Haunted Harbor (1944)

A sea captain about to be hanged for a murder he didn't commit is rescued from the gallows by two of his crewmen. They head for the island of Pulinan, where they believe the real murderer--... See full summary »

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet, Wallace Grissell

Writers:

Ewart Adamson (novel), Royal K. Cole (screenplay),

Stars:

Kane Richmond, Kay Aldridge, Roy Barcroft

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kane Richmond	...	Jim Marsden
Kay Aldridge	...	Patricia Harding
Roy Barcroft	...	Carter / Kane
Clancy Cooper	...	Yank
Marshall Reed	...	Tommy (as Marshall J. Reed)
Oscar O'Shea	...	John Galbraith [Chs. 1, 7, 15]
Forrest Taylor	...	Dr. Oliver Harding [Chs. 1-4]
Hal Taliaferro	...	Lawson [Ch. 1, 6-7]
Edward Keane	...	Fredrick Vorhees [Ch. 1]
George J. Lewis	...	Dranga
Kenne Duncan	...	Gregg
Bud Geary	...	Snell
Robert Homans	...	Port Captain [Chs. 1, 15]
Duke Green	...	Constable #2 [Chs. 1,7] / Kassim [Ch. 2] / Henchman Neville [Chs. 6-7] / Cabin thug [Ch. 8] / Radio bomb thug [Ch. 10] Henchman Ronson [Chs. 14-15]
Dale Van Sickel	...	Gold Theft Thug [Ch. 12] / Sailor #1[Chs. 13-14]

Storyline

A sea captain about to be hanged for a murder he didn't commit is rescued from the gallows by two of his crewmen. They head for the island of Pulinan, where they believe the real murderer--the captain's former partner--is hiding so the captain can clear his name. As it turns out, their troubles are only beginning.

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Plot Keywords:

sea captain | island | cult | sea monster | sailboat | 

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Taglines:

SEE bold daredevils defy the evil that plagues HAUNTED HARBOR!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pirates' Harbor

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$170,099 (estimated)

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

This serial's story source was a novel written by Ewart Adamson, using his "nom de plume" of Dayle Douglas. The 256-page novel was published by Mystery House of New York on June 12, 1943, and purchased, for $1000, for this serial on December 6, 1943 by Republic Pictures. This was Republic's last serial to be adapted from another medium. Every serial that followed was original material written by studio-assigned writers.

User Reviews

Watch out for sea serpents

Captain Jim Marsden is wanted is about to be hanged for the murder of Voorhees, whom was owed money by Marsden after his ship was lost at sea with a million dollars in bullion. The murder was actually committed by Carter (Voorhees partner in criminal activities at Haunted Harbor) so he could control all the operations on the island. Yank and Tommy (two of Marsden's schooner mates) rescue Marsden from the gallows and the two set sail for Pulimati to escape the law, while operating Gallbraith's (friend of Marsden) trading post. The crew rescues Patricia Harding and her physician father during a tropical hurricane and they make their way to Pulimati. Marsden believes Carter is on the island, but does not know Carter runs a mining company under the name of Kane, and Dranga (assistant at the trading post) is in Kane's employ. Marsden is also having trouble getting the island natives to make supplies since they are afraid to go near Haunted Harbor, since Carter has his operations based there. Can Marsden free his name and, with the aid of Patricia, Yank, and Tommmy solve the mystery of Haunted Harbor? Very exciting serial with plenty of action you expect from Republic and then some. While it has the standard plot holes, implausible cliffhangers for any serial, the direction by Bennet (and Grissell who probably was in charge of dialogue) is great since often in the serial he leads the viewer to expect the unexpected in ways the chapter is playing out. Richmond, Aldridge (who is very gutsy here) and Barcroft make up a great serial cast and don't disappoint and Lewis, Geary, Duncan, Cooper round out the supporting cast. Great and fitting ending for our villain as well. Rating, 9.