The Master Key (1945)

Government agents battle a gang of Nazis who are trying to use the Orotron machine, which can turn seawater into gold.

Directors:

Lewis D. Collins, Ray Taylor

Writers:

Jack Natteford (original story), Dwight V. Babcock (original story),

Stars:

Milburn Stone, Jan Wiley, Dennis Moore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Milburn Stone	...	Agent Tom Brant
Jan Wiley	...	Janet Lowe
Dennis Moore	...	Detective Lt. Jack Ryan
Addison Richards	...	Gerhard Doenitz, alias Garret Donahue
Byron Foulger	...	Prof. Elwood Henderson
Maris Wrixon	...	Dorothy Newton
Sarah Padden	...	Aggie
George Lynn	...	Herman, Chief Thug
Russell Hicks	...	Police Chief Michael J. O'Brien
Roland Varno	...	Arnold Hoffman aka Hoff, M-3
Lash La Rue	...	Migsy (Street Urchin) (as Alfred La Rue)
Jerry Shane	...	Dan, Boys' Club Member
Neyle Morrow	...	Spike, Boys' Club Member (as Neyle Marx)
John Eldredge	...	Walter Stark, Council Member M-6 [Chs.1-5]

Storyline

Universal's 64th of 69 sound-era serials (between "Jungle Queen" with Ruth Roman and their 2nd version of "Secret Agent X-9" with Lloyd Bridges), is set in 1938 with Nazi agents kidnapping scientist Professor Ellwood Henderson in order to get his Orotron machine that can extract gold from seawater. Operating under the secret leadership of "The Master Key", with the operatives headed by a German agent posing as a private investigator named Garrett Donovan, the gang is trailed by Federal agent Tom Brant, aided by police detective Lieutenant Jack Ryan and newspaper reporter Janet Lowe. Also aiding in the quest is Police Chief William J. O'Brien and his secretary Dorothy Arnold. It takes Brant nearly 12 of the 13 episodes to figure out that since the Nazis learn of his and Ryan's plans almost before they clear police headquarters, then "The Master Key" must be somebody close to them. Most of the leg-work is done by a group of boys under the leadership of candy-notions store owner Aggie ...

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Plot Keywords:

nazi | serial | secretary | police chief | police detective | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

La llave maestra

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

226 min 226 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapters: 1) Trapped by Flames, 2) Death Turns the Wheel, 3) Ticket to Disaster, 4) Drawbridge Danger, 5) Runaway Car, 6) Shot Down, 7) Death on the Dial, 8) Bullet Serenade, 9) On Stage for Murder, 10) Fatal Masquerade, 11) Crash Curve, 12) Lightning Underground, 13) The Last Key.

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Goofs

At the beginning of each chapter, we are told the story is taking place in 1938, but 1939, 1940 and 1941 model automobiles are frequently seen and even used by the principal players on various occasions.

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Quotes

Title Card: This is just a story. Like many good stories, it never happened and never could happen... but let us imagine that it is 1938, somewhere in the United States.

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Connections

Edited from Gang Busters (1942)

User Reviews

M-764 Reporting

Elwood Henderson invents the Orotron, a large device which can extract various minerals and elements in their minute quantities from sea water. Nazi agents (the serial, released in 1945, is set in 1938) plan to use the Orotron in order to obtain enough gold to buy up key American industries for their own use and purpose. Henderson is also taken prisoner by the Nazis, since he has to manufacture the gas tubes in order to make the Orotron work, when the present ones wear out. Government agent Tom Brant, police detective Jack Ryan, and reporter Janet Lowe, team up to find Henderson and round up the agents responsible for his and the Orotron's disappearance, including the Master Key, the unknown head agent of the Nazis in the US. Very good script overcome some of the weak fights in the serial. Many of the cliffhangers are so-so, and at times just look like the writers put them in there from making the chapters run a reel extra. Stone, Moore, & Wiley are all believable as Brant, Ryan, and Lowe respectively. Addison is very villainous Donohue, second Nazi in command. LaRue is as good as he every would be as the leader of Lowe's teenage reporter friends, but Fougler has one of his better roles as Henderson. Great ending to the serial, one of the few that respects the intelligence of the viewer. Rating, based on serials, 8.