Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943)

An American secret agent travels to Africa to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring.

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writers:

Royal K. Cole (original screenplay), Ronald Davidson (original screenplay),

Stars:

Rod Cameron, Joan Marsh, Duncan Renaldo

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rod Cameron	...	Rex Bennett
Joan Marsh	...	Janet Blake
Duncan Renaldo	...	Capt. Pierre LaSalle
Lionel Royce	...	Baron von Rommler / Sultan Abou Ben Ali
Kurt Kreuger	...	Ernst Muller
Frederic Brunn	...	Wolfe
Sigfrid Tor	...	Luger (as Sigurd Tor)
Georges Renavent	...	Armand (as George Renavent)
Kurt Katch	...	Kurt Hauptmann [Ch. 1]
Ralf Harolde	...	Riverboat Captain [Ch. 1]
Wilhelm von Brincken	...	Capt. Boschert [Ch. 7] (as William Vaughn)
William Yetter Sr.	...	Submarine Commandant [Ch. 3] (as William Yetter)
Hans von Morhart	...	Submarine First Officer [Ch. 3]
Erwin Goldi	...	Col. von Raeder [Ch. 1]
Frederick Worlock	...	Sir James Langley [Ch. 15] (as Frederic Worlock)

Storyline

American secret service agent Rex Bennett (Rod Cameron) is assigned to defeat the plans of the Nazis to form an alliance in Africa with the Arabs. His aides are Janet Blake (Joan Marsh), a United Nations agent posing as a reporter, and Pierre LaSalle (Duncan Renaldo), a Free-French officer. Complications arise when a trusted Arab chieftain (Lionel Royce) turns out to be Baron vom Rommier, a German officer.

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Plot Keywords:

american | arab | nazi | secret service | spy ring | 

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Taglines:

Thrill After Thrill Jammed Into Each Power-Packed Episode In The Serial Surprise Of The Year! (original poster)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 July 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Manhunt in the African Jungles

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

243 min 243 min (15 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapter titles: (1) North African Intrigue, (2) The Charred Witness, (3) Double Death, (4) The Open Grave, (5) Cloaked in Flame, (6) Dial of Doom, (7) Murder Dungeon, (8) Funeral Arrangements Completed, (9)Invisible Menace, (10) Racing Peril, (11) Lightning Terror, (12) Ceremonial Execution, (13) Fatal Leap, (14) Victim of Villainy, (15) Nazi Treachery Unmasked.

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Quotes

Wolfe: I have set the watch so the chemicals will ignite at nine o'clock. You have one minute to live, Miss Blake.

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Connections

Referenced in Body Fever (1969)

User Reviews

The Action Packed of them all

One thing you can say about Rod Cameron character (Rex Bennett) in this serial, boy did he had to fight! All the episodes had a minimum of three fights each, and guess who was in the middle of most of them? That's right Rex Bennett. The second serial with the character was better than the first (G-Men Vs. The Black Dragon) due mostly to fights and cliffhangers but that doesn't mean that the first serial was boring, it was very good, but they made this one better. After dealing with saboteurs in the US, Bennett is sent to Northern Africa to stop the (very stereotypical) Nazi's schemes against the Allies. His main adversary is a certain Baron von Rommler, who's impersonating the local chief and friend of the Allies Sultan Abou Ben Ali. Nothing new, even for those days, true. But starting from this cliché the writers developed a series of creative and good perilous situations for Bennett and his friends (Joan Marsh and Duncan Renaldo as Janet Blake and Cap. Pierre). Plus when the fights ensued not only the stunts wanted to bring up something new, but even the cameramen! All in all, a good way to spend some hours in front of a TV.