Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)

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.

Directors:

John English, William Witney

Writers:

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

Stars:

Tom Tyler, Frank Coghlan Jr., William 'Billy' Benedict

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Tyler	...	Captain Marvel
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Billy Batson
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Whitey Murphy (as William Benedict)
Louise Currie	...	Betty Wallace
Robert Strange	...	John Malcolm
Harry Worth	...	Prof. Luther Bentley
Bryant Washburn	...	Henry 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	...	James 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]

Storyline

On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize it could be the most powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it, distributing them among themselves so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to accumulate all five lenses, thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon.

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Plot Keywords:

idol | scorpion | shazam | siam | scientific expedition | 

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Taglines:

THE SUPER-STRONGMAN! Defying a power-crazed fiend who threatens to enslave the world with an army of blood-crazed demons! (original print ad)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Captain Marvel

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$145,588 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

216 min 216 min (12 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast member under the Scorpion's hood, momentarily visible and identifiable when he is accidentally unmasked in one episode, is not the same actor who is eventually unmasked as the actual Scorpion in the final episode.

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Goofs

Although the archaeological expedition bears Malcolm's name, everyone defers to Howell as if he's in charge - until his murder late in the first chapter.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

The Scorpion as Himself

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Connections

Referenced in Spider-Man (2002)

User Reviews

Best Comic Book Movie Ever Made.

A criminal known only as the Scorpion, who one of 5 archeologists, is trying to acquire all of the lenses of a golden Scorpion idol, which can turn ordinary rocks into gold, and can unleash a powerful death ray. Billy Batson, during the dig, is given the powers of Captain Marvel by the enigmatic wizard Shazam to prevent the scorpion idol from being used for evil purposes. So when Billy Batson says the word Shazam, he is transformed into Captain Marvel. In my opinion it is not the greatest serial ever made, but it is without a doubt the greatest comic book adaptation in the media ( TV included. ). Tom Tyler looks just like the character and coupled with David Sharpe during the stunt scenes ( which look better than anything ever tried today in this type genre ) elevates it from a kiddie serial into serious watching. Rating, based on serials 10 out of 10.