
Nigel De Brulier	...	Shazam [Ch. 1]
John Bagni	...	Henchman Cowan [Ch. 2-10]

Also Known As:

Captain Marvel
Return of Captain Marvel (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

216 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6920) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Superman was originally considered for this project, however, when National Periodical Publications (now known as DC Comics) turned Republic down, the producers made the offer to Fawcett Comics for their top character and was accepted.

Goofs:

Continuity: In chapter 11, "Valley of Death" one of the tribesmen uses a signal mirror to communicate with another. He flicks it up and down, but the reflection hits the other in a side-to-side motion.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[sound of a huge gong omninously echoes down the valley]
Billy Batson: What's that, Mr. Howell?
Howell [Ch. 1]: I don't know, Billy - let's find out. What do you make of that cymbal, Malcolm?
John Malcolm: I don't know, Howell. Does it mean anything to you, Tal Chotali?
Tal Chotali: The men of the hills are gathering. The cymbal says that the white men are to be driven from the Valley of Tombs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in West Side Story (1961)

Probably the best serial ever made

This is a thoroughly enjoyable serial. The special effects in this film are extraordinary, especially the "flying sequences" and especially considering that this was done in 1941 (as a comaprison, watch the two Superman Serials, shot serveral years later, with the late Kirk Allen, where suddenly Allen turns into a cartoon when he takes off). Tom Tyler was perfect as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" (aka "The Big Red Cheese" as Marvel was known in the comics), properly stoic. This is definitely the best of the "super hero" serials. This should be enjoyed by young and old alike. A definite 5 star serial. Highly recommended!!!