Holt of the Secret Service (1941)

A murderous gang of counterfeiters has kidnapped the government's best engraver and is forcing him to print virtually undetectable phony money. The Secret Service sends its toughest agent, Jack Holt, and a female partner after the gang.

Director:

James W. Horne

Writers:

Basil Dickey (original screenplay), George H. Plympton (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Holt, Evelyn Brent, C. Montague Shaw

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Holt	...	Jack Holt / Nick Farrell
Evelyn Brent	...	Kay Drew, R49
C. Montague Shaw	...	Chief John W. Malloy (as Montague Shaw)
Tristram Coffin	...	Ed Valdin [Chs. 1-10]
John Ward	...	'Lucky' Arnold
Ted Adams	...	Quist
Joe McGuinn	...	'Crimp' Evans
Edward Hearn	...	Agent Jim Layton
Ray Parsons	...	John Severn, engraver [Chs. 1-4]
Jack Cheatham	...	Agent Frank [Chs. 3-5, 8-9, 15]

Storyline

A murderous gang of counterfeiters has kidnapped the government's best engraver and is forcing him to print virtually undetectable phony money. The Secret Service sends its toughest agent, Jack Holt, and a female partner after the gang.

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Plot Keywords:

secret service | serial | character name in title | actor shares first name with character

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Taglines:

MOST POPULAR ACTION STAR OF ALL TIME IN HIS FIRST SERIAL!

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Genres:

Crime | Action | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Daimonios detective

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

278 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

15 Chapters: 1) Chaotic Creek, 2) Ramparts of Revenge, 3) Illicit Wealth, 4) Menaced By Fate, 5) Exits to Terror, 6) Deadly Doom, 7) Out of the Past, 8) Escape to Peril, 9. Sealed in Silence, 10. Named to Die, 11. Ominous Warnings, 12. The Stolen Signal, 13. Prisoner of Jeopardy, 14. Afire Afloat, 15. Yielded Hostage

User Reviews

Sad, Very Sad...

Serials were the staple of production for the middle tier studios. Columbia, Republic, Universal and the poverty row independents. Universal featured competent actors, well thought out plot lines and had the Flash Gordon franchise. Republic had the best in action, special visual effects and stunt-work. So what did that leave Columbia? Not much and they did not put much into this effort. Columbia was not called at that time "the Germ of the Ocean" for nothing and this serial is a perfect example.

Fifthteen (15) chapters of drudgery and what for? To find some plates used in counterfeiting money. No super weapon to conquer the earth like in 'THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL'. No super villain from outer space like 'MING THE MERCILESS'. No Nothing! There is not SeventyNine (79) minutes worth of plot here let alone 279 MINUTES! The featured players of Jack Holt and Evelyn Brent are particularly joyless and not very attractive. Holt's glory days were long over and Brent's were over by 1930.

We can only recommend picking up this one (1) if you can find a copy for $02.00 or less. Better yet con one (1) of your friends or your library to get.