Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)

Directors:

John English
William Witney

Writers:

Ronald Davidson (original screenplay) and
Norman S. Hall (original screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Action | 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 | Scientific Expedition | Superhero

Cast

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]
Carleton Young	...	Henchman Martin [Ch. 3-9]
Leyland Hodgson	...	Maj. Rawley [Ch. 1] (as Leland Hodgson)
Stanley Price	...	Owens - Henchman / Driver [Ch. 3-5]
Ernest Sarracino	...	Akbar [Ch. 11-12]
Tetsu Komai	...	Chan Lai [Ch. 4]
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wilson Benge	...	Benson - Lang's Butler [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Lynton Brent	...	Lefty - Heavy at Lang's Estate [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Earle D. Bunn	...	Dam Heavy 1 [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Ed Cassidy	...	Dodge, Captain of 'The Carfax' [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Steve Clemente	...	Native 5 (uncredited)
Armand Cortes	...	Hamid the Wise Man [Ch. 12] (uncredited)
Victor Cox	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	Bridge Heavy [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Joe De La Cruz	...	Native 6 (uncredited)
Eddie Dew	...	Cavalry Lieutenant [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Curley Dresden	...	Native 3 [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Bud Geary	...	Pete - Lang's Estate Caretaker [Ch. 8-9] (uncredited)
Augie Gomez	...	Native 2 (uncredited)
Ray Hanson	...	Trucker (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	British Col. Hudson [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Jerry Jerome	...	Brandon - Airport Heavy [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
Al Kikume	...	Native Chief [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Marten Lamont	...	British Radio Sergeant [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Paul Lopez	...	Ali (uncredited)
Stanley Mack	...	Henchman at Fisher's House [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	...	First 'Carfax' Seaman [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Henchman Gus [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Gerald Mohr	...	Scorpion (voice) (uncredited)
Chuck Morrison	...	Carlson, First Mate on 'The Carfax' [Ch.10] (uncredited)
Loren Riebe	...	Curio Shop Heavy [Chs. 2-4] (uncredited)
Francis Sayles	...	Carter - Truck-Rental Heavy [Ch. 4-5] (uncredited)
George Suzanne	...	Dam Heavy 2 [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Al Taylor	...	Native 3 [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Duke Taylor	...	Lefty, Guillotine Heavy [Chs. 2-3] (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	...	Hawks - Bentley's Butler [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
Frank Wayne	...	Steve, Third Heavy at Lang's Estate [Chs. 9-10] (uncredited)
Henry Wills	...	Native 5 (uncredited)
Carl Zwolsman	...	Army Sentry [Ch. 1] (uncredited)

Directed by
John English
William Witney

Writing credits
Ronald Davidson		(original screenplay) and
Norman S. Hall		(original screenplay) and
Arch Heath		(original screenplay) (as Arch B. Heath) and
Joseph F. Poland		(original screenplay) (as Joseph Poland) and
Sol Shor		(original screenplay)
C.C. Beck		character (uncredited)
Bill Parker		character (uncredited)

Produced by
Hiram S. Brown Jr.	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Cy Feuer		(music score)
Ross DiMaggio		(uncredited)
Mort Glickman		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
William Nobles

Film Editing by
William P. Thompson		(as William Thompson)
Edward Todd

Set Decoration by
Morris Braun		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Bob Mark	....	makeup supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management
Mack D'Agostino	....	unit manager
Al Wilson	....	production manager

Sound Department
Daniel J. Bloomberg	....	sound (uncredited)
Charles L. Lootens	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)
Theodore Lydecker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
James Fawcett	....	stunt double: John Bagni (uncredited)
Bud Geary	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Magrill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Riebe	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunt double: Tom Tyler & Carleton Young (uncredited)
Duke Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nels Mathias	....	grip (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Murray Seldeen	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Cy Feuer	....	musical director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Republic Pictures (I)

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (I) (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Canada (1941) (Canada) (theatrical)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1941) (UK) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Australia (1941) (Australia) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films (N.Z.) (1941) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Tropical Films de Cuba (1941) (Cuba) (theatrical)
• Compania Distribuidora Films (1941) (Colombia) (theatrical)
• Dada-Dada & Company (1941) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Acme Films (1941) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Republic Films of C. A. (1941) (Panama) (theatrical)
• Filmes Luís Machado (1941) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures of Puerto Rico (1941) (Puerto Rico) (theatrical)
• Cinematografico de Pacifico (1941) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Monopole (1941) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Perez and Company (1941) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• Jacabo Huberman (1941) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures (I) (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1953) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• British Empire Films Australia (1953) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Minerva Film (1953) (Belgium) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Gefion Film (1953) (Denmark) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Yksityistcatterien Filmvoukraamo (1953) (Finland) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Fortorama (1953) (Norway) (theatrical) (re-release)
• African Consolidated Films (1953) (South Africa) (theatrical) (re-release)
• A. B. Wivefielm (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
• N. V. Filmverhuurtkantoor (1953) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Hollywood Television Service (1955) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Serial Squadron (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Comet Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2007) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"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:

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

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: - 1. Curse of the Scorpion - 2. The Guillotine - 3. Time Bomb - 4. Death Takes the Wheel - 5. The Scorpion Strikes - 6. Lens of Death - 7. Human Targets - 8. Boomerang - 9. Dead Man's Trap - 10.Doom Ship - 11.Valley of Death - 12.Captain Marvel's Secret

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In Chapter 11 as Captain Marvel heaves a tree trunk from the road way, a crew member steps out from behind a large rock and, realizing his mistake, steps back out of sight.

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:

Featured in Action Heroes of Movies & T.V.: A Campy Compilation (1989) (V)

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.