Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943)

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writers:

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

Release Date:

24 July 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | War

Tagline:

Nazi raiders steal a lost Arab treasure!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Arab | American | Reporter | Spy

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
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.	...	Sub Commandant [Ch. 3]
Hans von Morhart	...	Submarine First Officer [Ch. 3]
Erwin Goldi	...	Col. von Raeder [Ch. 1]
Frederick Worlock	...	Sir James Langley [Ch. 15]

Also Known As:

Manhunt in the African Jungles (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

100 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

When it was reissued with a new title in 1954, the official documentation often called it "Manhunt in the African Jungle". However the actual on-screen title was "Manhunt in the African Jungles" (the plural word "Jungles" was used on-screen).

Quotes:

Wolfe: And now, Miss Blake, we are about to give you a demonstration of German efficiency.
Janet Blake: Atrocity is a better word. Destroying medical supplies intended for suffering soldiers will make a story that will shock the world!
Wolfe: Unfortunately for you, this is one story you will never write. Put a gag in her mouth!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Avalon (1990)

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.